Knights of Malta in the Virgin Islands

Firestorm

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Univers,Zurich BT]http://www.usvi.net/usvi/stx/history.html[/FONT]​
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Univers,Zurich BT]KNIGHTS OF MALTA[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Univers,Zurich BT]Ten years later the Governor of St. Kitts, De Poincy, bought St. Croix as his private estate and later deeded it to the Knights of Malta. The Knight of Malta were not true knights in the medieval sense but were a religious group also known as the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. The Order fared poorly and in general were considered to be rich young aristocrats who knew little about colonization. In 1665, the French West Indian company bought the island from the Knights. At last, St. Croix had proper management under its new Governor DuBois and flourished. In short time the island had 90 plantations. Crops included tobacco, cotton, sugar cane and indigo. After DuBois´ death, bad administration, drought and sickness ended what advances had been made. From 1695 to 1733, St. Croix was considered abandoned.[/FONT]​
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[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Univers,Zurich BT]Neat little bit of trivia, eh?[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Univers,Zurich BT]AH Challenge: improve the Knights' five year stint in the Carribean to one that lasts at least into the 18th century, preferably 19th century and possibly even to the present day.[/FONT]​

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Univers,Zurich BT]Nother little bit of trivia: this 1000 year old organisation, a regional power in the Crusader-era Middle East, exists to this day with soverignty over 8 acres in Rome and a small fortress in Malta. It prints it's own currency, maintains observer status with the UN, is recognised by over 90 nations and is at war with Sealand, Utah and New Zealand over the title of World's Most Unimportant Nation (sorry Walker). :p[/FONT]​
 

Fearless Leader

Donor
Well, I hate to do this but barring further research I have little else to go off of.

1660 POD:Upon beeing granted the island of St. Croix by the governor of the French Island of St. Kitts, Fra Raphael Cotoner, newly appointed Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller appoints Jean Leblanc* a relatively new member of the order with some experience overseas to the governorship of the small island.
*OTL didn't exist

1661: Jean Leblanc arrives early on this year on St. Croix to claim it for the Knights of Malta. Though many within the order are both sceptical and jealous of his appointment Jean soon exceeds their expectations laying the groundwork for a successfull colony.

1661-1665: As governor of St. Croix Jean Leblanc uses every means at his disposal to establish a thriving colony relying heavily on waves of indentured Catholic servants from across Europe to work the numerous plantations that spring up across the island. These Catholic indentured servants soon gain their freedom and are replaced by slaves imported from Malta. By 1665 St. Croix has grown into a thriving colony with numerous plantations.

By 1665 the profitability of establishing colonies in the New World has become apparent to the Knights and soon the Grand Master authorizes Governor Jean Leblanc to lay claim to the neighboring islands of St. Thomas and St. John.

1665-1670: "The Maltese Virgin Islands" as they are now called continue to grow in population as new plantations are laid out and immigrants and slaves arrive to man them. Before long the coffers of the Knights are once again being filled with profits from the sugar industry present on the islands. Jean Leblanc also petitions Malta for a fleet of ships to protect the fledgling colonies from Pirates.

1670-1730: Durring this time little happens to the Knights of Malta and their Carribbean colonies. This is really considered a coming of age for them as the population of the islands skyrockets as do the profits. Several slave revolts occur and are put down by local military forces. The Knights also station a fleet at St. Croix and begin anti-piracy campaigns to safeguard their shipping.

Due to his success in the Carribbean colonies Jean Leblanc is appointed to the position of Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller serving until his death in 1701. He is succeeded by a series of competent governors and Grand Masters that see the Knights enter a period of prosperity in their history.

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So yeah, there's an idea a "Great Man POD" that sees the Order get some capable administration ensuring a lasting colonial presence there. I haven't researched much into how the development of Caribbean colonies would affect the Knight's history. Whether they would manage to keep their hold on the colonies is still up in the air.

But anyways great idea for an AH!
 

Fearless Leader

Donor
IIRC as long as they weren't upstanding Christians it was A-OK. They had thousands of slaves to man their galleys and Malta was a primary slave market for a great deal of time.
 

Leo Caesius

Banned
Firestorm said:
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Univers,Zurich BT]AH Challenge: improve the Knights' five year stint in the Carribean to one that lasts at least into the 18th century, preferably 19th century and possibly even to the present day.[/FONT][/LEFT]
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Actually, the Knights of St. John were also nominally in control of Tortuga from 1653-1667, and St. Barthelmy at the same time. Three Caribbean islands is not a bad start, if they can keep them.
 

Firestorm

Leo Caesius said:
Actually, the Knights of St. John were also nominally in control of Tortuga from 1653-1667, and St. Barthelmy at the same time. Three Caribbean islands is not a bad start, if they can keep them.
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Hmm, interesting.

LOL at Fourtyseven. No, I doubt they'd change their names.
 

Firestorm

Fearless Leader said:
So yeah, there's an idea a "Great Man POD" that sees the Order get some capable administration ensuring a lasting colonial presence there. I haven't researched much into how the development of Caribbean colonies would affect the Knight's history. Whether they would manage to keep their hold on the colonies is still up in the air.

But anyways great idea for an AH!
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For another Great Man, might I suggest a larger Huguenot presense on the Islands, perhaps including the ancestors of a Governor David de Crocketagne.:D
 
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