History of the Maltese Cross

The badge of a Firefighter is the Maltese Cross. The Maltese Cross is a symbol of protection and a badge of honor. It can be dated back to the era of the Holy Crusaders during the period of the 11^th and 12^th centuries. The name Maltese was given to the cross from the island of Malta, which came to be the home of the “Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller”.

The Knights would wear extensive armor which would cover their bodies from head to toe. This armor would cause problems for them on the battlefield. It became too difficult for the Knights to distinguish who was a comrade or who was the enemy. The Knights used a symbol to distinguish between friend and foe in the heat of the battle. They chose the Cross of Calvary, which would later be known as the Maltese Cross, as the symbol to wear on their shields and tunics.

The enemy’s favorite weapon to fight against the Knights was fire. Arrows were useless against the Knights as they could not penetrate the thick armor. Thought out the decades of fierce fighting, the Saracens, who where a favorite opponent of the Crusaders, became skilled in glass blowing and other technologies. These skills aided their ability to hurl flammable liquids known as Naphtha, or what we today call “Molotov Cocktails”, down upon the enemy. As the Crusaders advanced on the walls of the city, they were struck by the glass bombs containing the flammable liquid. When they became covered with the highly flammable liquid, the Saracens would hurl a flaming torch or arrow into their midst. Hundreds of Knights were burned alive in their suits of death from the intense heat. It was not uncommon for a Knight to risk his own life to extinguish a fire or rescue a comrade in arms. On the field, these men became known as the first “firemen”, the first of a long line of courageous firefighters.

Because of their ability to fight fires, and the pride and honor they took in the care of sick and injured, the Maltese Cross evolved into a fitting symbol of the modern day fireservice. Its eight points have come to represent the principals of charity, chivalry,loyalty, gallantry, generosity to friend and foe, dexterity of service, and protection ofthe weak.

This has become the Firefighters badge of honor, signifying that he or she is willing to lay down his or her life to save a friend or a stranger in their time of need.