The Knights Hospitaller: A Military History of the Knights of St John
A military history of the medieval Catholic order that arose during the Crusades in the Holy Land.

The Knights of St John evolved during the Crusades from a monastic order providing hostels for Christian pilgrims visiting the Holy Land. The need to provide armed escorts to the pilgrims began their transformation into a Military Order. Their fervor and discipline made them an elite component of most Crusader armies and Hospitaller Knights (as they were also known) took part in most of the major engagements, including Hattin, Acre and Arsuf.

After the Muslims had re-conquered the Crusader Kingdoms, the Order continued to fight from a new base, first in Rhodes and then in Malta. Taking to the sea, the Hospitallers became one of the major naval powers in the Mediterranean, defending Christian shipping from the Barbary Pirates (and increasingly turning to piracy themselves as funding from their estates in Europe dried up). They provided a crucial bulwark against Islamic expansion in the Mediterranean, obstinately resisting a massive siege of Malta by the Ottoman Turks in 1565. The Order remained a significant power in the Mediterranean until their defeat by Napoleon in 1798.

Praise for The Knights Hospitaller

“John's book gives us a rare insight into the monastic order that gave birth to the Knights Hospitaller, charting their history and exploits from their formation to the Napoleonic wars at the end of the eighteenth century. History doesn’t get any better than this.” —Books Monthly

“In the process of telling this story, Carr also gives us an overview of military practice and trends in the Mediterranean world from the Crusades through the age of Revolution. This is a good read for anyone unfamiliar with the knights.” —New York Military Affairs

“A deftly written, impressively comprehensive history that is thoroughly “reader friendly” in organization and presentation.” —Midwest Book Review
1132219459
The Knights Hospitaller: A Military History of the Knights of St John
A military history of the medieval Catholic order that arose during the Crusades in the Holy Land.

The Knights of St John evolved during the Crusades from a monastic order providing hostels for Christian pilgrims visiting the Holy Land. The need to provide armed escorts to the pilgrims began their transformation into a Military Order. Their fervor and discipline made them an elite component of most Crusader armies and Hospitaller Knights (as they were also known) took part in most of the major engagements, including Hattin, Acre and Arsuf.

After the Muslims had re-conquered the Crusader Kingdoms, the Order continued to fight from a new base, first in Rhodes and then in Malta. Taking to the sea, the Hospitallers became one of the major naval powers in the Mediterranean, defending Christian shipping from the Barbary Pirates (and increasingly turning to piracy themselves as funding from their estates in Europe dried up). They provided a crucial bulwark against Islamic expansion in the Mediterranean, obstinately resisting a massive siege of Malta by the Ottoman Turks in 1565. The Order remained a significant power in the Mediterranean until their defeat by Napoleon in 1798.

Praise for The Knights Hospitaller

“John's book gives us a rare insight into the monastic order that gave birth to the Knights Hospitaller, charting their history and exploits from their formation to the Napoleonic wars at the end of the eighteenth century. History doesn’t get any better than this.” —Books Monthly

“In the process of telling this story, Carr also gives us an overview of military practice and trends in the Mediterranean world from the Crusades through the age of Revolution. This is a good read for anyone unfamiliar with the knights.” —New York Military Affairs

“A deftly written, impressively comprehensive history that is thoroughly “reader friendly” in organization and presentation.” —Midwest Book Review
17.99 In Stock
The Knights Hospitaller: A Military History of the Knights of St John

The Knights Hospitaller: A Military History of the Knights of St John

by John Carr
The Knights Hospitaller: A Military History of the Knights of St John

The Knights Hospitaller: A Military History of the Knights of St John

by John Carr

eBook

$17.99  $23.99 Save 25% Current price is $17.99, Original price is $23.99. You Save 25%.

Available on Compatible NOOK devices, the free NOOK App and in My Digital Library.
WANT A NOOK?  Explore Now

Related collections and offers

LEND ME® See Details

Overview

A military history of the medieval Catholic order that arose during the Crusades in the Holy Land.

The Knights of St John evolved during the Crusades from a monastic order providing hostels for Christian pilgrims visiting the Holy Land. The need to provide armed escorts to the pilgrims began their transformation into a Military Order. Their fervor and discipline made them an elite component of most Crusader armies and Hospitaller Knights (as they were also known) took part in most of the major engagements, including Hattin, Acre and Arsuf.

After the Muslims had re-conquered the Crusader Kingdoms, the Order continued to fight from a new base, first in Rhodes and then in Malta. Taking to the sea, the Hospitallers became one of the major naval powers in the Mediterranean, defending Christian shipping from the Barbary Pirates (and increasingly turning to piracy themselves as funding from their estates in Europe dried up). They provided a crucial bulwark against Islamic expansion in the Mediterranean, obstinately resisting a massive siege of Malta by the Ottoman Turks in 1565. The Order remained a significant power in the Mediterranean until their defeat by Napoleon in 1798.

Praise for The Knights Hospitaller

“John's book gives us a rare insight into the monastic order that gave birth to the Knights Hospitaller, charting their history and exploits from their formation to the Napoleonic wars at the end of the eighteenth century. History doesn’t get any better than this.” —Books Monthly

“In the process of telling this story, Carr also gives us an overview of military practice and trends in the Mediterranean world from the Crusades through the age of Revolution. This is a good read for anyone unfamiliar with the knights.” —New York Military Affairs

“A deftly written, impressively comprehensive history that is thoroughly “reader friendly” in organization and presentation.” —Midwest Book Review

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781473858909
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Limited
Publication date: 01/31/2020
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 240
Sales rank: 515,757
File size: 10 MB

About the Author

John Carr has enjoyed a career as a journalist, correspondent and broadcaster (The Times, Wall Street Journal Europe, Vatican Radio), mainly in the Mediterranean and particularly Greece, where he now resides.

Table of Contents

Prologue: The Pope's Divisions vi

List of Illustrations ix

Chapter 1 Unfinished Business 1

Chapter 2 Birth of a Military Order 11

Chapter 3 Europe and the Middle East in the Twelfth Century 25

Chapter 4 Gaining Experience 34

Chapter 5 The Horns of Blood 47

Chapter 6 'In Vi Sancti Spiritus' 61

Chapter 7 Exodus 77

Chapter 8 Back to Square One 97

Chapter 9 Rhodes: 'The Good Years 105

Chapter 10 Rhodes: The Sieges 117

Chapter 11 The Order in Europe 135

Chapter 12 Malta and Lepanto 143

Chapter 13 The Navy of the Religion 160

Chapter 14 The Price of Louis' Head 170

Chapter 15 Swords into Ploughshares 181

Chapter 16 Back to the Wars 192

Epilogue 198

Appendix 201

Notes and References 204

Bibliography 210

Index 212

From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews