Mr Franco Davies (BSc, MSc, MA, SRP) is a physiotherapist with an active interest in martial arts and secretary of the Malta Historical Fencing Association since its foundation in 2009. Moving from ju-jitsu to Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) in the mid-2000s, led to an MA in Hospitaller Studies in 2014, focusing his research on the history of martial training in Europe with a particular interest in Malta's rich martial heritage, underscoring the multifaceted aspects of swords both as weapons and symbols. He has since authored several papers on the topic and published his first book, Swords of the Religion in early 2022. #swordsofthereligion #martialmovements
The cult of St James within the Order of St John was evident throughout its stay in Malta in the ... more The cult of St James within the Order of St John was evident throughout its stay in Malta in the architectural fabric it left behind, particularly the fortified land-front of the city of Valletta, as well as in other notable buildings, namely the Auberge of Castile, León and Portugal, and its church of St James. While its architectural aspects have withstood the test of time, other social aspects of the cult of Santiago in Malta are evident through the religious art in the Conventual Church of the Order in Valletta, today St John's co-cathedral, but also through religious rituals held on the island during the stay of the knights. This reflected a local cult which shows hints of being present also before the arrival of the Hospitaller Order to the Maltese shores.
The Hospitaller knights of the Order of St John (of Malta) are often represented in heroic poses ... more The Hospitaller knights of the Order of St John (of Malta) are often represented in heroic poses that easily recall the image of the knight in shining armour. Yet their status was very particular. They were religious knights, but not bound to a monastic cloistered life. They hailed from the cream of European nobility, yet were expected to be loyal to their Order, while often being called to serve European sovereigns. There was a particular 'Hospitaller gender regime' which was dictated by the very act of belonging to the Order, but this was a multi-faceted organism. This paper will explore this regime through a study of ideas related to war, masculinity, swords, and military engineers, within the context of the Order of Malta. It will start with a discussion of how the conferment upon an individual of the Hospitaller habit-generally through an elaborate investiture ceremony-marked a point of transition for that individual, from a boy to a man, and a Knight of St John.
from:
Maroma Camilleri [Ed.], Besieged. Malta 1565 volume II, (Malta: Malta Libraries and Heritag... more from: Maroma Camilleri [Ed.], Besieged. Malta 1565 volume II, (Malta: Malta Libraries and Heritage Malta, 2015), 167-176. http://www.heritagemalta.org/shop/product/besieged-malta-1565/
Maroma Camilleri [Ed.], Besieged. Malta 1565, (Malta: Malta Libraries and Heritage Malta, 2015), ... more Maroma Camilleri [Ed.], Besieged. Malta 1565, (Malta: Malta Libraries and Heritage Malta, 2015), 147-58
Short write-up on the side sword said to belong to Grand Master De Valette, given as an ex-voto i... more Short write-up on the side sword said to belong to Grand Master De Valette, given as an ex-voto in the chapel of Our Lady of Damascus, today part of the Vittoriosa Parish museum. Uploaded on medievalists.net https://www.medievalists.net/2015/04/de-valettes-battlesword/
Swords of the Religion, The Practical and Symbolic Dimensions of Edged Weapons for the Hospitallers 1530-1798 , 2022
The Practical and Symbolic Dimensions of Edged Weapons for the Hospitallers
1530-1798
Whether ... more The Practical and Symbolic Dimensions of Edged Weapons for the Hospitallers 1530-1798
Whether as weapons, status symbols, or metaphoric representations; swords capture the imagination today as much as they did in the past. For the Hospitaller Order of St John, the sword played a valuable role in all its dimensions, be they martial, civilian, or symbolic. Through historical research and physical practice, these aspects have been sifted out from the Order’s archives, manuscripts and contemporary treatises to uncover the true meaning of the edged weapons of ‘the Religion’.
The cult of St James within the Order of St John was evident throughout its stay in Malta in the ... more The cult of St James within the Order of St John was evident throughout its stay in Malta in the architectural fabric it left behind, particularly the fortified land-front of the city of Valletta, as well as in other notable buildings, namely the Auberge of Castile, León and Portugal, and its church of St James. While its architectural aspects have withstood the test of time, other social aspects of the cult of Santiago in Malta are evident through the religious art in the Conventual Church of the Order in Valletta, today St John's co-cathedral, but also through religious rituals held on the island during the stay of the knights. This reflected a local cult which shows hints of being present also before the arrival of the Hospitaller Order to the Maltese shores.
