The Hospitallers were the first of the Secular Crusading Orders to be created, though they were only "militarized" after the establishment of the Templers. The Hospitallers played a major role in the military struggle between Christendom and the Islamic World throughout the mediaeval and early modern periods. They recruited from a wide section of society, but their structure and attitudes reflected the aristocratic-based society of their day. They primarily campaigned on land during the first phase of their existence, and primarily at sea during their second phase. This work reveals how, like other Military Orders, the Hospitallers played a significant cultural, political and economic role within the Christian Empire itself.

Author Biography

Dr David Nicolle was born in 1944 and worked for the BBC, including the overseas broadcasting Service before returning to university, obtaining his PhD in Edinburgh. He subsequently taught at Yarmouk University in Jordan, since which he has contributed a substantial number of Osprey titles. He is a specialist in medieval arms and armour and has written several hardback books as well as numerous articles for specialist journals. He has also presented papers at many international conferences. Christa Hook is one of Osprey's most popular illustrators, a reputation justly deserved given the perfect blend of attention to detail and narrative realisation that penetrates her illustrations. Her work for Osprey to date includes several joint collaborations with her father Richard, as well as Warrior I 'Norman Knight', Warrior 10 'Saracen Faris', and Campaign 56 'Eggmuhl 1809'.