Aspects of the international relations of the Order of St. John, 1683-1722

Abstract

This dissertation aims to offer an examination of the Order of St John's dealings with some of the major European sovereign powers, in the context of how international diplomacy was conducted at the time, during a turbulent forty year period of its rule over Malta and Gozo that witnessed dramatic changes in Europe. Its purpose is to understand how the Order, from its conventual headquarters in Valletta, dealt with the pressing issues that were important to it in changing circumstances and how it navigated the difficulties that arose during a time of near constant warfare in Europe. The Order was military in character and was never more relevant to the courts of Christendom than when they were officially at war with the Ottoman Empire. During the period 1683 1722 there were two such wars, both involving Austria, and the galleys of Venice, the Papacy and the Order. Concurrent to these wars, however European states were also frequently at war with each other and on a scale previously unknown. The Order remained officially neutral, but was from time to time faced with difficulties that caused tensions in its relations with its traditional allies. For example, it could be an ally of Austria in its wars against the Turks but was unable to support it militarily during the War of the League of Augsburg against France that took place while Austria was still fighting in Hungary and the Balkans. The author, though officially a Maltese citizen, was born and educated in England and, when young, received a typically Anglo-focused and traditional secondary education in history. It did not include a Mediterranean dimension, indeed the closest it got was Trafalgar and a mention of Nelson in Naples. As an amateur enthusiast I have always been interested in the above period of English history, which was momentous for the country of my birth, including the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and the political union of Scotland and England that might now possibly have run its course. This dissertation has therefore afforded me the opportunity to revisit this fascinating period from a different perspective and to discover with pleasure the role played by the historical rulers of the country that is now my home in the shaping of the events of the time in the wider European theatre as a whole.