I enjoyed reading the item ‘Talk on granting Malta to Knights of Saint John in 1530’ (February 19).

The item implied dissatisfaction once the knights arrived in Malta. Though that may be true in many aspects, the island gave the knights a much-needed place of protection, albeit isolated.

I was very impressed by the image of Antoine de Favray’s painting featuring Philippe Villiers de L’Isle Adam receiving the symbolic keys of Mdina, making Grand Master de L’Isle Adam the 44th Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta.

A closer look at the painting will reveal that nearly everyone surrounding Grand Master de L’Isle-Adam was wearing the eight-pointed Maltese Cross and nearly all were bearded men. It would take some time before women, such as nuns, cooks and nurses, could arrive in Malta. Even in Rhodes, women helped pilgrims en route to the Holy Land and assisted the knights’ care for the sick and the infirm in hospitals.

The Order managed an amazing 268-year rule in Malta. Compare that to the knights acquiring Rhodes in 1310 but surrendering to the army and fleet of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, leaving in 1523, a 213-year stay.

Malta may not have been the ‘preferred site’ by many knights who first saw it in 1530, it was definitely a great fortification for 268 years.

Today’s Maltese population can rejoice in that long and distinguished heritage. To put it into perspective, the Knights of Malta enjoyed sovereign independent rule in Malta longer than the period the United States of America has been independent (243 years).

I salute the Knights of Malta for their “staying power” and wish continued success to the modern knights and dames of the Order still in Malta.