Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Order of Malta

Zamora straddles the Douro River. The Romans named the settlement "Occelum Durii" ("Eye of the Duero"). For the Visigoths, the place was "Semure". In the 710s the town was conquered and a Berber garrison was left in there, but some decades later it was seized by Alfonso I of Asturias. A diocese was established in the town in the early 10th century. Ibn al-Qitt unsuccessfully tried to invade the city in 901, Almanzor eventually seized the city in 966. The place returned to Christian control during the reign of Alfonso V of León. Since the early 11th century the place saw planned repopulating efforts. City walls were also erected in the 11th century. The most notable historical episode in Zamora was the assassination outside the city walls of the King Sancho II of Castile in 1072. Ferdinand I of León had divided his kingdoms between his three sons. To his daughter Urraca, he had bequeathed Zamora. All three sons warred among themselves, till the ultimate winner, Sancho, was left victorious. Zamora, under his sister who was allied with Leonese nobles, resisted. Sancho II of Castile, assisted by El Cid, laid siege to Zamora. King Sancho II was murdered by Bellido Dolfos, a duplicitous noble of Zamora, Bellido Dolfos. After the death of Sancho, Castile reverted to his deposed brother Alfonso VI of León. Zamora is known for its medieval heritage. There are more than a dozen Romanesque churches and chapels. The construction of Santa María Magdalena began in the second half of the 12th century and continued until the 13th century. The church was originally owned by the Order of St. John (Knights Templar). At their suppression, it was given to the Order of Malta. The south portal of the church is the most magnificently sculpted. Small human heads are depicted on the outer archivolt.

Zamora straddles the Douro River. The Romans named the settlement "Occelum Durii" ("Eye of the Duero"). For the Visigoths, the place was "Semure". In the 710s the town was conquered and a Berber garrison was left in there, but some decades later it was seized by Alfonso I of Asturias. A diocese was established in the town in the early 10th century. Ibn al-Qitt unsuccessfully tried to invade the city in 901, Almanzor eventually seized the city in 966. The place returned to Christian control during the reign of Alfonso V of León. Since the early 11th century the place saw planned repopulating efforts. City walls were also erected in the 11th century. The most notable historical episode in Zamora was the assassination outside the city walls of the King Sancho II of Castile in 1072. Ferdinand I of León had divided his kingdoms between his three sons. To his daughter Urraca, he had bequeathed Zamora. All three sons warred among themselves, till the ultimate winner, Sancho, was left victorious. Zamora, under his sister who was allied with Leonese nobles, resisted. Sancho II of Castile, assisted by El Cid, laid siege to Zamora. King Sancho II was murdered by Bellido Dolfos, a duplicitous noble of Zamora, Bellido Dolfos. After the death of Sancho, Castile reverted to his deposed brother Alfonso VI of León. Zamora is known for its medieval heritage. There are more than a dozen Romanesque churches and chapels. The construction of Santa María Magdalena began in the second half of the 12th century and continued until the 13th century. The church was originally owned by the Order of St. John (Knights Templar). At their suppression, it was given to the Order of Malta. The south portal of the church is the most magnificently sculpted.

Zamora straddles the Douro River. The Romans named the settlement "Occelum Durii" ("Eye of the Duero"). For the Visigoths, the place was "Semure". In the 710s the town was conquered and a Berber garrison was left in there, but some decades later it was seized by Alfonso I of Asturias. A diocese was established in the town in the early 10th century. Ibn al-Qitt unsuccessfully tried to invade the city in 901, Almanzor eventually seized the city in 966. The place returned to Christian control during the reign of Alfonso V of León. Since the early 11th century the place saw planned repopulating efforts. City walls were also erected in the 11th century. The most notable historical episode in Zamora was the assassination outside the city walls of the King Sancho II of Castile in 1072. Ferdinand I of León had divided his kingdoms between his three sons. To his daughter Urraca, he had bequeathed Zamora. All three sons warred among themselves, till the ultimate winner, Sancho, was left victorious. Zamora, under his sister who was allied with Leonese nobles, resisted. Sancho II of Castile, assisted by El Cid, laid siege to Zamora. King Sancho II was murdered by Bellido Dolfos, a duplicitous noble of Zamora, Bellido Dolfos. After the death of Sancho, Castile reverted to his deposed brother Alfonso VI of León. Zamora is known for its medieval heritage. There are more than a dozen Romanesque churches and chapels. The construction of Santa María Magdalena began in the second half of the 12th century and continued until the 13th century. The church was originally owned by the Order of St. John (Knights Templar). At their suppression, it was given to the Order of Malta.

Laon, placed on a ridge and overlooking the flat Picardy plain, was a strategic, fortified site, already in Roman times. St. Remi founded a bishopric here in 487. Laon was a very important place in the kingdom of the Franks. After the fall of the Carolingians, Hugh Capet became the master of the town with the support of the bishop. The Knights Templar founded a "commanderie" here in 1134. The octagonal chapel was built around 1140. Like many similar churches the Knights Templar erected all over Europe, this is a "copy" of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. In the early morning of the 13th October 1307 the fourteen Knights Templar, who lived in Laon, were arrested. That day more about 600 "templiers" were arrested all over France on instruction of Philip IV (aka "The Fair"). After the dissolution of the order the commandery was transferred to the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, the future "Order of Malta". By now the site is used by the municipal museum.

Laon, placed on a ridge and overlooking the flat Picardy plain, was a strategic, fortified site, already in Roman times. St. Remi founded a bishopric here in 487. Laon was a very important place in the kingdom of the Franks. After the fall of the Carolingians, Hugh Capet became the master of the town with the support of the bishop. The Knights Templar founded a "commanderie" here in 1134. The octagonal chapel was built around 1140. Like many similar churches the Knights Templar erected all over Europe, this is a "copy" of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. In the early morning of the 13th October 1307 the fourteen Knights Templar, who lived in Laon, were arrested. That day more about 600 "templiers" were arrested all over France on instruction of Philip IV (aka "The Fair"). After the dissolution of the order the commandery was transferred to the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, the future "Order of Malta". By now the site is used by the municipal museum.

The well preserved and fortified little town of La Couvertoirade was once built up and established by the Knights Templar. Following their dissolution in 1312, the property was taken by the Knights of St John ("Military Order of Malta") who had the still existing wall around the town built between 1439 and 1450. The town was never taken, it withstood the dreadful "Grandes compagnies", groups of "free lancers", raiding and looting and later the Huguenots. But over the centuries it lost it´s population. Today less that 200 people live here, mostly gifted artists, waiting for the tourists, walking through this perfect open air museum. Second time within months, that I find a corbel with a monkey. Both times it was raining. See his wet collegue in Pontevedra. www.flickr.com/photos/martin-m-miles/4717816908/