 |
| A Knight of Malta - 1650 AD |
Knights of Malta History:
It is the 7th century, the place is Jerusalem, regarded by many as the holiest city in Christendom and Judea. This city contains King Solomon's Temple, the biblical home to the Ark of The Covenant. Jerusalem is also home to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher where Jesus died, and the Rock of the Dome, where Muhammad ascended to heaven.
Because of deep conflicting religious faiths, no other plot of land in the world has seen more bloodshed than Jerusalem. With close to half of the world's population continuously fighting over their faith in God and land rights, Jerusalem became a deadly intersection of epic wars and destruction for thousands of years.
Since the fifth century, Christian pilgrims from all over Europe made their way to Jerusalem, which had been predominantly controlled by Muslims. It was a very dangerous proposition for the faithful to make such a journey to the Holy Lands.
Pope Gregory the Great commissioned Abbot Probus in 600AD to build a hospital (named Domus Hospitalis) in Jerusalem to care for the sick and wounded Christians who braved the treacherous journey to the Holy Land. In the 9th century, Charlemagne, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, expanded the hospital because of the increased pilgrimages to the Holy Land. Tragically, the Domus Hospitalis, a landmark, was destroyed about 1000AD due to rising conflicts with Muslims.
Then in 1027, with permission from the Muslim leader Ali az-Zahir, another hospital was built on the old site of St. John the Baptist Monastery and was operated by the Benedictine Brothers. In fact, these Benedictine friars founded the Order of the Knights of St. John / Hospitallers. Some accounts claim the founders were a group of merchants from Amalfi, Italy. Although it's possible some who later joined were from Amalfi, it's hard to believe a group of merchants started the Knights of St. John.
Based on archives from the 12th century, here the first four Rectors (leaders - later known as Grandmasters) of the Knights:
1) French, 1087-1120 Peter Gerard Abbott
2) French, 1120-1158 Raymond de Puy
3) French, 1158-1163 Auger de Balben
4) French, 1163-1169 Arnaud de Comps
Peter Gerard Abbott became the first Rector of the Knights who eventually claimed the name Knights of Malta. He was in Jerusalem at least a decade before the First Crusade commenced, working at St. John's Monastery tending to the sick and wounded. It was also during his tenure, the Pope issued a decree formally recognizing the monks as the Knights of St. John / Hospitallers in 1113. This not only identified them as an official religious order, but it also granted them a military charter. For the first time the monks could go beyond just defending; this changed everything. The decree by the Pope also acknowledged Peter Gerard Abbott as the first known Grandmaster of the Order.
Peter Gerard Abbott knowingly becomes the godfather of the famous Templars six years later (1119AD) when the mystifying Knights Templar begin to organize. It's easy to see the connections between the Pope's decree and the following events: the military charter for Knights of St. John, the start of the Templars, the timing of Peter Gerard Abbott's resignation, and the eventual formation of two militaristic holy armies (Knights of St. John / Malta and the Templars).
In 1120, the second Rector Raymond de Puy established the first significant Hospitaller infirmary near the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and then proceeded to militarily reorganize the Knights. Rapidly the Brothers became armed and layered in armor; this, combined with monk-like dedication to training, unleashed a holy warrior that feared nothing but God. Slowly, the sword replaced their bibles; thus, killing in the name of Christ was ordained by the Vatican. Repentant Christians literally began to kill their way into heaven.
Knights Templar Art
Knights Templar Art
