Well, here's what Abby Says. I hope he or Bruce Olson will come and say more.
-Joe Offer

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The Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem was recognized in 1113. After being ousted from Jerusalem & Rhodes, Emperor Charles V of Sicily, gave them Malta, Gozo and Comino and the city of Tripoli as a fief of the Kingdom of Sicily in 1530. (The annual rent was one falcon - hence the legend of the Maltese Falcon.)

The Order took possession on 10/26/1530. They surendered Malta to Napoleon's fleet May 10, 1798 and left for Italy.

The Maltese rebelled against the French who left. At that point the knights thought it might be nice to reclaim their fiefdom. The Maltese, however, were now spoiled and preferred freedom to serfdom kept them out too.

The Knights were arrogant sons of bitches and professed they had wholly replaced Jews as the subjects of the Bible:

Come all ye knights, ye knights of Malta,
In your glittering armour shine,
Assist your good and worthy Prince
To protect the ark devine;

For we are the true-born sons of Levi,
Few on earth with us compare;
We are the root and branch of David,
That bright and glorious morning star.

    "The Knights of Malta," Ord's Bothy Songs and Ballads, 1930.

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