The Fraters Armigeri Hospitalis:
"The Brotherhood Esquires of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta"
Introduction
The Fraters Armigeri Hospitalis, also known as the brotherhood esquires of the sovereign military order of Malta, is an iniative to honour those families and their ancestors who served the knights of Malta for century´s as Esquires.
On the Commanderies of the military order of Malta or Knightly order of Saint John, excisted all across Europe a certain class of people that served those Knights in their daily life. Although their social class would be equal to a yeoman in old England, by their given rights and duty´s they ranked as an Esquire. Inside the Order of Malta they would take the lowest Military rank of a Grade VI.
If such a duty of Esquire continued inside a family for 3 generations of more, it became an Hereditary Squireship.
In the Sovereign Militairy Order of Malta, these Esquires are still known today under the class of the `Donats of Devotion`.
Our aim
The aim of our Brotherhood is to defend our ancestrial rights and combine our strength as an Entity, find Worldwide recognision by the different Order Assembly´s, to give support as Esquires Hospitaller to the Order and follow the motto: Defence of the faith and assistance to the poor.
The Brotherhood of Esquires recognizes two classes:
Esquires of Justice, those who can give proof of descent that their ancestors for 3 generations gave support to the Order as Esquires.
Esquires of Devotion, any new member who can subscribe to our Aim and is willing to give support to our Motto. Free of charge.
Declaration before Admission to the Brotherhood
“I do solemnly declare that I will be faithful and obedient to The Order of St. John and its Sovereign Head as far as it is consistent with my duty [to my Sovereign/President and] to my country; that I will do everything in my power to uphold its dignity and support its charitable works; and that I will endeavour always to uphold the aims of this Christian Order and to conduct myself as a person of honour.”
The Fraters Armigeri Hospitalis, also known as the brotherhood esquires of the sovereign military order of Malta, is an iniative to honour those families and their ancestors who served the knights of Malta for century´s as Esquires.
On the Commanderies of the military order of Malta or Knightly order of Saint John, excisted all across Europe a certain class of people that served those Knights in their daily life. Although their social class would be equal to a yeoman in old England, by their given rights and duty´s they ranked as an Esquire. Inside the Order of Malta they would take the lowest Military rank of a Grade VI.
If such a duty of Esquire continued inside a family for 3 generations of more, it became an Hereditary Squireship.
In the Sovereign Militairy Order of Malta, these Esquires are still known today under the class of the `Donats of Devotion`.
Our aim
The aim of our Brotherhood is to defend our ancestrial rights and combine our strength as an Entity, find Worldwide recognision by the different Order Assembly´s, to give support as Esquires Hospitaller to the Order and follow the motto: Defence of the faith and assistance to the poor.
The Brotherhood of Esquires recognizes two classes:
Esquires of Justice, those who can give proof of descent that their ancestors for 3 generations gave support to the Order as Esquires.
Esquires of Devotion, any new member who can subscribe to our Aim and is willing to give support to our Motto. Free of charge.
Declaration before Admission to the Brotherhood
“I do solemnly declare that I will be faithful and obedient to The Order of St. John and its Sovereign Head as far as it is consistent with my duty [to my Sovereign/President and] to my country; that I will do everything in my power to uphold its dignity and support its charitable works; and that I will endeavour always to uphold the aims of this Christian Order and to conduct myself as a person of honour.”