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The Knights Hospitaller
Nicholson, one of the UK's leading historians of the medieval military orders...has a flair for clear and uncluttered explanations enlivened with telling detail and quotation. And her account is comprehensive. An attractive volume. HISTORY
This short study of the history of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, Rhodes and Malta, also known as the Knights Hospitaller, is intended as an introduction to the Order for academics working in other fields, as well as the interested general reader. Beginning with a consideration of the origins of the Order as a hospice for pilgrims in Jerusalem in the eleventh century, it traces the Hospitaller's development into a military order during the first part of the twelfth century, and its military activities on the frontiers of Christendom in the eastern Mediterranean, Spain and eastern Europe during the middle ages and into early modern its role in crusades and in wars against non-Christians on land and at sea, as well as its role in building and maintaining fortresses. It also considers the Order's activities away from the frontiers of its economic activities and its relations with patrons and rulers throughout Europe, as well as its hospitaller work and its religious life. The focus of the study is on the medieval period down to the loss of Rhodes in 1522, but the final chapters of the book consider the Order'shistory on Malta from the sixteenth to the end of the eighteenth century, and from the loss of Malta in 1798 to the present day.
HELEN NICHOLSON is Senior Lecturer in History, Cardiff University.
This short study of the history of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, Rhodes and Malta, also known as the Knights Hospitaller, is intended as an introduction to the Order for academics working in other fields, as well as the interested general reader. Beginning with a consideration of the origins of the Order as a hospice for pilgrims in Jerusalem in the eleventh century, it traces the Hospitaller's development into a military order during the first part of the twelfth century, and its military activities on the frontiers of Christendom in the eastern Mediterranean, Spain and eastern Europe during the middle ages and into early modern its role in crusades and in wars against non-Christians on land and at sea, as well as its role in building and maintaining fortresses. It also considers the Order's activities away from the frontiers of its economic activities and its relations with patrons and rulers throughout Europe, as well as its hospitaller work and its religious life. The focus of the study is on the medieval period down to the loss of Rhodes in 1522, but the final chapters of the book consider the Order'shistory on Malta from the sixteenth to the end of the eighteenth century, and from the loss of Malta in 1798 to the present day.
HELEN NICHOLSON is Senior Lecturer in History, Cardiff University.
- GenresHistory
208 pages, Paperback
First published March 30, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 24, 2014
The origin of Knight Hospitaller as the care for poor and sick pilgrims to the Holy Land. The religious order that later evolved as a military order to defend the Christendom from Muslim attack. Probably it is the origin of modern "Red Cross" that also care the sick or wounded who fall in the battlefield.
August 23, 2018
The Knights Hospitaller
Helen Nicholson
Read it in used paperback at a meager 180 pages including plates, further reading, and bibliography.
This is a short book looking to generally cover the Knights Hospitaller, a religious order established after the Kingdom in The Levant who were charged with providing care for the sick and haggard pilgrims that made their way to the Holy Land after the First Crusade. As the Kingdom of Levant develops, the knightly orders including the Hospitaller, take a more active role in it's military endeavors and become holders of great real-estate, castles, etc. giving them influence in the politics of the region. When Jerusalem is re-taken and Christian's expunged the Knights Hospitaller become a bit rudderless. A situation made worse by the destruction of their brother Order, The Templars, and eventually untenable as an organization as the flow of pilgrims dried up. They were moved, restructured, given a new purpose, but still could not find the success and affluence they once had. For times were-a'-changing.
Despite the change in winds, the Knights Hospitaller still exist today, as an arm of the Papacy, still doing charitable work for those less fortunate.
The author intended for this to be a small easy thing to navigate, she was successful in that. I read this primarily for the information prior to the fall of The Levant to Muslim forces. Their tragic last stands, their infighting, and their colorful grand masters are all great reading. Nicholson provides an amazing further reading section, a list of Grand Masters (to current), art plates, etc.
Helen Nicholson
Read it in used paperback at a meager 180 pages including plates, further reading, and bibliography.
This is a short book looking to generally cover the Knights Hospitaller, a religious order established after the Kingdom in The Levant who were charged with providing care for the sick and haggard pilgrims that made their way to the Holy Land after the First Crusade. As the Kingdom of Levant develops, the knightly orders including the Hospitaller, take a more active role in it's military endeavors and become holders of great real-estate, castles, etc. giving them influence in the politics of the region. When Jerusalem is re-taken and Christian's expunged the Knights Hospitaller become a bit rudderless. A situation made worse by the destruction of their brother Order, The Templars, and eventually untenable as an organization as the flow of pilgrims dried up. They were moved, restructured, given a new purpose, but still could not find the success and affluence they once had. For times were-a'-changing.
Despite the change in winds, the Knights Hospitaller still exist today, as an arm of the Papacy, still doing charitable work for those less fortunate.
The author intended for this to be a small easy thing to navigate, she was successful in that. I read this primarily for the information prior to the fall of The Levant to Muslim forces. Their tragic last stands, their infighting, and their colorful grand masters are all great reading. Nicholson provides an amazing further reading section, a list of Grand Masters (to current), art plates, etc.
October 6, 2020
A decent history of the Hospitaller, from thier early role in Jerusalem, the wars against the Ayyubids, Mamluks and Ottomans, the time in Rhodes and Malta, and the decline following the Napoleonic Wars. Enjoyed it!
May 15, 2017
An easy to read, but comprehensive history of the organisation. Well recommended.
July 20, 2014
Excellent and very comprehensive history of the Knights. Greatly enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews