The Knights of Malta emerged during a chaotic and violent period in European history. A Catholic religious order with its roots in the 11th century and the Holy Land, the order, officially known as
the Sovereign Military Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, operated in a world of intrigue, power, and adventure, and had a profound influence on the Mediterranean island that bears its name. It still exists today, but how did this ancient order evolve, and what is its function in the modern world?
Click through this gallery and learn more about one of history's most enigmatic and fascinating military orders.