Knights Hospitaller facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
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Flag of the Order
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| Active | c. 1099–present |
| Allegiance |  The Pope |
| Type | Catholic military order |
| Headquarters | |
| Nickname(s) | The "Religion" |
| Patron |
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| Engagements |
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| Notable commanders |
Jean Parisot de Valette, Philippe Villiers de L'Isle-Adam, Garnier de Nablus |
The Knights Hospitaller were a special kind of Catholic group. They were a military order, which means they were both religious and military. They started in the crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem in the 1100s.
They had their main base in Jerusalem until 1291. After that, they moved to Kolossi Castle in Cyprus (1302–1310). Then they went to the island of Rhodes (1310–1522). Later, they moved to Malta (1530–1798).
The Hospitallers began in the early 1100s. Before them, in the 1000s, merchants from Amalfi built a hospital in Jerusalem. This hospital was for sick, poor, or injured Christian pilgrims visiting the Holy Land. Blessed Gerard became its leader in 1080.
After Christians captured Jerusalem in 1099 during the First Crusade, some crusaders formed a religious group to help the hospital. This group became the Knights Hospitaller. They got a special approval from the Pope. This approval allowed them to care for the sick and defend the Holy Land.
After Islamic forces took back the Holy Land, the knights moved to Rhodes. They ruled this island as their own country. Later, they moved to Malta. There, they governed a small state under the Spanish king of Sicily. The Hospitallers even briefly owned four Caribbean islands in the 1600s. They later gave these islands to France.
The knights faced challenges during the Protestant Reformation. Some of their groups in Germany and the Netherlands became Protestant. These groups separated from the main Catholic order. Today, different groups continue the Hospitaller tradition. They work together as the mutually recognized orders of St. John. These include the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and others.
Contents
History of the Knights Hospitaller
How the Order Began
In 603, Pope Gregory I asked Abbot Probus to build a hospital in Jerusalem. This hospital was for Christian pilgrims. In 800, Emperor Charlemagne made the hospital bigger. But in 1009, a ruler named al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah destroyed it.
Later, in 1023, merchants from Italy got permission to rebuild the hospital. It was built on the site of the monastery of Saint John the Baptist. Monks from the Order of Saint Benedict ran it. They cared for Christian pilgrims.
After the First Crusade, a man named Blessed Gerard de Martigues started the monastic Hospitaller Order. Pope Paschal II officially recognized his order in 1113 with a special document called a papal bull (Pie postulatio voluntatis). Gerard gained land and money for his order.
Under Gerard's successor, Raymond du Puy, the hospital grew. It became an infirmary near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. At first, the group only cared for pilgrims. But soon, they started offering armed protection for pilgrims. Eventually, they became a strong military force. They became a military order while still doing their charity work.
Raymond du Puy, who became leader in 1118, created a militia from the order's members. He divided the order into three groups: knights, men at arms, and chaplains (religious leaders). Raymond offered his armed troops to Baldwin II of Jerusalem. From then on, the order fought in the crusades. They were especially brave in the Siege of Ascalon in 1153. In 1130, Pope Innocent II gave the order its coat of arms: a silver cross on a red background.
The Hospitallers and the Knights Templar became the most powerful military orders in the Holy Land. Frederick Barbarossa, the Holy Roman Emperor, promised to protect the Knights of St. John in 1185.
The order had three main types of members: military brothers (knights), infirmarian brothers (who cared for the sick), and chaplain brothers (who handled religious services).
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In 1248, Pope Innocent IV approved a special uniform for the Hospitallers in battle. They wore a red coat with a white cross on it. This was easier to move in than their usual capes.
The Templars and Hospitallers built many strong Christian forts in the Holy Land. At its peak, the Hospitallers owned seven large forts and 140 other properties. Their biggest bases were Krak des Chevaliers and Margat in Syria. The order's land was divided into areas called priories, then bailiwicks, and then commanderies.
The order also became known in England and Ireland. Buildings like St John's Jerusalem in England were built on land given to them. An Irish base was set up at Kilmainham, near Dublin.
