The Hospitallers: crusader knights that both harmed and healed

The genesis of the Knights Hospitaller traces back to the 11th century, in the city of Jerusalem, a time when the First Crusade had recently reclaimed the Holy Land for Christendom.

Against this backdrop, a group of Benedictine monks from Italy established a hospital around 1023 to provide care for poor, sick or injured pilgrims journeying to the sacred city.

This hospital was dedicated to St. John the Baptist and was funded by wealthy benefactors from across Europe, including merchants, nobles, and even royals.

Gerard Thom, commonly known as Blessed Gerard, is credited as the founder and first leader of this charitable institution.

As the hospital's reputation grew, so did its resources and ambitions. In 1113, Pope Paschal II issued a papal bull that recognized the hospital as an independent entity under the church, free from the control of any local church or secular authority.

This recognition marked the formal establishment of the Hospitallers as an Order.

Blessed Gerard's successor, Raymond du Puy, expanded the Order's mission to include military defense, effectively transforming it into a military-religious Order.

This new martial role was a direct response to the unstable and often hostile conditions in the Holy Land.

The Order began to recruit knight brothers, nobles who took monastic vows and served as the Order's armed force.

They built fortifications, defended strategic locations, and fought in battles. Thus, the Knights Hospitaller, an organization committed to both caring for the sick and defending the Christian territories in the Holy Land, was born.

After the establishment of their military arm, the Hospitallers swiftly grew into one of the most formidable Christian fighting forces in the Holy Land.

They participated in major campaigns and battles, including the Siege of Ascalon (1153), the Battle of Hattin (1187), and the Siege of Acre (1191), among others.

The Hospitallers were known for their bravery and discipline, often forming the vanguard or rearguard of Crusader armies.

Their fortified castles and commanderies, such as Krak des Chevaliers and Margat in Syria, served as crucial strongholds and logistical bases, contributing to the defense and resilience of the Crusader states.

The Knights Hospitaller did not act alone in their martial endeavors. They often fought alongside the Knights Templar, another prominent military order.

Even though they shared common goals and enemies, the two orders were also rivals, competing for resources and influence.

The Teutonic Knights, initially a hospital brotherhood like the Hospitallers, also emerged as a military order during the Third Crusade.

Although based primarily in the Baltic region, they occasionally coordinated with the Hospitallers in the Holy Land.

By the late 13th century, the political and military situation in the Holy Land had become increasingly precarious for the Christian forces.

The Knights Hospitaller participated in the final major Crusades, including the Seventh Crusade (1248–1254) led by Louis IX of France and the Eighth Crusade (1270) led by Louis IX and Prince Edward of England.

However, these campaigns achieved little in terms of reclaiming Christian territories in the Holy Land.

The real blow came with the fall of Acre in 1291. Acre, the last major stronghold of the Crusader states, was besieged by the Mamluks, a powerful Muslim military caste that had taken control of Egypt and Syria.

Despite a desperate defense, in which the Hospitallers played a crucial role, the city fell. This marked the end of significant Christian presence in the Holy Land.

Following the loss of Acre, the surviving Hospitallers, along with other Christian refugees, fled to the island of Cyprus.

The island was then ruled by the Lusignan dynasty, who welcomed the military-religious orders.

In Cyprus, the Hospitallers regrouped and restructured. They maintained their commitment to providing care for the sick and the poor, while also continuing their martial activities, though now largely confined to naval operations.

The Order also began to look for a new home, a place where they could establish a sovereign base for their operations. This search eventually led them to the island of Rhodes.

In 1306, the Hospitallers began to turn their eyes towards Rhodes, a strategically located island in the Eastern Mediterranean.

By 1310, after a series of negotiations and military campaigns, they had taken control of the island, establishing it as their new sovereign base.

Under the leadership of the Grand Master, the Knights Hospitaller transformed Rhodes into a fortified bastion and a naval power.

They built impressive fortifications, including the Palace of the Grand Master and the city walls, many of which still stand today.

They also maintained a powerful fleet, allowing them to project power and influence across the Mediterranean, conduct piracy against Muslim shipping routes, and protect Christian pilgrims and traders.

The Order's possession of Rhodes brought them into conflict with the burgeoning Ottoman Empire.

The most notable clashes came in the form of two major sieges – in 1480 and 1522.

During the first siege in 1480, the Knights, under Grand Master Pierre d'Aubusson, successfully defended the island against a large Ottoman force.

The victory boosted the Order's prestige and solidified their control over Rhodes.

However, the second siege in 1522, led by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, was a different story.

The Knights put up a heroic defence, but were eventually overwhelmed by the vast Ottoman forces.

In early 1523, they were allowed to leave Rhodes with full military honors and sailed to Crete, then under Venetian control.

Their time in Rhodes marked a high point in the Knights Hospitaller's military and sovereign power. 

After their departure from Rhodes, the Knights Hospitaller spent seven years in search of a new home.

This search ended in 1530 when Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, also King of Sicily, gifted them the islands of Malta and Gozo, along with the North African port of Tripoli.

This marked the beginning of a new era for the Order, now known as the Knights of Malta.

The Knights’ presence in Malta was soon challenged by their old foes, the Ottomans, culminating in the Great Siege of Malta in 1565.

The Ottomans sought to oust the Knights and use Malta as a launching point for further expansion into Europe.

Although being vastly outnumbered, the Knights, led by Grand Master Jean Parisot de Valette, put up a staunch defense.

They held out for more than three months until reinforcements arrived from Sicily.

The victory was a significant event in European history, marking a turning point in the ongoing conflict with the Ottoman Empire.

In Malta, the Knights continued their role as a naval power. They maintained a fleet of galleys, which they used for both defense and offensive operations against the Ottomans and Barbary pirates.

Their actions in this period have been viewed both as acts of Christian defense and as state-sanctioned piracy.

The Knights also transformed Malta into a fortified island. The capital city, Valletta, named after Grand Master de Valette, was designed as a fortress city, and numerous forts and watchtowers were constructed across the islands.

The Knights’ rule in Malta continued until 1798, when Napoleon Bonaparte captured the islands during his campaign in Egypt.

The Knights were ousted without a fight, marking the end of their rule as a territorial power.

After their expulsion from Malta, the Knights Hospitaller, also known as the Knights of Malta, entered a period of significant change and adaptation.

While they no longer held territorial sovereignty, they managed to maintain and evolve their identity, continuing to influence the world in unexpected ways.

Post 1798, the Order was in disarray, and its members scattered across Europe. However, they managed to reorganize themselves, electing a new Grand Master and establishing a temporary headquarters in Rome in 1834, where it remains to this day.

Although they no longer possessed military power, the Knights returned to their original hospitaller roots.

They focused their efforts on providing medical care, humanitarian aid, and emergency relief, particularly in times of war or disaster.

Today, the Order operates hospitals, clinics, and ambulance services in over 120 countries. They also play a role in international diplomacy, maintaining diplomatic relations with many countries and holding observer status at the United Nations.