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A langue or tongue ( it, lingua) was an administrative division of the
Knights Hospitaller The Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem ( la, Ordo Fratrum Hospitalis Sancti Ioannis Hierosolymitani), commonly known as the Knights Hospitaller (), was a medieval and early modern Catholic military order. It was headqu ...
(also known as the Order of St. John of Jerusalem) between 1319 and 1798. The term referred to a rough
ethno-linguistic Ethnolinguistics (sometimes called cultural linguistics) is an area of anthropological linguistics that studies the relationship between a language and the nonlinguistic cultural behavior of the people who speak that language. __NOTOC__ Examples ...
division of the geographical distribution of the Order's members and possessions. Each langue was subdivided into Priories or Grand Priories, Bailiwicks and
Commanderies In the Middle Ages, a commandery (rarely commandry) was the smallest administrative division of the European landed properties of a military order. It was also the name of the house where the knights of the commandery lived.Anthony Luttrell and G ...
. Each langue had an ''auberge'' as its headquarters, some of which still survive in
Rhodes Rhodes (; el, Ρόδος , translit=Ródos ) is the largest and the historical capital of the Dodecanese islands of Greece. Administratively, the island forms a separate municipality within the Rhodes (regional unit), Rhodes regional unit, w ...
,
Birgu Birgu ( mt, Il-Birgu , it, Vittoriosa), also known by its title Città Vittoriosa ("''Victorious City''"), is an old fortified city on the south side of the Grand Harbour in the South Eastern Region of Malta. The city occupies a promontory of ...
and
Valletta Valletta (, mt, il-Belt Valletta, ) is an administrative unit and capital of Malta. Located on the main island, between Marsamxett Harbour to the west and the Grand Harbour to the east, its population within administrative limits in 2014 ...
.


History

The
Knights Hospitaller The Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem ( la, Ordo Fratrum Hospitalis Sancti Ioannis Hierosolymitani), commonly known as the Knights Hospitaller (), was a medieval and early modern Catholic military order. It was headqu ...
began to take the features of a state following its acquisition of
Rhodes Rhodes (; el, Ρόδος , translit=Ródos ) is the largest and the historical capital of the Dodecanese islands of Greece. Administratively, the island forms a separate municipality within the Rhodes (regional unit), Rhodes regional unit, w ...
and nearby islands in the early 14th century. The subdivision of the Order into ''langues'' began in 1319 during a meeting of the Chapter General in
Montpellier Montpellier (, , ; oc, Montpelhièr ) is a city in southern France near the Mediterranean Sea. One of the largest urban centres in the region of Occitania, Montpellier is the prefecture of the department of Hérault. In 2018, 290,053 people l ...
. For the purposes of administration of the Order's possessions in Europe, the langues were divided into ''grand priories'', some of which were further divided into ''priories'' or ''bailiwicks'', and at the lowest level into '' commandries'' dealing with regional or local administration. The head of each langue was known as a ''pilier'' or ''bailiff''. The ''piliers'', together with the Knights Grand Cross, the bishop, the bailiffs of the convents and the prior of the Conventual Church, sat on the Grand Council of the Order. Each ''pilier'' also had specific responsibilities within the order; that of France was the Hospitaller, that of Italy was the Admiral of the Order's fleet.Ernle Bradford (2002
972 Year 972 ( CMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * Spring – Emperor John I Tzimiskes divides the Bulgarian territories, recen ...
. ''The Shield and the Sword''. London: Penguin. pp. 64–65
When the system of the langues was established in the 14th century, there were seven langues split according to ethno-linguistic divisions: * the Langue of Auvergne * the Langue of France * the Langue of Provence * the Langue of Aragon * the Langue of Italy * the Langue of Germany (including all of the Holy Roman Empire as well as Scandinavia, Hungary and Poland) * the Langue of England (including Scotland and Ireland) In 1462, the Langue of Aragon was divided with the creation of * the Langue of Castille, Léon and Portugal The Langue of England was dissolved in the mid-16th century following the
English Reformation The English Reformation took place in 16th-century England when the Church of England broke away from the authority of the pope and the Catholic Church. These events were part of the wider European Protestant Reformation, a religious and p ...
. The langue was reinstituted by Grand Master
Emmanuel de Rohan-Polduc Fra' Emmanuel Marie des Neiges de Rohan-Polduc (18 April 1725, in La Mancha, Spain – 14 July 1797, in Valletta, Malta) was a member of the wealthy and influential Rohan family of France, and Prince and 70th Grand Master of the Order of St. Jo ...
in 1784 as the Anglo-Bavarian Langue, which also included Bavarian and
Polish Polish may refer to: * Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe * Polish language * Poles, people from Poland or of Polish descent * Polish chicken *Polish brothers (Mark Polish and Michael Polish, born 1970), American twin scree ...
knights. It was housed in Auberge de Bavière, which had been built as a private palazzo. St. John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta, which was built as the Order's conventual church, contains chapels for each of the langues.


