1.his modest beginning foundation Latins, operating on foreign territory ethnically and religiously, completely changed its character after the creation of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Initially dependent on the monastery of Our Lady of Latin brotherhood became independent hospital quickly. During the reign of Gerard, who headed the Brotherhood during the First Crusade, transformed it into a new religious organization, with its own rules of life and distinct tasks. The new fraternity adopted the name of the Hospital of St. John the Baptist. They found a very useful organization for the invaders and Europe. Gerard and his brothers knew well the country and its inhabitants, the Crusaders blow away valuable services in the conquest of Palestine.
More important are the role of informers, and spies had care of pilgrims and visitors from Europe who were after all still a valuable supplement scarce military forces of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Hospitallers provides them with shelter and care in the event of illness. All this meant that the Society of St. John enjoyed the care and support of the first rulers of Jerusalem, the papacy and the feudal knights. King Baldwin I usually extract a part of the spoils of war. They also began to receive earthly possessions, which steadily expanded. Already during the reign of Gerard, who died about 1119/1120 year, the Hospital of St. John in Jerusalem subject to a number of hospices and hospitals in Syria and in Europe. The main task of the brotherhood was still charitable activities: care for the poor, pilgrims and the sick.
Further changes occurred in the guild master in the days of Raymond du Puy, coming from a family of French knights, who led the Hospital almost 40 years (about 1120-1160). Brotherhood of the Hospitallers evolved from a loose-religious charitable organization in order. Moreover, the model of the Knights Templar became the law of chivalry Joannites. And next to the usual vows yet filed an additional? Wedding constant struggle with the unbelievers. At the same time almost to the Templars the Hospitallers obtained the legal privileges of the popes, which guaranteed the freedom of the board of internal order, release the power from the Patriarch of Jerusalem, the bishops and other representatives of the ecclesiastical hierarchy, and were subject only to the authority of the order of the pope. Starting from the edict of Anastasius IV in 1154 years multiplied papal privileges for St. John. There was even a rivalry between the Templars and Johannites the favor of Rome, when a convent was a papal privilege, the other immediately asked for the same. Practical Joannites claimed at the time the papal curia, and then permanent prosecutors who were guarding the interests of the Order in Rome and constantly striving for new privileges or approval of the old. Popes and not denied, because they wanted to make sure that military orders to make powerful organizations and sovereign, independent of local ecclesiastical authorities. In this way they became militant branch of the Church, which depend exclusively only from the pope. If necessary, they can be used to fulfill the plans of papal supremacy over Europe and the expansion of Christendom. But not only these reasons decided by the kindness of the popes to St. John. Besides the motives at work here more concrete and mundane. Everyone was handsomely paid for the privilege of the rich religious coffers, and their distribution popes brought substantial financial benefits. The organization of the Order of St John of Jerusalem was similar to the organization of the Knights Templar. A pattern is repeated, moreover, in all chivalric orders and associations, which are their continuation.
At the head of the Order was so great champion, picked from among the brothers, the knights. He directed the activities of the Order and chaired the General Chapter, which was the highest authority? Legislative "and determined the most important issues of religious communities. Office of the Grand Master was an attractive position. Master had power and influence far greater than many a prince or king, and also a way of life differed little from them. he had an impressive host of personal service and had no restrictions on their resources of money, gold and silver. Not everyone, however, the knight of the Order could achieve that office. provisions of the General Chapter of 1262 years is clear that a great champion could only be a man? lawfully born of noble parents. " Willing, however, has always been many. In this community of people hard and strong there have often to disputes and fights during elections. To help prevent at least in part, one of the General Chapters (1283) concluded that at home where choice is the Grand Master, no one during the election can not carry any weapons or the store. The Grand Master had to help council, consisting of several great dignitaries, heads of the different areas of religious activity. Among them: the great commander, Marshal, Grand Hospitaller, the great Draper (drapier), the great chancellor, admiral, grand prior. Of course, the dignitaries were coming with the development of the law and the increasing activity of St John of Jerusalem, especially the military. The rapid growth of religious property, the development of fortified houses, monasteries in different parts of Europe (including Poland) made it necessary to split the order into provinces, called? Tongues "(At various times in history, there were following the law? Languages': Provence, Auvergne, France, Wiochy, Aragon, Germany, England, Castile and Portugal .. They were divided in turn into priories, and these and the Commander.)
