Malteser, Ritter-Orden#

Knights of Malta, also known as Knights of (the Hospital of) St. John of Jerusalem, Sovereign and Military Order of the Knights Hospitaller of Saint John of Jerusalem; Catholic order dedicated to world-wide humanitarian work with headquarters in Rome. Developed around 1099 out of a brotherhood providing hospital care and accommodation to pilgrims en route to the Holy Land. After the fall of the Fortress of Acre the order operated from Cyprus and Rhodes and, from 1530, from Malta. Endowed with sovereignty by Emperor Karl V. Since that time, the order has been commonly known as Knights of Malta rather than Knights of St. John.

When Napoleon conquered Malta in 1798 the order's headquarters was moved to Rome. In Austria there is a Grand Priorate with historic commendams at Mailberg, Fuerstenfeld and Maria Pulst. Active at national and international level as an ambulance service and charitable organisation.