Sovereign Military Order of Malta (original) (raw)


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Last modified: 2013-11-16 by rob raeside
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Historical Ensigns of the Order

In "Flags in South Africa and the world", Proceedings of the XVIIth International Congress of Vexillology, there is a rich paper by Adrian Strickland, entitled: "The vexillological heritage of the Knights of Saint-John in Malta" (pp. 277-287). I have extracted from the valuable paper a few Historical ensigns of the order:

In the time of Grand Master Rohan (1775-1797), additional ensigns were flown along with the Order's ensign:


image by Ivan Sache, 29 February 2000, Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 21 September
pennants


image by Ivan Sache, 29 February 2000, Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 21 September
Round-tailed guidons bearing the Order's cross

The guidons considered as the forerunner of the present Grand Master's standard.


image by Ivan Sache, 29 February 2000, Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 21 September
Naval jack

A square version of the Order's flag was used as naval jack.

image by Ivan Sache, 29 February 2000, Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 21 September
Gonfanon
A gonfanon was flown on the ceremonial galley of the Grand Master.
Ivan Sache, 29 February 2000

Miscellaneous Naval Flags of the Order

In "Flags in South Africa and the world", Proceedings of the XVIIth International Congress of Vexillology, there is a rich paper by Adrian Strickland, entitled: "The vexillological heritage of the Knights of Saint-John in Malta" (pp. 277-287). I have extracted from the valuable paper a few miscellaneous naval flags of the Order:

The flagship of the Order ("Captana") used additional flags, namely:

image by Ivan Sache, 29 February 2000

The flag of Jerusalem (with red crosses) to signal Holy Mass was being celebrated.
Ivan Sache, 29 February 2000

image by Ivan Sache, 29 February 2000

A red flag with two white crescents and two golden stars to call all surgeons to report on flagship.
Ivan Sache, 29 February 2000

Battle Ensign (reverse)

image by_Klaus-Michael Schneider_, 30 October 2008

It is a red pennant with an elaborated and stepped fly. It has a wavy probably golden (yellow in my image) tressure. In the centre of its nearly rectangular main partition is a golden image of St. Mary with child, nimbed, standing upon a lying crescent and surrounded by a golden aureole (? = garland of rays). Around her are also four 6-point stars, made of six rhombs. Another one is on the outer fly.
Source: � Manuscript signaling log for the use of the galley squadron�, compiled by Captain General of the galleys Giovanni Battista SPINOLA, 1700
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 30 October 2008

Flamma Torchina

image by_Klaus-Michael Schneider_, 30 October 2008

It is a plain blue hanging triangular pennant of ratio estimated 1:2. I add the description how to use, I believe at least that it is, according to source: �Al Caleese di Maestro� or �All� Asta dello� Stendardo� or �All� Andriuello�.
Source: � Manuscript signaling log for the use of the galley squadron�, compiled by Captain General of the galleys Giovanni Battista SPINOLA, 1700
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 30 October 2008

"Red" Flamma Torchina

image by_Klaus-Michael Schneider_, 30 October 2008

It is a hanging pennant, vertically divided into red and blue of ratio estimated 1:2. I add the description how to use according to source: �Al Caleese di Maestro� or �All� Asta dello� Stendardo�.
Source: � Manuscript signaling log for the use of the galley squadron�, compiled by Captain General of the galleys Giovanni Battista SPINOLA, 1700
Probably both hanging pennants had been hoisted at the end of the yards of a galley.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 30 October 2008