Editing Sovereign Military Order of Malta (section)

==History==

* 11th Century: A hospital is established in Jerusalem by merchants from Amalfi to care for pilgrims. The monastic community that ran it became an independent religious order under the leadership of Blessed Fra' Gerard.
* 1113: Pope Paschal II officially recognizes the Order of St. John, giving it autonomy from other authorities.

===Crusades:===
The Order expands its mission to include military defense of pilgrims, the sick, and Christian territories in the Holy Land.

* 1291: The Order relocates to Cyprus after the fall of the last Christian stronghold in the Holy Land.
* 1310: The knights move to the island of Rhodes, where they build a powerful fleet to defend Christendom.
* 1523: After a six-month siege by the Ottoman Empire, the knights are forced to leave Rhodes.
* 1530: The Order takes possession of the island of Malta, granted to them by Emperor Charles V.
* 1798: Napoleon occupies Malta, and the knights are expelled from the island.
* 1834: The Order settles permanently in Rome, where its headquarters remain today.