THE KNIGHTS AS HUMANITARIANS Originally known as the Sovereign Military Hospitallers of St. John (or Hospitaller Knights), this special group of people served in both a religious and military capacity. At the height of the conflict in the Holy Land, specifically those encountering fighting during pilgrimages, the Knights served in a humanitarian capacity, supplying medical care to those who had become ill, sustained injuries, or were destitute. Even before settling on the Maltese island, the Knights maintained a combatant spirit, serving as a line of defense, even as they provided care to those in need. A MIGHTY MILITARY FORCE After a difficult loss in Rhodes, the Knights settled in Malta in the 1530s. immediately observant of the vulnerability the island faced, the Knights (now known as the Knights of Malta) mobilized to create and develop infrastructure that made the island nearly impenetrable. The Knights’ successful defense against (and the defeat of) the Barbary Corsairs inspired the fury of yet another opponent—the Ottoman Empire. What followed was a military attack on the island and the Ottoman’s attempt to siege Malta (in 1555 and 1565, respectively). The Ottomans were indeed powerful, and a months-long battle ensued. But their efforts failed to defeat the mighty Knights, whose humanitarian background and innate ability to fight and defend ultimately sealed their victory. DEFENSE IN ARCHITECTURE Recognizing how much the island of Malta was exposed to outside attacks, the Knights strategically erected structures that secured Malta’s coastal borders from threats of invasion. Fort. St. Angelo—constructed in the Middle Ages—provided expansive water views (imperative for spotting opposition as they approached. Reminiscent of a puzzle piece, its asymmetrical shape and extraordinary design proved a formidable obstacle for armies attempting to gain access to the island. The same can be said for Fort St. Elmo, the structure largely responsible for the Knights’ victory in The Great Siege of Malta in 1565 (it’s also what became the city we know today as Valletta). Columns so tall that they seem to touch the sky, with access to water views that are both optimal for battle and breathtaking with wonder, these forts, even those that were partially damaged and destroyed, reflect the spirit of an army determined, and because they’re still standing, an army victorious.
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