Knights of Malta, 1523-1798

Produced by Julie Barkley, Bill Hershey and PG Distributed Proofreaders
1523-1798
1920
Departure from Rhodes—Residence in Italy—Settlement in Malta, 1530—Condition of the Mediterranean—The corsairs—Turkey—Fortification of Malta—Loss of English Langue —Enterprises of the Order—Solyman decides to attack Malta
Preparations—Size of opposing forces—Siege of St. Elmo—Arrival of Dragut—Capture of St. Elmo, June 23—Death of Dragut—Siege of main fortresses—Great losses on both sides—Arrival of reinforcements from Sicily—Turks evacuate island
Classes in the Order—Langues—Chapter-General—Councils—Grand Master—Bishop of Malta—Finances—Justice—Criminal Council—Court of Égard—The Hospital
Decadence of Turkey—Knights become anachronism—Valetta built—Fortifying the island—Disturbances in the Order—Quarrels with different Powers—Treatment of the Maltese—Buildings in Valetta—Papal interference—Naval operations—Independence of the Order
Attacks on the Order during the French Revolution—French estates confiscated—Poverty of the Order—Tsar Paul I.—French schemes—Napoleon appears off Malta—Condition of the island—Its capture—Dispersion of the Order
On January 1, 1523, a fleet of fifty vessels put out from the harbour at Rhodes for an unknown destination in the West. On board were the shattered remnants of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, accompanied by 4,000 Rhodians, who preferred the Knights and destitution to security under the rule of the Sultan Solyman. The little fleet was in a sad and piteous condition. Many of those on board were wounded; all—Knights and Rhodians alike—were in a state of extreme poverty. For six months they had resisted the full might of the Ottoman Empire under its greatest Sultan, Solyman the Magnificent; Europe had looked on in amazed admiration, but had not ventured to move to its rescue. Now they were leaving the home their Order had possessed for 212 years, and were sailing out to beg from Christendom another station from which to attack the infidel once again.