The Order of the Hospital of St John was among the most creative and important institutions of the Middle Ages, its history provoking much debate and controversy. However, there has been very little study of the way in which it operated as an organisation contributing to the survival of the Christian settlement in the East, a gap which this book addresses. It focuses on the impact of the various crises in the East upon the Order, looking at how it reacted to events, the contributions that western priories played in the rehabilitation of the East, and the various efforts made to restore its economic and military strength. In particular, the author shows the key role played by the papacy, both in the Order's recovery, and in determining the fate of the crusader states. Overall, it offers a whole new perspective on the connections between East and West. JUDITH BRONSTEIN gained her Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge.

The book is to be commended for providing a firm basis for further studies by scholars of different fields, but especially for those who are interested in the history of the military orders since the book covers much more than its title indicates. This is a well-written, easy-to-follow book despite the huge amount of data it covers.'

Source: De Re Militari

Superbly constructed and convincingly argued.[...]Groundbreaking and a wonderful contribution to the history of the international military orders.'

Source: Crusades

An original and important contribution to our understanding of the structure and operation of the Hospitaller Order.'

Source: American Historical Review