Religious attire was definitely established by Pope Alexander IV in 1259 and consisted of a black habit and the same color jacket with hood. The habit and cloak sewn on the left side was white ośmiorożny cross. This cross, with a characteristic shape, was the symbol of St John of Jerusalem in the days of Master Raymond du Puy. Order it used is unchanged throughout its existence. Today this form of cross is called a Maltese cross.
Brothers-in peacetime knights wore a black coat with a white cross. Religious statutes punish those who are going through the city wearing a coat so that you can see under it a sword and dagger. To fight the imposition of the armor of knights, red tunic with a white cross of religion. The custom of wearing the armor of light tunics, sleeveless, with holes for head and shoulders, was then common. In the East, it was a necessity, because tunic armor protected against excessive heat from the sun. The statutes of religious moderation and ordered here for simplicity. Prohibits the use of fabrics with gold or silver thread. Also, any expensive ornaments in the saddle, harness or weapons are strictly prohibited.
Like members of other religious orders of knights shared Joannites monks into three classes, differing in birth, position in the law and the classroom. The class was created first and foremost brothers, knights, nobles, destined for the profession of arms and directing the law. Brothers servicemen served as auxiliaries for the knights, were involved in business and charity. Finally, brothers, chaplains, clergy of various degrees, were involved in a religious cult, cared for the sick and pilgrims.
The first aim of the law was to care for the poor, pilgrims and the sick. But gradually more and more important military operations began to take on St. John. Already in 1137, King Fulko of Anjou, one of the greatest rulers on the throne of Jerusalem, gave the Order of the strategically important frontier fortress Gibelin to protect the kingdom from the hand of Egypt. Entrusting joannitom border defense argues that the law existed in a group of experienced knights who were involved in warfare. This group of brothers, the knights soon began to play the most important role in the law. Knight and custom and exclusive stateful increasingly define the lives of religious communities and shaped the attitude of St. John.
Resolutions of the General Chapters? the highest legislative authority? show that the military issues of particular concern were the order of the authorities. Precise rules govern all matters relating to the possession of the brothers, the knights of arms, horses and servants. Much attention was also paid to recruit new members to the group of brothers-knights. More and more of the conditions posed to the poor knights, and sons of the powerful feudal families? on the contrary? facilitated access to the law. Reduced their probationary period before the adoption, children and the powerful, which, according to the custom of frequent were raised in homes Hospitallers, after reaching maturity could get a coat knight of the Order without difficulty, and further attempts. Also the condition of lawful origin bed, pursued by the knights of the Order is adopted, did not relate to the sons of princes and great lords. Only the higher offices in the law were not available for bastards.
2In an environment of European feudal Joannites quickly became popular. They were great institution of the Church of independence, where the younger sons of feudal families, deprived of their heritage and offices, they do a great military and political career, or at least have ensured good life compatible with the requirements of knighthood. So happy members of powerful families and families of feudal chivalry, for which there are no more land and power, took the religious habit. They did not lose contact with their relatives, and these family joannitom allowed in the Christian world to get big influence. Measures the impact of the law have also been different. For example, authorities allowed the brothers include religious and secular authorities of the various functions of the courts of the nobles and rulers. The brothers were even exempt from the struggle with the unbelievers. They had to do in case of mobilization of military forces Grand Master of the Order to send their horses, weapons and money needed for the expedition.
Power and influence in Europe, the law also owed a large number of affiliated members who live outside the religious houses, but connected with the law and using his ecclesiastical privileges. These included both men and women and their confratres called (fellow) and consorores (sisters). Most were members of their royal family, princes and nobles. In exchange for the records of wills, rich land donations, income, money has been held to the religious community, and they could thus benefit from all the privileges of the monks. Joannitom institution confreres brought a lot of good. In this way the law is not only greatly expanded its influence, but also expanded his lands and revenues.
