Fourteenth-century documents of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem : analysis of inks, parchment and seals

Abstract

The National Library of Malta located in Valetta, capital of Malta, comprises a unique collection of the documents of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, known also as the Knights of Malta. The collection is the only repository of the Order's earliest documents, dating from the beginning of the eleventh century. The Order originated in the Holy Land, in Jerusalem, as the hospice for the Christian pilgrims. Its initial mission was to provide care for pilgrims and this mission remained the predominant function of the Order through the centuries, and inspired the name of the Knights Hospitallers. Not until later, due to the political circumstances, did the Order expand its function as a military order. Analysis of materials in Volume 21 positively confirms the usage of minimum and cinnabar as colorants in wax seals, although the use of these materials has been mentioned in medieval sources, and elemental analysis has previously indicated their presence. It is also of interest to learn that the use of beeswax is consistent with the known medieval tradition. The work reported here makes a particularly important contribution to the history of the Archives of the Order of St. John, being the first scientific examination undertaken of the materials from their repository.