[VERTOT, RÉNÉ AUBERT DE]. The History of the Knights Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem, styled afterwards the Knights of Rhodes, and at present the Knights of Malta. Edinburgh: Printed by R. Fleming, for A. Kincaid and A. Donaldson, Yair and Fleming, and W. Gray, M.DCC.LVII. [1757].
SECOND ENGLISH EDITION. Leather-bound in five volumes; hardcover; duodecimo (17 x 10 cm); pp. [8], 279, 270-271, 280-331, [1]; [2], 180, 169-290; [2], 308; [2], 300, 299-300, 301-305, 308-322; [2],180, 191-286, [88, index]. English text, a translation of the original French publication: Histoire des Chevaliers Hospitaliers de St. Jean de Jérusalem. Handsomely bound in contemporary calf; spines with five raised bands; initial and terminal blanks. Condition: GOOD. Collated complete. Bindings tight and secure, some rubbing to the extremities, lacking the spine title labels. Interiors largely clean with some light toning and without previous ownership markings.
Notes: A very scarce English translation of this important history of the Knights Hospitaller by Rene-Aubert Vertot, an informative and sought after history that delves into the importance of the religious order, an invaluable work on the chivalric orders. The Order of Malta is a Catholic lay religious order, founded in the early twelfth century during the time of the Cluniac movement. It was involved in the defence the Holy Land, after the conquest of the Holy Lands by Islamic forces, and became an important institution of the Crusades. Headquartered in Malta from 1530 to 1798, the Order remained intact until the Protestant Reformation, after which the order was suppressed in some parts of Europe. The Order was also headquartered in Jerusalem until 1291, on the island of Rhodes from 1310 to 1522, and Saint Petersburg from 1799 to 1801. Rene-Aubert Vertot was a pastor of several small parishes in Normandy. He also wrote 'Histoire de la Conjuration de Portugal' and 'Histories des Revolutions de Suede'. The history of the Knights Hospitaller being his best known work. [ESTC T84915].
