The Shield and the Sword

By Ernle Bradford

The fascinating history of the legendary Order of St. John.

Known by many names through their centuries-long existence, The Knights Hospitaller of Saint John dedicated themselves to defending the poor and sick.

First formed in Jerusalem during the Crusades of the eleventh century, the Order of Saint John grew in wealth and power rivalled only by the Knights Templar. They survived exile from the Holy Land, settling first in Rhodes and then in Malta, which they famously defended against the Ottoman Empire’s epic invasion of 1565. Even after losing Malta to Napoleon Bonaparte two centuries later, the Order of Saint John continued its mission.

In The Shield and the Sword, Ernle Bradford displays his talents as a master storyteller and great scholar of the Mediterranean, charting the intriguing history of the Knights, from their origins in the Holy Land to their subsequent relocation to Rhodes, the island of Malta, and eventually England.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lume Books
• Release date: Mar 30, 2022

Ernle Bradford

Ernle Bradford was born in 1922 and died in 1986. He was a noted British historian specializing in the Mediterranean world and naval topics. Bradford was an enthusiastic sailor himself and spent almost thirty years sailing the Mediterranean, where many of his books are set. He served in the Royal Navy during World War II, finishing as the first lieutenant of a destroyer. Bradford lived in Malta for a number of years. He did occasional broadcast work for the BBC, was a magazine editor, and wrote many books, including Hannibal, Paul the Traveller, Julius Caesar: The Pursuit of Power, Christopher Columbus, and The Mighty Hood.