The Eight Langues of the Knights of Malta
The Eight-Pointed Cross The Eight Beatitudes		The Knights of the Order of St. John were drawn from various noble European families. These Knights were drawn from many parts of Europe and belonged to Langues corresponding to the areas or countries from which they came. Therefore for example, a Knight from Aragon (which forms part of modern Spain) belonged to the Aragonese Langue and normally lived in the Auberge (the building where the Knights from the same Langue, that is, of the same nationality, live) d'Aragon. In 1530, the Eight Langues, which were represented by the Eight Points of the Eight-Pointed Cross, were the following:   1. Provence (part of modern France) 2. France 3. Auvergne (another part of modern France) 4. Italy 5. Aragon (part of modern Spain) 6. Allemagne (modern Germany) 7. England 8. Castille (Portugal)   The English Langue was abolished within a few years as a result of the Reformation of King Henry VII, who quarreled with the Pope because he wanted to re-marry, while the Catholic religion was obviously against this. In fact, while in 1530 the Knights built the Auberge of England as soon as they settled in Birgu, when they built the capital city of Valletta in 1566 they did not because it was then abolished.