Auberges

The headquarters of each langue was known as an ''auberge'', a French word meaning
inn Inns are generally establishments or buildings where travelers can seek lodging, and usually, food and drink. Inns are typically located in the country or along a highway; before the advent of motorized transportation they also provided accommo ...
. Auberges were first built in
Rhodes Rhodes (; el, Ρόδος , translit=Ródos ) is the largest and the historical capital of the Dodecanese islands of Greece. Administratively, the island forms a separate municipality within the Rhodes (regional unit), Rhodes regional unit, w ...
in the late Middle Ages. After the Order moved to
Malta Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...
in 1530, auberges were built in
Birgu Birgu ( mt, Il-Birgu , it, Vittoriosa), also known by its title Città Vittoriosa ("''Victorious City''"), is an old fortified city on the south side of the Grand Harbour in the South Eastern Region of Malta. The city occupies a promontory of ...
between the 1530s and the 1550s, and later in
Valletta Valletta (, mt, il-Belt Valletta, ) is an administrative unit and capital of Malta. Located on the main island, between Marsamxett Harbour to the west and the Grand Harbour to the east, its population within administrative limits in 2014 ...
from the 1570s onwards.


Aragon

*
Auberge d'Aragon The Auberge d'Aragon ( mt, Berġa ta' Aragona) is an auberge in Valletta, Malta. It was built in 1571 to house knights of the Order of Saint John from the langue of Aragon, Navarre and Catalonia. It is the only surviving auberge in Valletta ...
in
Birgu Birgu ( mt, Il-Birgu , it, Vittoriosa), also known by its title Città Vittoriosa ("''Victorious City''"), is an old fortified city on the south side of the Grand Harbour in the South Eastern Region of Malta. The city occupies a promontory of ...
was built sometime in the 16th century in the traditional Maltese style. The building is still intact but its façade has been heavily altered. *
Auberge d'Aragon The Auberge d'Aragon ( mt, Berġa ta' Aragona) is an auberge in Valletta, Malta. It was built in 1571 to house knights of the Order of Saint John from the langue of Aragon, Navarre and Catalonia. It is the only surviving auberge in Valletta ...
in
Valletta Valletta (, mt, il-Belt Valletta, ) is an administrative unit and capital of Malta. Located on the main island, between Marsamxett Harbour to the west and the Grand Harbour to the east, its population within administrative limits in 2014 ...
was built in 1571 in the Mannerist style, to a design of
Girolamo Cassar Girolamo Cassar ( mt, Ġlormu Cassar, 1520 – 1592) was a Maltese architect and military engineer. He was the resident engineer of the Order of St. John, and was admitted into the Order in 1569. He was involved in the construction of Valletta ...
. It is the only auberge in Valletta which still retains its original design, the only alteration being a portico which was added in the 1840s. It now houses the Ministry for European Affairs and Equality.


Auvergne

*The auberge in Birgu was built in around 1531 in the traditional Maltese style, and it was eventually incorporated into
Auberge d'Auvergne et Provence Auberge d'Auvergne et Provence ( mt, Berġa ta' Alvernja u Provenza) is an auberge in Birgu, Malta. It was built to house knights of the Order of Saint John from the langues of Auvergne and Provence. Auberge d'Auvergne et Provence was built ...
. The building is still intact but its façade has been heavily altered. *
Auberge d'Auvergne The Auberge d'Auvergne ( mt, Berġa ta' Alvernja) was an auberge in Valletta, Malta. It was built in the 16th century to house knights of the Order of Saint John from the langue of Auvergne. It became a courthouse in the 19th century, and it ...
in Valletta was built between the 1570s and 1583 in the Mannerist style, to a design of Girolamo Cassar, and it was enlarged in 1783. The building was partially destroyed during World War II by aerial bombardment in 1941, and the ruins were demolished in the 1950s to make way for the Courts of Justice building.


Castille, León and Portugal

* The first auberge in Birgu was built in the 1530s. Its exact location is unknown and no remains of the building are believed to have survived. * The second auberge in Birgu was built in the 1550s in the traditional Maltese style, to a design of Niccolò Bellavante. The building still exists, but it has been heavily altered and very few features of the auberge have survived. *
Auberge de Castille The Auberge de Castille ( mt, Berġa ta' Kastilja) is an auberge in Valletta, Malta. The auberge is located at Castile Place, close to Saint James Cavalier, the Malta Stock Exchange, and the Upper Barrakka Gardens. It sits at the highest p ...
in Valletta was built between 1571 and 1574 in the Mannerist style, to a design of Girolamo Cassar. It was completely rebuilt between 1741 and 1745 in the
Baroque style The Baroque (, ; ) is a style of architecture, music, dance, painting, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished in Europe from the early 17th century until the 1750s. In the territories of the Spanish and Portuguese empires including th ...
, to a design of Andrea Belli. It now houses the Office of the Prime Minister of Malta.


