|
Flags
The State Flag
 The
red rectangular flag with the white latina cross is the flag of the
State of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Called the flag of St.
John, it has been used since ancient times. Giuseppe Bosio’s “History of
the Order “ (1589), records that in 1130 Pope Innocent II had decreed
that “…Religion in war should bear a standard with a white cross on a
red field”. Following Pope Alexander IV’s bull of 1259 permitting the
Knights in war to wear a red mantle bearing a white cross, the Order
began to make systematic use of the latin cross as their emblem. In
1291, the Order left the Holy Land for Cyprus where its sea faring
vocation flourished and from that time onwards, the knightly standard
was flown over their ships for the next six centuries. Today the State
flag flies over the Order’s Magistral Palace in Rome and accompanies the
Grand Master and members of the Sovereign Council on official visits.
The Flag of the Order’s works
 The red flag with eight-pointed white cross is the flag of the Order’s
works. The eight-pointed cross has been used in the Order as long as the
latin cross, and stems from the Order’s ancient links with the Republic
of Amalfi. Its present form dates back over 400 years; the first clear
reference to an eight-pointed cross was its representation on the coins
of Grand Master Fulk de Villaret (1305-1319). This is the flag flown by
the Order’s Grand Priores and Sub- Priores, its 46 National Associations
and over 100 diplomatic missions around the world. It also flies over
hospitals, medical centres and out-patients’ departments, as well as
wherever the Order of Malta’s ambulance corps, foundations and
specialised units operate.
The Flag of His Highness the Grand Master
The red flag with white eight-pointed cross encircled by the Collar and
surmounted by a crown is the personal flag of the Grand Master. It flies
over the Magistral Palace and the Order’s Magistral seats when he is in
residence.
|
