The last time we struck the Knights of St John was 2 years ago in Rhodes. Officially known as the Knights Hospitaller they were founded in the 11th century as a hospital in Jerusalem to care for sick and poor pilgrims walking from Europe to the Holy Land. Protected by papal bull, time it evolved into a military force to protect pilgrims and Christian territories in the Holy Land.
After losing the Holy Land to the Ottoman Turks they moved their headquarters to Kolossi Castle in Cyprus then to Rhodes between 1310 and 1522 when Rhodes fell to Suleyman the Magnificent’s fleet and finally to Malta from 1530 to 1798. King Charles 3rd of Spain gave the Knights Malta in return for an annual payment of a Falcon a year on All Saint’s Day (November the first).
Here we are in Malta in a land that has been irrevocably reshaped by the Knights. They first headquartered in Birgu across the bay from the present capitol Valletta. In 1565 Suleyman the Magnificent had another go at the Knights of St John this time at Malta. They laid siege to the fortifications but the Knights prevailed this time. Ultimately the grandmaster of the day moved the Capitol to where it is today. His name was Valletta.
The most important church here is the Cathedral of St John (the Baptist) completed in 1578. It is an amazing church where the first thing one sees is the mosaic floor of gravestones. It also hosts two Caravaggio masterpieces.