The increase in power and wealth of the Order was the last and most important change that has taken place in the history of initially modest Brotherhood of St. John in Jerusalem. How big a role in the lives and activities of the Order of play money, shows the agreement he signed in 1168 years King Amalric I of Jerusalem Johannites before the planned trip to Egypt. The Order committed to deliver the king of 500 knights, and several times more light troops turkopolów. King and promised mountains of gold joannitom proverbial. After the conquest of Egypt, they had obtained the property of the city Bilbais (near Cairo) with a circle around that? as calculated? brought each year 100 000 gold bizantów income. For this to ten other cities in Egypt was to be paid annually to fund the sum total of the order of 50 000 bizantów. Finally, the king promised joannitom tenth of the spoils of war and treasure the caliph, when he falls into the hands of the Latins. This gigantic transaction has not been fully realized for the simple reason that Amalric I was not able to conquer Egypt. Even so, the contract is an interesting testimony, but remained only on parchment. It reveals the true motives of St. John. Just as participants in the Crusades, they were not fighting for the same idea. The fight against the infidels Joannites treated like a good deal, which should bring concrete benefits in terms of new properties, loot and extra income.
Revenue Order floated just above all of the great estates of the Hospitaller Order, which were both in the East, and Europe. Apart from the estates of them belonging to the peasant population, were also owned by the Order of the houses and squares in towns, market stalls and market halls, bakeries, baths, mills, gardens, vineyards, quarries, and even saline sea, where the evaporation of sea water were obtained salt. All this brought joannitom enormous profits. In addition, large sums of money order obtain from other sources. For example, in Acre and Tripoli port duties of the fees went to the cashier St. John. In some areas they collect tithes, others drifted back into their coffers tax paid by Muslims. Finally, the considerable sum of money flowed into the law of war booty and ransom for the captives. It is worth to say that the redemption of his own men, taken prisoner, Joannites not allocated any money. It was, moreover, the rule applied by all the military orders in the East. That is why it seldom occurred that captured knights returned to their. Have been frequent incidents of transition to Islam and attempts to solve his own life in the new conditions.
Following the example of the Templars Joannites also engaged in financial operations, often acting as intermediary in the transfer of sums of money from Europe to the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Sometimes also served powerful assistance in organizing the pilgrims stay in the Holy Land. Around the year 1168, for example, the Hungarian prince paid the money of the Hospitaller Order of 10 000 bizantów that you bought the estate in the Kingdom of Jerusalem, where the prince could stay during his visit. After the trip, the prince they had to go on property law. In a letter to the prince? written after the payment? Grand Master explains that he could not buy anything suitable in the vicinity of Jerusalem. It gives, however, the disposal of some properties of religious prince, located near the holy city. But if the noble pilgrim wanted to reside in Acre, you can buy here in 6000 bizantów palace, four houses and a farm nearby. The whole of this estate brings 1100 bizantów annual income? posted in the great master. Striking in this correspondence a good orientation in economic and careful calculation of the profits. Similar systems led Joannites of the Czech king Vladislav II, who donated to the residence of a religious castle Crac des Chevaliers, situated in the county of Tripoli.
Templars and Hospitallers too were involved in maritime carriage of pilgrims and crusaders. It was a job generating big profits, and initially it only dealt with buyers of Italian port cities and południowofrancuskich. Only in the first decades of the thirteenth century began to appear in Marseilles ships to transport pilgrims, belonging to the orders of chivalry. Keep in mind that sea voyages were not the safe project. Apart from the inadequacy of equipment, stormy weather and storms, and the constant threat of disease and epidemic among the ships crowded and poorly nourished people, pirates were a serious danger. A Mediterranean was just a traditional hotbed of sea banditry. Fight with the Muslims and Christians have facilitated the work of pirates. In this situation, Hospitaller and Templar ships, well armed and with a seasoned crew, provide greater security pass. And probably because the ships chivalric orders were very popular, competing effectively in the transport of pilgrims and crusaders from Marseilles merchant ships. This led to the dispute ended in 1234, settlement between Marseille and Knight Orders. Twice a year (in March and September) each order in Marseille could load one ship with 1,500 pilgrims a year so they could carry Hospitallers and Templars 6000 people.
