Naval Exploits of the Knights of Malta, 1647-1736

An original watercolor from the album Naval Exploits of the Knights of Malta, 1647-1736. The Knights of Malta began as the military religious Order of the Hospital in Jerusalem at the time of the First Crusade in 1099 where they operated a hospital for pilgrims. Aftr the fall of Acre in 1291, the Knights migrated to Rhodes until 1530 when they once again moved, this time to Malta which they ruled until 1798. The Order still exists today as a charitable organization that supports hospitaller work around the world.