England and the Anglo-Bavarian Langue

* Auberge d'Angleterre in Birgu was built in around 1534 in the traditional Maltese style. Today, it is the best preserved auberge in Birgu and it is used as a public library. * Auberge de Bavière in Valletta was built as Palazzo Carniero in 1696 to a design of Carlo Gimach. When the Anglo-Bavarian Langue was instituted in 1784, it began to be used as the langue's auberge. The building now houses the Lands Authority. File:Malta Vittoriosa BW 2011-10-06 11-02-07.jpg, Auberge d'Angleterre in
Birgu Birgu ( mt, Il-Birgu , it, Vittoriosa), also known by its title Città Vittoriosa ("''Victorious City''"), is an old fortified city on the south side of the Grand Harbour in the South Eastern Region of Malta. The city occupies a promontory of ...
File:Auberge de Bavière.jpeg, Auberge de Bavière in
Valletta Valletta (, mt, il-Belt Valletta, ) is an administrative unit and capital of Malta. Located on the main island, between Marsamxett Harbour to the west and the Grand Harbour to the east, its population within administrative limits in 2014 ...


France

* Auberge de France in Birgu was built in around 1533 in the traditional Maltese style, to a design of Nicolo Flavari. It was later redesigned by Bartolomeo Genga. It is the second best preserved auberge in Birgu, and it now houses the city's local council. * The first auberge in Valletta was built in around 1570 to a design of Girolamo Cassar. Parts of the building are still intact although they have been heavily altered. * The second Auberge de France in Valletta was built in around 1583 in the Mannerist style, also to a design of Cassar. The building was largely destroyed by aerial bombardment in 1942, and the ruins were demolished to make way for the Workers' Memorial Building.


Italy

*
Auberge d'Italie The Auberge d'Italie ( mt, Berġa tal-Italja, it, Albergo d'Italia) is an auberge in Valletta, Malta. It was built at various stages in the late 16th century to house knights of the Order of Saint John from the langue of Italy, and it or ...
in Birgu was first built in the 1530s, but it was rebuilt in 1553–54 to a design of Niccolò Bellavante. It was largely destroyed by aerial bombardment in World War II, but some surviving features were integrated into the façade of new buildings in the 1960s. * The first auberge in Valletta was built in 1570–71 to a design of Girolamo Cassar. It was eventually incorporated into the Grandmaster's Palace. * The second
Auberge d'Italie The Auberge d'Italie ( mt, Berġa tal-Italja, it, Albergo d'Italia) is an auberge in Valletta, Malta. It was built at various stages in the late 16th century to house knights of the Order of Saint John from the langue of Italy, and it or ...
in Valletta was built in 1574–79 and 1582–95 in the Mannerist style to a design of Cassar and other architects. It was extensively redecorated in the Baroque style in the 1680s. The building currently houses Malta's national art museum, MUZA.


Germany

* Auberge d'Allemagne in Birgu was built sometime in the 16th century in the traditional Maltese style. It was largely destroyed by aerial bombardment during World War II, but some surviving rooms were integrated into new buildings in the 1960s. * Auberge d'Allemagne in Valletta was built between 1571 and 1575 in the Mannerist style, to a design of Girolamo Cassar. It was demolished in 1839 to make way for St Paul's Pro-Cathedral.


Provence

* The auberge in Birgu was built in around 1531 in the traditional Maltese style, and it was eventually incorporated into
Auberge d'Auvergne et Provence Auberge d'Auvergne et Provence ( mt, Berġa ta' Alvernja u Provenza) is an auberge in Birgu, Malta. It was built to house knights of the Order of Saint John from the langues of Auvergne and Provence. Auberge d'Auvergne et Provence was built ...
. The building is still intact but its façade has had some minor alterations. *
Auberge de Provence Auberge de Provence ( Maltese: ''Berġa ta' Provenza'') is an auberge in Valletta, Malta. It was built in the sixteenth century to house knights of the Order of Saint John from the langue of Provence. It now houses the National Museum of Arch ...
in Valletta was built in the 1570s in the Mannerist style, to a design of Girolamo Cassar. It was extensively redesigned in 1638 by Mederico Blondel. The building currently houses the National Museum of Archaeology.


See also

* Commanderies of the Order of Saint John


References


External links

* {{Auberges 1319 establishments in Europe 1798 disestablishments in Europe Knights Hospitaller