The Crusades

Hospitallers were committed to caring for  poor pilgrims, and in the era of crusading, this also meant defending them by force. 

The First Crusade was launched to capture Jerusalem and the holy places for Christians after 400 years of Muslim rule. Success in 1099 saw the setting up of Christian States in the Holy Land but keeping them proved difficult.

Within years, the growing strength of Muslim forces spawned the idea of holy warriors dedicated to fighting for Christ. The Order of the Hospital of St. John, set up to care for sick pilgrims, now took up arms to protect them. Brother knights were sent out from headquarters in Jerusalem to garrison great castles like Krak des Chevaliers, and defend the frontiers of the Christian States.

The Knights Hospitaller, along with the Knights Templar, were the main defenders of the Holy Land until the final Muslim victory in 1291. After the defeat the Hospitallers sailed to their estates on Cyprus and then seized the island of Rhodes. Here they re-established their headquarters and hospital and built a fleet of galleys to continue their crusading role as defenders of Christendom.