The Order of St John was founded in the eleventh century in Jerusalem as a religious and military order dedicated to caring for sick and poor pilgrims in the Holy Land. How they ended up over 1000 miles away on an island in the middle of the Mediterranean, embedded in one of the greatest fortifications of the medieval world, is one of history's greatest maritime stories. In this episode, Dr Sam Willis and maritime historian Liam Gauci from Heritage Malta explore that history. They visit the Grand Master's Palace in Valletta and marvel at its armoury and frescoes depicting naval battles. They tell the story of how the Knights were granted Malta by Charles V in 1530, built a significant fleet and fortifications and then survived the Great Siege of 1565 when the Knights, outnumbered 40,000 to 12,000, successfully defended their island home against the Ottomans. The episode highlights the Knights' naval prowess, their influence on Mediterranean maritime history, and their contributions to Malta's social welfare.

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