The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem of Rhodes of Malta and of Space

The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem of Rhodes of Malta and of Space was founded in 1048 by a group of merchants that founded a hospital in Jerusalem, offering medical treatment to peoples of all races and religions. Eventually, the political makeup of the medieval middle east required the Order to split from the Order of St. John, and take responsibility for the defense of their own hospitals and missionaries. Throughout the middle ages, the Order expanded its influence and mission to Rhodes, and Malta. The Order's knights were hybridized knights and monks, bound by the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience while they traveled the world as a military and humanitarian force. The Order transferred its capital to Cyprus in 1234, when the Holy Land was taken by Muslim forces. Through the next few hundred years, the Order would operate using Cyprus' strategic ports, and build hospitals all over the Mediterranean. The order would move its authority again to Malta in 1530, remaining there for 300 years. In addition to its humanitarian prowess, the Knights of Malta continued to be useful to the western world militarily, assisting in the forces of Rome, Venice, and Spain in defeating the Ottoman fleet at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571. The knights would then live in relative peace until they were evicted by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1798, when they chose to leave Malta peacefully instead of raising weapons against a fellow Christian. The order would finally settle in Rome in 1834, where it hold extraterritorial sovereignty over the Magisterial Palace and Magisterial Villa.

The order would devote its full focus to its original mission for the next 200 years, as the world settled into larger nations with greater peace. The Order carried out large-scale hospitaller missions throughout the World War's 1 and 2, operating under Grand Master Fra’ Ludovico Chigi Albani della Rovere. After the great wars, the order would expand its mission to humanitarian efforts across the entire world. The Order would operate for years as a UN recognized sovereign state, holding an observer position in the official councils.

Throughout the Early space age, the Order would continue its humble procedures, and slowly expand its numbers and mission as the Moon was colonized, Mars was visited, and humans began to live in space. It wasn't until 180 that the Knights of Space Malta truly shined, when the Liberauters caused destruction across Earth. The Order immediately responded, sending its humanitarian workers across the now deadly seas under the freshly darkened skies, doing its best to save as many humans from the starvation and destruction as possible. Soon, a resolution was passed as the order agreed to return to its military structure, as their knights were trained once more in the arts of combat and aggression. The Order took control of Rome after the Italian government collapsed, and established forwards bases in India, Australia, Europe and Africa. These bases served as safe havens for civilians, and hubs for transportation and supplies. When the United States recovered its stability in 192, its immediately turned its foreign aid policy to 'aiding the Order', and together the Knights of Malta and Diplomats of the United States served a critical role in re-unifying the entire World. Throughout the long years of reconstruction, millions of people joined the Knights of Malta, and founded new convents, hospitals, and training grounds. In some parts of the world, such as Australia, and Eastern Africa, and especially Europe, only the Knights of Malta stood between civilians and roving hordes of mercenaries and brigands.

Founding Date

1048

Type

Political, Activist

Alternative Names

The Order of Malta in Space

Training Level

Professional

Veterancy Level

Experienced

Neighboring Nations

• Interplanetary Transport System