The Shield and the Sword

The fascinating history of the legendary Order of St. John.

Known by many names through their centuries-long existence, The Knights Hospitaller of Saint John dedicated themselves to defending the poor and sick.

First formed in Jerusalem during the Crusades of the eleventh century, the Order of Saint John grew in wealth and power rivalled only by the Knights Templar. They survived exile from the Holy Land, settling first in Rhodes and then in Malta, which they famously defended against the Ottoman Empire’s epic invasion of 1565. Even after losing Malta to Napoleon Bonaparte two centuries later, the Order of Saint John continued its mission.

In The Shield and the Sword, Ernle Bradford displays his talents as a master storyteller and great scholar of the Mediterranean, charting the intriguing history of the Knights, from their origins in the Holy Land to their subsequent relocation to Rhodes, the island of Malta, and eventually England.