Maltese cross


The Maltese cross is a cross symbol, consisting of four "V" or arrowhead shaped concave quadrilaterals converging at a central vertex at right angles, two tips pointing outward symmetrically.
It is a heraldic cross variant which developed from earlier forms of eight-pointed crosses in the 16th century. Although chiefly associated with the Knights Hospitaller, and by extension with the island of Malta, it has come to be used by a wide array of entities since the early modern period,
notably the Order of Saint Stephen, the city of Amalfi, the Polish Order of the White Eagle, the Prussian order Pour le Mérite, and the Bavarian Military Merit Order.
Unicode defines a character named "Maltese cross" in the Dingbats range at code point U+2720 ; however, most computer fonts render the code point as a cross pattée.

History

The Knights Hospitaller during the Crusades used a plain Latin cross.
Occasional use of the modern form straight-edged "eight-pointed cross" by the order begins in the early 16th century.
This early form is a cross moline or cross branchée ending in eight points, not yet featuring the sharp vertex of the modern design.
The association of the eight-pointed cross with the southern Italy coastal town of Amalfi may go back to the 11th century, as the design is allegedly found on coins minted by the Duchy of Amalfi at that time.
Eight-pointed crosses appear on coins minted by the Grand Masters of the order, first shown as a bolsini-type cross embroidered on the left arm of the robe of the kneeling Grand Master on the obverse of a coin minted under Foulques de Villaret
In 1489, the statutes of the order require all knights of Malta to wear "the white cross with eight points".
Emergence of the sharp vertex of the modern "four-arrowhead" design is gradual, and takes place during the 15th to 16th century. The "Rhodian cross" of the early 16th century had almost, but not quite, achieved the "sharp arrowhead appearance".
The fully modern design is found on a copper coin dated 1567, minted by Grand Master Jean Parisot de Valette.
In 1577, Alonso Sanchez Coello painted Archduke Wenceslaus of Austria as Grand Prior of the Order of Malta wearing the emblem on his robes.
The design appears again on coins minted in the late 17th to 18th centuries. It is shown on a copper coin dated 1693, minted under Grand Master Adrien de Wignacourt.
From the end of the 17th century, it is also occasionally displayed as alternative heraldic emblem of the order.
Its depiction on the facade of San Giovannino dei Cavalieri dates to 1699.

Symbolism

The Maltese cross as defined by the constitution of the Order of St. John remains the symbol of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, of the Order of Saint John and its allied orders, of the Venerable Order of Saint John, and of their various service organisations.
Numerous other modern orders of merit have used the eight-pointed cross.
The British colony of Queensland, Australia, adopted the Maltese cross as the state badge and on the flag in 1876 for reasons unknown, its use continuing through to statehood.
The eight points of the eight-pointed cross have been given a number of symbolic interpretations,
such as representing the eight Langues of the Knights Hospitaller.
or alternatively the "eight obligations or aspirations" of the knights.
Websites operated by both the German Order of Saint John and the British Venerable Order of St John associate the eight points with the Eight Beatitudes.
An undated leaflet published by The Venerable Order's main service organisation, St John Ambulance, has also applied secular meanings to the points as representing the traits of a good first aider.

Modern use

Republic of Malta

The Maltese cross is displayed as part of the Maltese civil ensign, the Maltese naval jack and presidential standard has a Maltese cross in each corner. The Maltese euro coins of 1- and 2-euro denomination carry the Maltese cross. It is also the trademark of KM Malta Airlines, Malta's national airline.
The Maltese cross was depicted on the two-mils coin in of the Maltese lira in 1972, and on the reverse of one- and two-Euro coins introduced in January 2008.

Military and civil orders