The Land and the Cross

Reviews / Votes

'The Order of St. John has a deliciously complex history, its members ruling a tiny insular territory while managing a vast web of land holdings that extended over virtually every part of medieval and early modern Europe. This collection of essays does full justice to the order's rich and multi-faceted past, while at the same time showcasing the ongoing transformation of Hospitaller studies thanks to the troves of new documentary material now being made available by archivists' - Giancarlo Casale, Professor of Early Modern History of the Mediterranean, European University Institute.

'This wide-ranging collection is a welcome addition to scholarship on the Order of St John (also known as the Knights Hospitaller and the Knights of Malta) in Europe during the early modern period. Focussing on the Knights' landholdings and relations with Christian rulers, it reveals the Order as a vibrant institution even as its holy war and care for the sick became less significant to Europeans. Exploring extensive archival records -- including the Knights' illustrated inventories of their lands and buildings - these articles illuminate details of the Knights' activities in landholding, politics and diplomacy, administration, and record-keeping' - Helen Nicholson, Emeritus Professor, Cardiff University.

'This book is rich with new insights about the intricate administrative systems that held together the far-reaching network of properties of the Order of Saint John. The role played by individual actors leaps to life from the pages, in a vivid portrait of the tensions between the time-honoured traditions of a venerable institution, and the pragmatic realpolitik that needed to be exercised daily to safeguard the Order's interests. The volume brings together fifteen contributions from a formidable array of scholars, to deliver an interdisciplinary tour-de-force' - Reuben Grima, Associate Professor of Conservation and Built Heritage, University of Malta.