# Origin of the Maltese Cross

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-maltese-cross/199085>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 2, 2003, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-maltese-cross/199085 "2003-09-02T06:01:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![whatami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/85f322/32.png) [@whatami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whatami)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-maltese-cross/199085/1 "2003-09-02T06:01:37Z")

</div>

This question has been [brushed](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=72170&highlight=maltese+AND+cross) on, but not entirely answered. In refering to the maltese cross I’m speaking of either the [real](http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/images/m/mt'cross.gif) maltese cross which is four separate parts, or the more common iron cross commonly referred to as the maltese cross.

In attempting to find the origins of the cross I’ve found two different stories.

[This](http://nc911.topcities.com/Fire_History/maltese_cross.htm) story, found on many firefighter websites

> [@](#):
>
> Others risked their lives  
> to save their brothers in arms from dying painful deaths.  
> Thus, these men became the first fire fighters…and the  
> first of a long list of courageous Fire Fighters. Their heroic  
> efforts were recognized by fellow Crusaders who awarded  
> each hero with a badge of honor-a cross similar to the one  
> Fire Fighters wear today.

While this story sounds great, I really doubt that’s the origin.

I have found another story [here](http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/smom).html) which seems to give a very detailed story with dates and references which lead me to lend a little more towards this cite.

Having exhausted my googling skills, and not being very good at history I turn to you folks, or even **Cecil** himself to help me find a the final answer to this question.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![whatami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/85f322/32.png) [@whatami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whatami)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-maltese-cross/199085/2 "2003-09-02T06:02:54Z")

</div>

:sigh:

Here’s the link from my messed up coding.

[http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/images/m/mt’cross.gif](http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/images/m/mt'cross.gif)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-maltese-cross/199085/3 "2003-09-02T14:11:09Z")

</div>

Well, here is a separate page showing [A History of the Maltese Cross, as used by the Order of St John of Jerusalem.](http://www2.prestel.co.uk/church/oosj/cross.htm)

While the Flags of the World site is a collection of contributions, often by amateurs, they are _serious_ amateurs who are open to criticism and correction. I would generally trust something found on the [FOTW](http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/index.html) website over some oft-copied anonymous glurge that has been “borrowed” by numerous firefighter pages, (however well-intentioned).

Note that the Maltese Cross is _not_ the same as the [Iron Cross](http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/iron_cross/ironcrossmain.htm) ([separate image](http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/MEDiron.htm)) which is actually a variant of the _Cross Formée_. Now, the Germans did, indeed, issue a medal in the form of the Maltese Cross, however, that medal was the [Order of the _Pour le Mérite_](http://www.pourlemerite.org/) (loads slow with frames) which was a separate medal from the Iron Cross. The fact that various German princes (both medals have history prior to the creation of the nation of Germany) issued two separate medals for valor or service that each incorporated a cross has, I suspect, led to the confusion.