The Hospitaller knights of the Order of St John (of Malta) are often represented in heroic poses ... more The Hospitaller knights of the Order of St John (of Malta) are often represented in heroic poses that easily recall the image of the knight in shining armour. Yet their status was very particular. They were religious knights, but not bound to a monastic cloistered life. They hailed from the cream of European nobility, yet were expected to be loyal to their Order, while often being called to serve European sovereigns. There was a particular 'Hospitaller gender regime' which was dictated by the very act of belonging to the Order, but this was a multi-faceted organism. This paper will explore this regime through a study of ideas related to war, masculinity, swords, and military engineers, within the context of the Order of Malta. It will start with a discussion of how the conferment upon an individual of the Hospitaller habit-generally through an elaborate investiture ceremony-marked a point of transition for that individual, from a boy to a man, and a Knight of St John.
from:
Maroma Camilleri [Ed.], Besieged. Malta 1565 volume II, (Malta: Malta Libraries and Heritag... more from: Maroma Camilleri [Ed.], Besieged. Malta 1565 volume II, (Malta: Malta Libraries and Heritage Malta, 2015), 167-176. http://www.heritagemalta.org/shop/product/besieged-malta-1565/
Maroma Camilleri [Ed.], Besieged. Malta 1565, (Malta: Malta Libraries and Heritage Malta, 2015), ... more Maroma Camilleri [Ed.], Besieged. Malta 1565, (Malta: Malta Libraries and Heritage Malta, 2015), 147-58
Short write-up on the side sword said to belong to Grand Master De Valette, given as an ex-voto i... more Short write-up on the side sword said to belong to Grand Master De Valette, given as an ex-voto in the chapel of Our Lady of Damascus, today part of the Vittoriosa Parish museum. Uploaded on medievalists.net https://www.medievalists.net/2015/04/de-valettes-battlesword/
Swords of the Religion, The Practical and Symbolic Dimensions of Edged Weapons for the Hospitallers 1530-1798 , 2022
The Practical and Symbolic Dimensions of Edged Weapons for the Hospitallers
1530-1798
Whether ... more The Practical and Symbolic Dimensions of Edged Weapons for the Hospitallers 1530-1798
Whether as weapons, status symbols, or metaphoric representations; swords capture the imagination today as much as they did in the past. For the Hospitaller Order of St John, the sword played a valuable role in all its dimensions, be they martial, civilian, or symbolic. Through historical research and physical practice, these aspects have been sifted out from the Order’s archives, manuscripts and contemporary treatises to uncover the true meaning of the edged weapons of ‘the Religion’.
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Papers by Franco Davies
Maroma Camilleri [Ed.], Besieged. Malta 1565 volume II, (Malta: Malta Libraries and Heritage Malta, 2015), 167-176.
http://www.heritagemalta.org/shop/product/besieged-malta-1565/
Uploaded on medievalists.net
https://www.medievalists.net/2015/04/de-valettes-battlesword/
Books by Franco Davies
1530-1798
Whether as weapons, status symbols, or metaphoric representations; swords capture the imagination today as much as they did in the past. For the Hospitaller Order of St John, the sword played a valuable role in all its dimensions, be they martial, civilian, or symbolic. Through historical research and physical practice, these aspects have been sifted out from the Order’s archives, manuscripts and contemporary treatises to uncover the true meaning of the edged weapons of ‘the Religion’.
Maroma Camilleri [Ed.], Besieged. Malta 1565 volume II, (Malta: Malta Libraries and Heritage Malta, 2015), 167-176.
http://www.heritagemalta.org/shop/product/besieged-malta-1565/
Uploaded on medievalists.net
https://www.medievalists.net/2015/04/de-valettes-battlesword/
1530-1798
Whether as weapons, status symbols, or metaphoric representations; swords capture the imagination today as much as they did in the past. For the Hospitaller Order of St John, the sword played a valuable role in all its dimensions, be they martial, civilian, or symbolic. Through historical research and physical practice, these aspects have been sifted out from the Order’s archives, manuscripts and contemporary treatises to uncover the true meaning of the edged weapons of ‘the Religion’.