Knights of Cyprus and Rhodes
After the Kingdom of Jerusalem fell in 1291, the Knights moved to the Kingdom of Cyprus. But they found themselves getting involved in Cypriot politics. So, their leader, Guillaume de Villaret, planned to get their own land. He chose Rhodes, which was then part of the Byzantine Empire.
He also reorganized the order into eight "tongues" or langues. These were based on different regions or languages. Each langue was led by a Prior or Grand Prior.
Guillaume's successor, Foulques de Villaret, carried out the plan to take Rhodes. On August 15, 1310, after four years of fighting, the city of Rhodes surrendered. The knights also took control of nearby islands and the port of Halicarnassus.
Soon after, in 1312, Pope Clement V closed down the Knights Templar. He gave much of their property to the Hospitallers. In Rhodes, the knights were called the Knights of Rhodes. They became a stronger military force.
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In the 1400s, the knights often fought Barbary pirates. These were Ottoman corsairs (pirates). The knights survived two big invasions by Muslim forces. One was by the Sultan of Egypt in 1444. The other was by Ottoman Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror in 1480. Mehmed had captured Constantinople in 1453 and wanted to defeat the Knights.
In 1522, a huge force arrived. Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent brought 400 ships and up to 200,000 men. Under Grand Master Philippe Villiers de L'Isle-Adam, the knights had only about 7,000 fighters. The siege lasted six months. The defeated Hospitallers who survived were allowed to leave for Sicily. Even after this loss, both Christians and Muslims respected Phillipe Villiers for his bravery.
Knights of Malta
In 1530, after seven years without a home, Pope Clement VII made a deal. He worked with Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, who was King of Spain and Sicily. Charles V gave the knights Malta, Gozo, and the North African port of Tripoli. In return, the knights had to send him one Maltese falcon every year. This was known as the Tribute of the Maltese Falcon.
The knights stayed in Malta for the next 268 years. They turned the island, which they called "merely a rock," into a strong and successful place. Its capital city, Valletta, became known as Superbissima ("Most Proud").
The local people of Malta were not always happy with the knights at first. They saw them as proud newcomers. However, the two groups lived together peacefully. The Knights helped the economy, gave to charity, and protected the island from Muslim attacks.
The knights built hospitals, fortresses, and churches in Malta. French became the official language, though locals still spoke Maltese. The acquisition of Malta helped the Order restart its naval activities.
The building of Valletta, named after Grand Master La Valette, began in 1566. It became the home port for one of the Mediterranean's strongest navies. Valletta was designed by Francesco Laparelli, a military engineer. The city was finished in 1571.
The island's hospitals also grew. The Sacra Infermeria could hold 500 patients. It was known as one of the best hospitals in the world. It even had schools for anatomy, surgery, and pharmacy. Valletta also became a center for art and culture.
In Europe, most of the Order's hospitals survived the Reformation. But not in Protestant countries. In Malta, a public library was started in 1761. The University was founded seven years later. Despite these improvements, some Maltese people began to dislike the Order. They saw the knights as a privileged group.
In Rhodes, the knights lived in auberges (inns) for each langue. This system continued in Birgu and then Valletta. Valletta still has several of these historic auberges.
In 1604, each Langue got its own chapel in the main church of Saint John. The symbols of each Langue are on the walls and ceiling.
The Order helped Iacob Heraclid in 1561 to gain a temporary foothold in Moldavia. The Hospitallers also kept fighting Muslims, especially the Barbary pirates. The Ottomans were unhappy that the order had settled in Malta. In 1565, Suleiman sent an invasion force of about 40,000 men. He wanted to besiege the 700 knights and 8,000 soldiers and drive them out of Malta. This event is known as the Great Siege of Malta.
At first, the battle went badly for the Hospitallers. Many cities were destroyed, and about half the knights were killed. On August 18, the knights were in a desperate situation. They were losing numbers and were too weak to hold their long line of forts. But Grand Master Jean Parisot de Valette refused to give up.
The Viceroy of Sicily had not sent help. He was unsure if he should risk his own defenses to help the Order. But his own officers pushed him to act.
