vatican-assassins-by-eric-jon-phelps

Chapter 19Fra Raymond du Puy introduced the first rule of the Order known to usand also the white octagonal cross which has to this day remained the Order’semblem (the Maltese Cross).While continuing on a vast scale its hospitaller activity, one of its twoaims: obsequium pauperum (service of the poor), the Order pursued valiantly itsother aim – the defense of Christendom: tuitio fidei (protection of the Faith).However, in 1291, Acre, the last Christian stronghold in the Holy Land was lostand the Order settled temporarily in Cyprus.From the beginning, the Order’s independence of all other States, invirtue of Papal acts, and its universally recognized right to maintain armedforces and wage war constituted its international sovereignty. With theoccupation of the island of Rhodes, completed in 1310 under the Grand MasterFra Foulques de Villaret, the Order acquired territorial sovereignty as well (andthe Knights of St. John came to be called Knights of Rhodes). The island facedMuslim territorial and naval might and became a bastion of Christendom in theEast Mediterranean sea.The military defense of Christendom now of necessity required navalaction. Accordingly, the Order came to possess a powerful fleet; it patrolled theEast Mediterranean waters and engaged in many renowned battles with theenemy. It took part in the crusades in Syria and in Egypt and brought aid to theChristian Kingdom of Armenia (Cilicia) against Muslim invaders.The members of the Order who came to Rhodes from all over Europe, aswell as the establishments of the Order in Europe, were from the beginning ofthe fourteenth century, grouped according to languages spoken. There were thus,initially, seven such groups of Langues (Tongues): Province, Auvergne, France,Italy Aragon(-Navarre), England (with Scotland and Ireland), Germany. In 1462Castile and Portugal separated from the Langue of Aragon and formed togetherthe eight Langues.In the sixteenth century the Langue of England was suppressed and later,in 1782, temporarily reestablished under the name of the Anglo-BavarianLangue. Each Langue was composed of Priories or Grand Priories, Bailiwicks,and Commanderies.The Jesuits – 1801 - 1814