What is known about Hospitalier Knights?

Known as the Knights of Saint John or the Knights Hospitaller, this knightly order is a knightly order established in the 11th century. Later, they became the Knights of Rhodes because of the island of Rhodes, which they chose as their base. Later, this order was called the Knights of Malta. We will answer questions such as where did the Knights of Rhodes come from, are the Knights of Rhodes a sect and how were the Knights of Rhodes founded. If you’re ready, let’s get started!

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Who are the Knights of Rhodes?

The sect is headquartered in Rome, Italy. The group’s current official name is “Sovrano Militare Ordine Ospedaliero di San Giovanni di Gerusalemme di Rodi e di Malta” in Italian. The Turkish translation of this is “Jerusalem, Rhodes and the Maltese Saint. Sovereign Jan Military Hospitality Sect.”

Peter Gerard was chosen as the first lord of the order around 1100. Godfroi de Bouillon donated land to the order soon after the creation of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, and many who inspired him decided to donate land to the order. Pope II. Pascal recognized the Knights Hospitaller as a sect in 1113. This sect, which had begun to arm itself in the 1120s, carried out its first military activity in 1136.

A sect, known at first as the Charity Society, was founded to help the sick and poor pilgrims who were to come to the city of Jerusalem, thanks to the special permission obtained by Italian merchants from the Muslims. Known to be affiliated with the Catholic Church, this sect has managed to survive until today and has had a strong navy and army independently for some years of history. So much so that this sect left great traces in the history of Europe, Islam and the Ottoman Empire.

These knights, which were about 2,000 people, felt that they were responsible only to the Pope. This caused them to act separately from the central and local government. The sect, which protected the road to Jerusalem, and initially known as Hajiulu, later joined the Crusader army.

Beginning of the Order of the Knights of Rhodes and change of rule

The Church of St. John (Saint Jean) in Jerusalem emerged as a result of the development of a hospital administration for the treatment of sick pilgrims. After the Crusaders captured Jerusalem in 1099, Gerard, who was the head of the hospital, began working in Jerusalem. He began with the people of Provence to establish inns in the areas of the Italians on their way to Palestine.

Many Crusader knights were receiving treatment in this hospital, and some of them donated some of their fortune here. Others decided to stay in Jerusalem and serve in the hospital. Growing richer and richer, the hospital became a powerful institution that fought Muslims as well as helped the poor and sick.

Although they were defeated by Saladin’s armies at the Battle of Hattin, their activities continued. After the fall of Acre in 1291 and the disappearance of the Crusader emirate, they settled in Cyprus and continued their work for the sick and pilgrims. The reason for their settlement in Cyprus was to be close to Palestine with the hope of conquering it again one day.

Rhodes was captured by the Order in 1309. They established a hospital here and functioned as an independent state. In 1522, during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, Rhodes was captured by the Ottomans. In 1530, the German Holy Roman Emperor Charles V donated the island of Malta to the order. The command was able to resist the Ottoman attacks and build up a strong navy and hospital. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Ottoman threat diminished and the regime gradually weakened. Napoleon Bonaparte captured Malta in 1798. It was then that in 1834 the headquarters of the Order was transferred to Rome.

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Sect function today

The Order of Malta currently has the status of a sovereign non-state actor. The sect, which defines itself as humane, harmless and impartial, maintains diplomatic relations with 104 countries. In addition, many countries grant diplomatic privileges and immunity to the knights of this sect.