A cultural history of German-speaking Hospitallers

Abstract

The aim of this dissertation is to present a cultural analysis of the often-overlooked German langue of the Order of Saint John. The choice of the German side of the institution came naturally, as I wished to explore part of my own identity as a Maltese-German living in Malta (the island of Gozo specifically), coupled with a fascination with culture in general. This dissertation will attempt to identify those patterns that characterise the culture of the German Hospitallers within the eighteenth century, taking into consideration primarily the collective, whilst also remaining aware of the importance of individuality and idiosyncrasy, in order to distinguish patterns of continuity and change. The dissertation looks at a variety of topics to create a multidimensional approach to culture. In this way an attempt is made to forge a holistic study of the German Hospitaller cultural experience within a select timeframe. This dissertation seeks to show that the culture of the German Hospitallers incorporated various influences that represented the Hospitaller experience at large, as well as to convey an alternative side to the various approaches to the histories of the Order of Saint John. The dissertation is divided into four chapters, with the first chapter setting the framework for the succeeding chapters with a brief history of the Order and the German langue, as well as a historiography on cultural history and material culture, and an introduction to the primary sources that were used. The second chapter discusses aspects of the daily life of German Hospitallers, analysing their housing, food culture and pastimes. The third chapter is concerned with the Hospitallers’ material culture as it emerges in their inventories, with a particular focus on their house furnishings and clothing. Finally, the fourth chapter looks at German Hospitallers’ social relationships that were formed during their stay on Malta, together with the maintenance of contacts with their lands of origin.