The Golden Age of Maltese history must surely be the period the Islands were ruled by the Order of the Knights of St John. The Knights ushered Malta onto the international scene. The era starts in 1530, when Emperor Charles V signed donated the Maltese Islands to Knights for an annual token rent of one falcon.

As the galleys of the Order arrived in what was later named Grand Harbour, the Islands entered a new era that would change their fortunes forever. For the next two and a half centuries, Malta played a significant role in the events that shaped the region. Prime among these events is the famous Great Siege of 1565, which put a halt to the Turkish menace
        

to Christian Europe and heralded Malta's own 'Rennaissance'.

Under the Knights, Malta was subject to an extensive transformation as new cities sprouted and impregnable fortifications were erected. Malta also became a centre of trade and commerce, and witnessed an unprecedented flourishing of the arts. The glorious era of the Order of St. John in Malta came to an abrupt end in 1798 when Grand Master Ferdinand von Hompesch capitulated to Napoleon Bonaparte. However, the legacy of the Knights has outlived their presence and can be seen in the numerous masterpieces of art and architecture all around Malta, especially in
        

Valletta and the Three Cities.

Like to Know More?

To discover the historical sites and museums of the Knights, see our interactive map. Valletta and the Three Cities are a good place to start you tour. If you'd like more background on the Knights, in Malta and before, see our History in Depth.

• The Knights History in Depth
• The Great Siege
• Valletta
• The Three Cities
• Mdina
• Key Dates The Knights
• Artists to the Knights
• Architecture
• Churches & Festas
• Fortifications