On August 23, the Ottomans launched another big attack. It was their last serious try. The knights fought them back with great difficulty. Even wounded soldiers joined the defense. The Ottoman forces were now in trouble. Most of the forts were still standing. The knights had repaired the damage. Capturing Malta seemed impossible. Many Ottoman soldiers were sick from the hot summer. They were running out of supplies and losing hope. The death of their skilled commander Dragut on June 23 was a big blow.
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On September 1, the Ottomans made their final attempt. But their soldiers' spirits were low, and the attack was weak. This gave the knights hope. The Ottomans heard that Sicilian reinforcements had arrived. Not knowing the force was small, they ended the siege and left on September 8. The Great Siege of Malta might have been the last time knights won a big victory against a much larger force using firearms.
When the Ottomans left, only 600 Hospitallers could still fight. The Ottoman army had been about 40,000 men. Only 15,000 returned home. After the siege, a new city had to be built. This is the current capital of Malta, Valletta. It was named in honor of the Grand Master who led the defense.
In 1607, the Grand Master of the Hospitallers was given the title of Reichsfürst (Prince of the Holy Roman Empire). In 1630, he was given the same church rank as a cardinal. He was called His Most Eminent Highness.
Protecting the Seas
After moving to Malta, the knights were far from the Holy Land. Their original mission was to help the crusades there. But now, they focused on fighting piracy. They especially fought the Barbary pirates from North Africa, who were supported by the Ottomans.
The knights felt strong after defending Malta in 1565. And Christians won a big victory against the Ottoman fleet in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571. So, the knights started protecting Christian merchant ships. They also freed Christian slaves captured by the pirates. This campaign was called the "corso."
But the Order's income was lower. They were now policing the Mediterranean, a job usually done by Venice and Genoa. Many knights started raiding Muslim ships to make money. They lived in luxury and joined the navies of France and Spain for adventure and more money.
The Reformation and Counter-Reformation also affected the knights. People in Europe became less religious. So, the knights received fewer payments from European nations. The knights even tried to get England back as a member, even though England had become Protestant. This shows a new tolerance within the Order.
Many knights served in foreign navies, especially the French Navy. This went against their main purpose. They could end up fighting other Catholic forces. Also, France was often friendly with the Ottoman Empire, the knights' main enemy. This showed how much the knights' focus had changed. They were becoming more interested in trade and money.
The European countries became less willing to give money to the Order. They saw that the knights were making money from raiding ships. This created a cycle: less money from Europe meant more raids. The knights became more focused on privateering (state-approved piracy). This eventually led to their decline in this period.
Challenges in Europe
The Order lost many of its lands in Europe during the Reformation. The English branch's property was taken in 1540. The German Bailiwick of Brandenburg became Lutheran in 1577. But it still paid money to the Order until 1812. Later, in 1852, it became a separate Protestant branch.
The Knights of Malta were also important in the Imperial Russian Navy and the French Navy. In 1651, the knights bought the Caribbean islands of Sainte-Christophe, Saint Martin, and Saint Barthélemy. They also bought Saint Croix. But in 1665, the Order sold its Caribbean lands to the French West India Company. This ended their presence there.
In 1789, the French National Assembly abolished feudalism in France. This also ended the Order in France. The French Revolutionary Government took the Order's assets in France in 1792.
Losing Malta and Decline
Napoleon captured Malta in 1798 during his trip to Egypt. Napoleon asked Grand Master Ferdinand von Hompesch zu Bolheim to let his ships enter the port. The Grand Master said only two foreign ships could enter at a time. Napoleon knew this would take too long. So, he ordered his cannons to fire on Malta. French soldiers landed on June 11 and attacked. After hours of fighting, the Maltese in the west had to surrender.
Napoleon then negotiated with the capital, Valletta. The Grand Master surrendered because the French forces were much stronger. Hompesch left Malta on June 18 and resigned on July 6, 1799.
The knights were scattered. But the order continued in a smaller way. The Russian Emperor, Paul I, gave many knights shelter in Saint Petersburg. The knights there even elected Tsar Paul as their Grand Master. This was a rival to Grand Master von Hompesch. After Hompesch resigned, Paul became the only Grand Master. Paul created a "Russian Grand Priory" open to all Christians. However, the Catholic Church never officially approved Paul's election because he was married and not Catholic.