The ships used by them had to be large. They probably belonged to a so-called. usserii (wrotowców), it is designed to transport people and horses. At the rear of the ship were such a wide gate, through which the horses were introduced. Housed in them also freely knight on horseback. Usseria usually took on board about 600 men and 250 horses, and the crew was at least 50 people. There were, however, and larger, which housed about 1,000 passengers. Hospitaller and Templar Usserie, taking on board 1,500 people, were among the largest ships. Provided them with a machine gun usually stones and incendiary projectiles, to combat pirate ships. View of such giants gliding on the sea was really impressive. The sides were suspended kasztelach and escutcheons usually knights and colorful characters painted on the boards of travelers. When the wind so łomotały that Joinville? secretary of King Louis IX? compared to the sound of thunder.
Hospitallers and Templars confined not only to transport pilgrims from Marseille. Ships of the two orders also meet the other great crusades of the period of transport actions. For example, when the French king Louis IX was planning his first crusade in 1246, among the ships that were to carry an army of Crusaders, were also vessels of both orders
chivalry.
Earned in a variety of financial and commercial transactions Joannites money? contrary to the Templars? invested in estates. The existing property, donated or acquired, zoom continuously for new purchases. As a result, the Order included a large benefit in almost all European countries and the East Joannites were the largest landowners
among the orders of chivalry. The lands lying on the border of the military colonies were formed, wholly dependent on the religious authorities. Also in the county of Tripoli and the principality of Antioch formed a compact estate Hospitaller territories, a kind of independent states. Here Joannites they had full authority over the population and a large political independence.
Hospitaller lands only in small parts were cultivated directly by the law, with the brothers and menial servants. Most cultivated her tenant, subject to the peasants and slaves, to whom the law applied the same methods of oppression and exploitation at the lay lords of the time. It is surprising today, the fact that the order of slaves. In the Middle Ages but it was not an isolated case. Slaves were the estates of St John of Jerusalem in the East, a large proportion of the population dependent and were recruited from the conquered Muslims or of prisoners of war. The statutes prohibit religious, without special permission of the Grand Master, baptize slaves, as a consequence of the baptism was their liberation. The General Chapter also decided in 1262 that a slave can only be triggered if the sum of the lodges, behind which you can buy two or three new slaves.
3.Joannites driven out of Rhodes landed in Italy. The pope appointed a temporary headquarters for the city Yiterbo in the papal state, situated near Rome. The proximity of the papal curia did not meet the Grand Master and his staff? a group of dignitaries of the Order. Therefore sought a new place to set up headquarters and operational base. The Grand Master Philip Yilliers led negotiations on the activities of Majorca, think about the island of Corfu and the islands of Hyeres on the Mediterranean coast of France, and were designed to address even the Isle of Wight in the English Channel.
In October 1530, the Grand Master of the Knights of the Order landed in Malta. He began a new period in the history of St John of Jerusalem, now often called the Knights of Malta.
The Turks and the Barbary pirates tried to chase them away. In May of 1565 years old Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent II sent a large, 100-strong army to conquer Malta. After four months of fighting the great master John de la Yalette managed to resist the Turkish attack. This energetic Master of the Knights began the construction of a huge fortress, which safeguards against sudden attacks of St John of Jerusalem and allowed the enemy to endure a long siege. It was in existence today, Yaletta, headquarters of the Order by the end of the eighteenth century. Fortified Malta soon became one of the strongest points of the Mediterranean and the main base of Christian corsairs. The Order remained a powerful and rich institution. Although as a result of lost fortunes of the Reformation in England, the Netherlands and the Protestant German countries. Knights of Malta, after serving a mandatory? Seniority "on the island, they returned to their countries, were employed at the courts of kings, served in diplomacy, enlists in the army and navy. Scattered throughout Europe and beyond, members of the Grand Master of the Order shall send detailed reports on its activities. So order the Knights of Malta was an institution well-informed European policy issues, and the great masters sometimes interfere in disputes and conflicts of European rulers.