An electronic finding aid for the microfilms of the Malta Study Center, prepared by Theresa M. Vann. Sponsored by the Malta Study Center, Hill Monastic Manuscript Library. Microfilms at Hill Monastic Manuscript Library, Collegeville, MN, USA Originals in the National Library of Malta, Valletta, Malta.  

Reproduction of microfilms requires the consent of the National Library of Malta

 Catalogue: A. Zammit Gabaretta and J. Mizzi, Catalogue of the Records of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in the Royal Malta Library, vol. 1, Archives 1-72 (Malta, 1964).

Published editions of charters: J. Delaville le Roulx, Cartulaire général de l'Ordre des Hospitaliers de S. Jean de Jérusalem (1100-1310), 4 vols (Paris, 1894-1906). Idem., Documents concernant les Templiers. (Paris, 1882). S. Pauli, Codice diplomatico del Sacro Militare Ordine Gerosolimitano oggi di Malta, 2 vols (Lucca, 1733-1737).H. Prutz, Malteser Urkunden und Regesten zur Geschichte der Tempelherren und der Johanniter herausgegeben. (Munich, 1883).

Section 1 consists of charters, donations, bulls, and letters addressed to the Order of St. John. The materials include information about the Order's properties in the Latin East, original charters issued by kings, popes, and masters of the Order, and individual codices that do not form part of the other series in the archives.