By the early 1800s, the order was very weak. Most of its money came from the Russian Grand Priory. From 1805 to 1879, the order was led by Lieutenants, not Grand Masters. But in 1879, Pope Leo XIII brought back the Grand Master title. This marked the start of the order's return as a humanitarian and religious group.
In 1806, the Swedish government offered the island of Gotland to the Order. But the offer was refused because it meant giving up their claim to Malta.
A large hospital of Saint John, built between 1099 and 1291, was found again in the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. It could hold up to 2,000 patients from all religions. Jewish patients even received kosher food. It also served as an orphanage. The children often became Hospitallers when they grew up.
Modern-Day Successors of the Knights Hospitaller
Today, several groups continue the work of the Knights Hospitaller. The main one is the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, based in Rome. It is recognized by over 100 countries. Other groups are part of the Alliance of the Orders of Saint John of Jerusalem. These include the Bailiwick of Brandenburg, the Johanniter Orde in Nederland, the Order of Saint John in Sweden, and the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem.
Sovereign Military Order of Malta
In 1834, the order settled in Rome. Helping the sick, their original mission, became their main focus again. Their hospital and welfare work grew a lot during World War I and World War II.
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The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta (SMOM) is a Catholic religious order. It is the oldest surviving order of knights. Many international groups and the United Nations recognize its special status. Of all the groups connected to Saint John, SMOM is the most direct successor. It can trace its history and leaders directly back to the original Knights Hospitallers.
The Order has official relations with many countries and international groups. It even issues its own passports, currency, and stamps. The SMOM is active in 120 countries. It has hospitals, medical centers, and first aid teams. Its 13,500 members and 95,000 volunteers help the poor, sick, elderly, disabled, and homeless. They also help victims of wars and natural disasters.
The Sovereign Military Order of Malta has a base in Malta again. They signed an agreement with the Maltese Government. This agreement gives them the use of Fort St. Angelo for 99 years. After being restored, the Fort now hosts historical and cultural events about the Order of Malta.
Other Orders of Saint John
During the Reformation, some German groups of the Order became Protestant. But they still said they belonged to the Order of Saint John. This group continues today as the Order of Saint John of the Bailiwick of Brandenburg. It is protected by Germany. Its leader is almost always from the German royal family. This Protestant branch has spread to many other countries.
The groups in the Netherlands and Sweden became independent after World War II. They are now separate orders, protected by their own kings.
All three Protestant orders (German, Dutch, and Swedish) work together. They formed the Alliance of the Orders of Saint John of Jerusalem in 1961. These Protestant orders are separate from the Catholic Sovereign Military Order of Malta, but they cooperate.
Most Venerable Order of Saint John
In England, King Henry VIII took almost all the Knights Hospitaller's property. This happened during the dissolution of the monasteries in the Reformation. This effectively ended the English branch of the order.
In 1831, a British order was created again. It later became known as the Most Venerable Order of Saint John. Queen Victoria gave it a special royal charter in 1888. This order then grew throughout the United Kingdom, the British Commonwealth, and the United States. Today, its most famous activities are the St John Ambulance Brigade and the Saint John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem. Unlike the other orders, this British group does not limit its members to Christians.
Hierarchy of the Order
The highest leader was the Grand Master. The Grand Commander was second in command. He took the Grand Master's place if he was away or died. The third highest rank was the Marshal of the hospital. His main job was to prepare the order for war. This included getting armor, weapons, horses, and artillery. The Marshal could sometimes lead battles if the Grand Master or Grand Commander ordered it.
Princes and Grand Masters
See also
In Spanish: Orden de San Juan de Jerusalén para niños
People of the Hospital
- Caterina Vitale, the first female pharmacist of the Knights Hospitaller in Malta.
- List of the priors of Saint John of Jerusalem in England
- Pierre Jean Louis Ovide Doublet, a leader in the French part of the Knights.
Forts and Places of the Hospital
- List of Knights Hospitaller sites
- Fortifications of Malta
- Fortifications of Rhodes
- Kolossi Castle
- Mailberg
- Castle of La Muela
- Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes
- Torphichen Preceptory
Related Topics
