History of the Maltese Cross

Firefighters Cross Origin:

The cross, which is associated with Firefighters, is now know as the Maltese Cross and its history predates the Crusades.

The story of the Maltese Cross began with the group known as the Hospitallers (that is not misspelled) St. John, who later became the Knights of St. John. Their emblem was an eight pointed cross the one of which stood for the eight obligations taken by the members of the Order.

During the Crusades, a term derived from the Latin word for cross, crux, bands of Knights fought to gain possession of the Holy Land from the Saracens. The importance here is that the Crusaders were identified by their "crux" or cross.

It was one of the eight crusades, as the Hospitallers of St. John were attacking the city of Jerusalem, the Saracen defenders utilized a terrible weapon, naphtha filled glass fire bombs. The Crusaders sustained horrible injuries and heavy losses and ultimately, retreated to the Island of Malta.

The efforts of the Knights to rescue their brothers from the fires has created an everlasting association between Knights, and their cross, with fire fighting and the bravery of Firefighters.

The Order of the Knights of St. John remains in Malta to this day. It underwent several name changes before ultimately becoming the Knights of Malta, and their emblem, The Maltese Cross, has forever become identified with the heroism and selfless bravery of Firefighters.