Les Hospitaliers

The Order of the Knights Hospitaller, originating from a hospital founded in Jerusalem in the 11th century, evolved into a powerful military-religious order. Initially dedicated to caring for pilgrims and providing medical aid, it transitioned into a military role by the 12th century, defending the Holy Land and Latin states with formidable fortresses like Crac des Chevaliers. The order's strategic resources were bolstered by a vast network of houses in Western Christendom, enabling its military campaigns across the Levant and Iberian Peninsula. Displaced from the Holy Land after the fall of Acre in 1291, it relocated to Cyprus, Rhodes, and ultimately Malta, where it continues its charitable legacy today.

Alain. (2013). Les Hospitaliers. https://doi.org/10.14375/np.9791021000605