What do you think?
Rate this book
Hospitallers: The History of the Order of St. John
The Hospitallers were a religious order, founded in Jerusalem, devoted both to nursing and to fighting the infidel.
With their fellow knights, the Templars, they played a heroic part in the defence of the Holy Land, defending great castles, such as Krak des Chevaliers, while at the same time providing exemplary nursing care for the poor.
Hospitallers is a narrative, by a leading historian of the crusades, of this remarkable body, the heir of which is the Order of St John.
After the fall of the Holy Land, the knights retreated first to Cyprus and then to Rhodes, which was massively fortified to defy the Turks. Their galleys were a thorn in the flesh to the Ottomans.
Expelled from Rhodes in 1523, they were given Malta by Charles V. Their survival of the Great Siege of 1565 was an epic of heroism that enthralled all Europe.
Driven from Malta by Napoleon, on his way to Egypt in 1798, their history in the first half of the nineteenth century was a chequered one.
Seizing on the need for organised nursing, and sustained by its extraordinary past, the order redefined itself in the middle of the nineteenth century to become the best-known provider of emergency medical care.
The Order of St John continues to provide first aid and nursing for millions of people, in peace and war, in countries throughout the world. Nine hundred years after its foundation, it is still running a hospital in Jerusalem.
‘An outstanding historian of the crusade movement’ John Gilchrist, Speculum
Jonathan Riley-Smith is a leading expert on the history of the crusades. He is Dixie Professor of Ecclesiastical History at the University of Cambridge and Librarian of the Order of St John.
Endeavour Press is the UK's leading independent digital publisher. For more information on our titles please sign up to our newsletter at www.endeavourpress.com. Each week you will receive updates on free and discounted ebooks. Follow us on Twitter: @EndeavourPress and on Facebook via http://on.fb.me/1HweQV7. We are always interested in hearing from our readers. Endeavour Press believes that the future is now.
With their fellow knights, the Templars, they played a heroic part in the defence of the Holy Land, defending great castles, such as Krak des Chevaliers, while at the same time providing exemplary nursing care for the poor.
Hospitallers is a narrative, by a leading historian of the crusades, of this remarkable body, the heir of which is the Order of St John.
After the fall of the Holy Land, the knights retreated first to Cyprus and then to Rhodes, which was massively fortified to defy the Turks. Their galleys were a thorn in the flesh to the Ottomans.
Expelled from Rhodes in 1523, they were given Malta by Charles V. Their survival of the Great Siege of 1565 was an epic of heroism that enthralled all Europe.
Driven from Malta by Napoleon, on his way to Egypt in 1798, their history in the first half of the nineteenth century was a chequered one.
Seizing on the need for organised nursing, and sustained by its extraordinary past, the order redefined itself in the middle of the nineteenth century to become the best-known provider of emergency medical care.
The Order of St John continues to provide first aid and nursing for millions of people, in peace and war, in countries throughout the world. Nine hundred years after its foundation, it is still running a hospital in Jerusalem.
‘An outstanding historian of the crusade movement’ John Gilchrist, Speculum
Jonathan Riley-Smith is a leading expert on the history of the crusades. He is Dixie Professor of Ecclesiastical History at the University of Cambridge and Librarian of the Order of St John.
Endeavour Press is the UK's leading independent digital publisher. For more information on our titles please sign up to our newsletter at www.endeavourpress.com. Each week you will receive updates on free and discounted ebooks. Follow us on Twitter: @EndeavourPress and on Facebook via http://on.fb.me/1HweQV7. We are always interested in hearing from our readers. Endeavour Press believes that the future is now.
92 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 6, 2016
28 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Riley-Smith
43 books54 followersJonathan Simon Christopher Riley-Smith, Dixie Professor of Ecclesiastical History at the University of Cambridge, was educated at Eton College and Trinity College Cambridge. He received his BA (1960), MA (1964), PhD (1964) and LittD (2001) from Cambridge.
From 1964–1972 Dr. Riley-Smith taught in the Department of Medieval History at the Unversity of St Andrews, first as assistant lecturer, until 1966, then as lecturer. From 1972 until 1978, he served on the history faculty at the University of Cambridge. He was professor of history at the University of London from 1978 until 1994. Since 1994, Professor Riley-Smith has served on the faculties of history and divinity at the University of Cambridge. He is a fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge. From 1997 to 1999 he was chair of the faculty of history.
He was a founder member (1980), acting secretary (1980–1982) and president (1987–1995) of the Society for the Study of the Crusades and the Latin East. Other positions he has held include Knight of Grace and Devotion, Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Officer of Merit, Order Pro Merito Melitens, and Knight of Justice, Most Venerable Order of St John.
From 1964–1972 Dr. Riley-Smith taught in the Department of Medieval History at the Unversity of St Andrews, first as assistant lecturer, until 1966, then as lecturer. From 1972 until 1978, he served on the history faculty at the University of Cambridge. He was professor of history at the University of London from 1978 until 1994. Since 1994, Professor Riley-Smith has served on the faculties of history and divinity at the University of Cambridge. He is a fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge. From 1997 to 1999 he was chair of the faculty of history.
He was a founder member (1980), acting secretary (1980–1982) and president (1987–1995) of the Society for the Study of the Crusades and the Latin East. Other positions he has held include Knight of Grace and Devotion, Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Officer of Merit, Order Pro Merito Melitens, and Knight of Justice, Most Venerable Order of St John.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
April 3, 2018
Fascinating insight to the Order of St John
Overall an enjoyable read giving great depth and explanation to the history of the Knights Hospitallers and the establishment of the modern order of St John. As stated at the beginning and the end a truly adaptive organisation capable of adjusting to the tines. Long may it survive.
Overall an enjoyable read giving great depth and explanation to the history of the Knights Hospitallers and the establishment of the modern order of St John. As stated at the beginning and the end a truly adaptive organisation capable of adjusting to the tines. Long may it survive.
Displaying 1 of 1 review