The origins of the flag ( I am not questioning it) you have shown are from the Knights Teutonic, a German Military Order from the Crusades. The Knights of Malta started as the Knights Hospitalier, French Military Order. The Knights Hospitalier who for the most part conducted themselves in the true spirit of what the Crusaders where supposed to be about. The word hospital comes from them. Their desendents are known in the USA as the Knights of ST John. An amazing history.
Thge Knights Templar had a very “mixed” conduct during the Crusades and where deeply distrusted by the Rulers of France. They acquired great wealth for their Order.
The various orders of Knights came from all over Europe and even Russia; they had also settled in the Caribbean for a while.
After the British, at the request of the Catholic Church, removed the French, after a two year blockade, in September 1800. They were going to restore the Knights but the Maltese people did not want them to rule again, so Britain ruled Malta until they achieved their Independence in 1964.
