You cannot understand Malta without the Knights of Malta. For 268 years they transformed the island into a military power and the cultural centre of the Mediterranean. Valletta, the Co-Cathedral, the great forts — all their creation.
Where Did They Come From?
They started in Jerusalem as the Order of Hospitallers — caring for sick pilgrims. But in the Holy Land they quickly learned that prayers alone were not enough. They became one of the most feared elite fighting forces of the medieval age.
They arrived on Malta in 1530 — Emperor Charles V gave them the island in exchange for a symbolic annual rent: one falcon. Arguably the greatest real-estate deal in history.
The Great Siege of 1565 — The Moment of Glory
The defining moment in Maltese history. Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent sent 40,000 soldiers to crush 700 Knights and a few thousand Maltese. Four months of siege in July heat. The Knights defended every fort to the last man.
Jean de Valette, the 70-year-old Grand Master, fought personally on the walls. The Ottomans withdrew. Europe was astonished. Valletta, built afterwards as a votive offering from the defenders of Christendom, carries his name to this day.
The End — Napoleon in 6 Days
After their years of glory the Knights grew complacent. They lived lavishly, drank, and conducted piracy under the cover of "corso" (officially protecting Christian ships). When Napoleon arrived in 1798, Grand Master Hompesch surrendered the island with barely a fight. The Knights packed their bags and left.
What They Left Behind
- Auberges (Inns of Langues): In Valletta, each of the 8 "tongues" (nationalities) had its own palace. Auberge de Castille is now the office of the Maltese Prime Minister.
- Sacra Infermeria: The largest hospital in Renaissance Europe — patients were served food on silver dishes because silver was considered more hygienic. Medical thinking 200 years ahead of its time.
- The Maltese Cross: 8 arms symbolising the 8 Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount. You'll find it on Maltese euro coins, every fridge magnet, and every bus.