Dr Nicky Tsougarakis: Pilgrimage and Propaganda in Hospitaller Rhodes.

Lecture presented  by Dr N Tsougarakis who is a lecturer in the History Department of Edge Hill University and we are grateful to him for this presentation of a subject we have not touched upon before.

The origins of the Knights of St John are somewhat obscure but there is evidence that they were in existence in 1070. In 1110  they formed into a confraternity of St Augustine  and were carrying out charitable works amongst the poor in Jerusalem. In 1120 they took up the name of the Knights Templar and in  1130 to 1140 began the task of looking after casualties who were hospitalised in castles in Rhodes. The casualties had arrived there via Cyprus and had become casualties due to the wars between Christians and the Ottoman Empire. In 1204 the fourth crusade diverted to Constantinople where parts of the Roman empire was still surviving.

The events of history became vague and at the same time complex, involving Venetian maritime forces, Greek soldiers and civil wars between different states.  In 1522 the Knights Templers moved their base to Malta.

Dr Tsougarakis produced interesting maps showing the countries and regions involved in the religious struggles. Interestingly Pilgrimages to Holy sites had been going on since the fourth century and details were given on Pilgrims journeys  and routes. Visions of St John and Blessed Virgin  Mary in battlefield situations helped to encourage tourists, and the Knights seem to have had a good PR system operating in western Europe.  The reality was that visits to Holy sites were quite dangerous and it seems that brothels were the main lodging places.

The facility to view relics such as a thorn from Christ’s crown pieces from the basin used to wash Jesus feet, and a Judas piece of silver  and other souvenirs of what must have been very difficult journeys to the Holyland by a number of different routes and nations  The main aim of the Hospitallers was to portray themselves as a bulwark of Christianity.

The Pilgrims had to pay a very high price and incur very difficult journeys, by both land and sea, to reach the Holyland in order to view the relics, such as a thorn from Christ’s crown, pieces from the basin used to wash Jesus feet, a Judas piece of silver  and other such souvenirs. The main aim of the Hospitallers was to portray themselves as a bulwark of Christianity.

Those who would wish to read more on  the subject are recommended  to read up in much more detail including  works by Dr Tsougarakis.