Navy of the Order of Saint John
| Navy of the Order of Saint John | |
|---|---|
Late 18th-century painting of a Hospitaller galley entering Malta's Grand Harbour, with Valletta in the background | |
| Active | 12th century–1798 |
| Country | Knights Hospitaller |
| Branch | Navy |
| Base | Rhodes (1309–1522) Birgu (1530–1571) Valletta (1571–1798) |
| Engagements | Battle of Chios (1319) Battle of Preveza (1538) Algiers expedition (1541) Battle of Djerba (1560) Battle of Lepanto (1571) Battle of Pantelleria (1586) Action of 28 September 1644 Battle of the Dardanelles (1656) Battle of the Dardanelles (1657) Battle of Matapan (1717) Battle of Damietta (1732) Bombardment of Algiers (1784) French invasion of Malta (1798) and various other battles |
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The navy of the Order of Saint John, also known as the Maltese Navy, was the navy of the Knights Hospitaller. Established in the Middle Ages during the 12th century, it moved to Hospitaller Malta in 1530 and reached its peak in the 1680s under the direction of Grand Master Gregorio Carafa. The navy was disbanded following the French invasion of Malta in 1798, and its ships were incorporated into the French Navy.