The Knights of Malta or the Knights Hospitaller is the oldest surviving Catholic military order. It arose in the eleventh century in Jerusalem when they established a hospital for pilgrims and refugees. The Knights Hospitaller have been officially recognized by the Catholic church since 1133. They moved to Rhodes in 1309, but were forced to leave in 1522 after it was invaded by the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.
The Knights Hospitaller moved to Malta in 1530. In Malta, they initially fended off attacks from the Ottoman Empire, then took on the role of policing the Mediterranean (especially from the Muslim Barbary pirates). In this capacity, they brought resources and wealth to the island. In 1798, Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Malta on his way to Egypt, permanently dispersing the knights throughout Europe.
Today, though only 38 maintain the traditional practices, thousands of people claim a secular connection to the order. The Knights Hospitallar continue their commitment to service through humanitarian projects throughout the world.
Sources:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07477a.htm
https://www.orderofmalta.int/sovereign-order-of-malta/knights-of-malta/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_Hospitaller#Knights_of_Malta
https://www.maltauncovered.com/malta-history/knights-of-malta/
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
-
The temples of Malta are a source of a rich culture for both the island and the people. I was lucky enough to be able to visit one of the te...
-
Being in Malta through ICEX was an absolutely incredible opportunity and experience on several levels. Not only did we finish our time...
-
A few days ago, we traveled to Gozo for our cultural outing, and during at lunch at the Maltese restaurant, Xerri Il-Bukkett, I was lucky en...
No comments:
Post a Comment