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As the "Sovereign Order of the Knights Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, Rhodes and Malta," said the official name of the 1099 Order, founded in Jerusalem, in the year 1530 established in Malta, he was successively by the Turks of Cyprus only, then Rhodes been displaced. Originally intended to protect the pilgrims who came to the Holy Land, turned the Order soon into a military power in the Mediterranean. The Knights of forming a separate state, not the worldly Lord had to obey.
The order consisted of three groups: the actual knights, the European aristocracy came, the spiritual brothers for the church service and the brothers serving for health care. According to their regional origin were the members of the Order in eight tongues (languages) divided, symbolized by the eight peaks of the Maltese Cross. The members of each tongue had their own residence (auberge). The head of the tongues formed the Council of the Sixteen, the highest body of the Order. At its peak was the Grand Master, which all members were required absolute obedience. It also praised the Knights, chastity and poverty to live. To major champion, had three years on a galley, three in the Convention and 13 served as board of a tongue.
Even when the Knights no longer attacks against the Turks had to defend, they continued fighting against the "infidels". To this noble task now also included the looting of their merchant vessels, not least to the often empty coffers to fill (the fortifications engulf enormous sum), but also to free Christian slaves.
After the French invasion of 1798, the Order had to left Malta. He lost his territory, but not its sovereignty. But exactly 200 years later, in 1998, the Knights moved into Fort St. Angelo as a new residence in Malta. Today enjoys the (Catholic) Maltese emergency service enjoy great reputation because of its humanitarian commitment around the world. The Johanniter accident assistance, a Prusian-Protestant secession, is committed.international in the disaster and refugee assistance.
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