• Archive 1: Old title missing: [Donationes, emptiones aliaeque bonorum acquisitiones in regno Hierusalem favore Hospitalis Sti. Joannis Hiersolomitani] (1107-1149). Fifty-four charters on parchment relating to the acquisition of property in the Holy Land by the Knights Hospitallers, including donations by the rulers of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem.
• Archive 2: Old title missing: [Donationes, emptiones aliaeque bonorum acquisitiobnes in regno Hierusalem favore Hospitalis Sti. Joannis Hierosolimitani] (1122-1169] Forty-nine charters on parchment relating to the acquisition of property in the Holy Land by the Knights Hospitallers, including donations made made by the rulers of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem.
• Archive 3: Donationes, emptiones aliaeque bonorum acquisitiones in Regno Hierusalem favore hospitalis Sti. Joannis Hierosolimitani (1170-1179). Sixty charters on parchment relating to the acquisition of property in the Holy Land by the Knights Hospitallers and to donations made by the rulers of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem.
• Archive 4: Old title missing. [Donationes, emptiones aliaeque bonorum acquisitiones in regno hierusalem favore hospitalis Sti. Joannis Hierosolimitani ] (1180-1198) Forty-seven charters on parchment relating to the acquistion of property in the Holy Land by the Knights Hospitallers and to donations made to the same Knights.
• Archive 5: Old title missing: [Donationes, emptiones aliaeque bonorum acquisitiones in regno hierusalem favore hospitalis Sti. Joannis Hierosolimitani] (1231-1259)  Sixty-five charters on parchment relating to the acquistion of property in the Holy Land by the Knights Hospitallers and to donations made to the same Knights.(1231-1259)
• Archive 6: Privilegia S[acrae] D[omui] H[ospitalis] H[ierusalem] concessa a summis pontificibus Calixto II, Paschali II, Leone X (1103-1521). Five original papal bulls on parchment conferring privileges upon the Knights Hospitallers, issued by Calixtus II, Pascal II, John XXII, and Leo X
• Archive 7: Privilegia S[acrae] D[omui] H[ospitalis] H[ierusalem] concessa a summis pontificibus Urbano III, Urbano IV, Urbano VIII (1185/1186-1644). Seventy-six original papal bulls on parchment conferring privileges upon the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, issued by Urban III, Urban IV, Urban V, and Urban VIII.
• Archive 8: Privilegia S[acrae] D[omui] H[ospitalis] H[ierusalem] concessa a summis pontificibus Eugenio III, Eugenio IV (1145/1146-1445). Eighteen original papal bulls on parchment conferring privileges upon the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, issued by Eugenius III and Eugneius IV.
• Archive 9: Privilegia S[acrae] D[omui] H[ospitalis] H[ierusalem] concessa a summis pontificibus, Honorio III, Honorio IV (1216-1286). Thirty-seven papal bulls on parchment confirming or conferring privileges upon the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. Issued by Honorius III and Honorius IV.
• Archive 10: Privilegia S[acrae] D[omui] H[ospitalis] H[ierusalem] concessa a summis pontificibus, Clemente III, Clemente IV, Clemente V, Clemente VI (1188-1350) Eighty-one papal bulls on parchment concerning (a) privileges granted to the Order of St. John of Jerusalem and (b) the incorporation of the Templars' property after their suppression. Issued by  Clement III, Clement IV, Clement V, Clement VI.
• Archive 11: Privilegia S[acrae] D[omui] H[ospitalis] H[ierusalem] concessa a summis pontificibus Clemente VII, Clemente VIII, Clemente X, XI, XII, XIII (1384-1765). One hundred sixty-eight papal bulls on parchment and twenty-four copies concerning privileges granted to the Order of St. John of Jerusalem by popes Clement VII, Clement VIII, Clement X, Clement XI, Clement XII, Clement XIII
• Archive 12: Privilegia S[acrae] D[omui] H[ospitalis] H[ierusalem} concessa a summis pontificibus Gregor: Gregorio IX, Gregorio X, Gregorio XI, Gregorio XIII, Gregorio XIV, Gregorio XV (1227-1623). Sixty-one papal bulls and three copies, on parchment, concerning privileges granted to the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. Gregory IX, Gregory X, Gregory XI, Gregory XIII, Gregory XIV, Gregory XV
• Archive 13: Privilegia S[acrae] D[omui] H[ospitalis] H[ierusalem] concessa a summis pontificibus: Ioanne XXI, Ioanne XXII, Ioanne XXIII (1276-1414). Twenty-six papal bulls and two copies, on parchment.
• Archive 14: Privilegia S[acrae] D[omui] H[ospitalis] H[ierusalem] concessa a summis pontificibus: Nicolao III, Nicolao IV, Nicolao V (1278-1453). Thirteen papal bulls and five copies, on parchment, concerning privileges granted to the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, issued by Nicholas III, Nicholas IV, Nicholas V.
• Archive 15: Privilegiorum S[acrae] D[omui] H[ospitalis] H[ierusalem] a diversis summis pontificibus concessorum transumptum (1166-1489).Copies on parchment of fifty papal bulls; copy on parchment of letters patent of Charles VI, King of France 12th, 14th, and 15th-century parchment copies of 50 Papal Bulls concerning the Order of St. John of Jerusalem and a parchment copy of letters Patent of Charles VI, King of France.
• Archive 16: Bullae originales quae tam Syria quam alio tempore infrascriptorum magistrorum, quae in libris cancellariae non sunt registratae, vid. : F. Gerini 1235. F. Guillelmi Castelnovo 1256. F. Hugonis Revel 1276. F. Ioannis de Villers 1289. F. Oddonis de Pinibus 1295. F. Fulci de Villareto 1314. F. Deodati de Gozon 1347. F. Elionis de Villanova 1321-44. Seventy-four original Magisterial Bulls on parchment and one copy on paper, not registered in the books of the chancery, issued by Gerini, Castelnovo, Hugh Revel, Jean de Villiers , Odo de Pins, Fulk de Villareto, Deodato de Gozon, and Elion de Villanova (1169-1498).
• Archive 17:  Twenty-one royal charters on parchment (mostly safe-conducts of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor); six bulls on parchment (Reginald Poole, cardinal and papal legate) concerning the re-integration in their former state of the Priorate of England at St. John's Clerkenwell, and of nine of the Old Commanderies and the re-establishment of the Priorate of Ireland.
• Archive 18: Bullae originales per titulos et materias divisae quae in Libris bullarum non sunt registratae sub emin. Et rev. Domino Magno Magistro, Fratre Ugone Revel expeditae de annis 1252, 1262, 1264, 1267, 1270. Seven charters on parchment, concerning the Knights Templar (1252-1270) which were not registered in the Liber bullarum, during the magistracy of Hugh Revel.  Thomas Berard. Petrus, Episcopus Ebronensis. Fr. Lambertus
• Archive 19: One vidimus on parchment of documents concerning the Knights Templar, made by the Vicar General of the Bishop of Daz. (1371)
• Archive 20: Bullae originales per titulos et materias divisae quae in Libris bullarum non sunt registratae sub emin. Et rev.mo domino Magno Magistro Fratre Elione de Villanova expeditae de annis 1319, 1327, 1333, 1337, 1341, 1342, et 1366. Fifty-five charters on parchment, not registered in the Liber bullarum (mostly receipts of Genoese Bankers) during the magistry of Elione de Villanova.
• Archive 21: Bullae originales per titulos et materias divisae que in Libris bullarum non sunt registratae sub em.mo et Rev.mo Domino Magno Magistro Fratre Rugerio de Pinibus expeditae de annis 1336, 1356, 1358, 1362, 1373. Ten original magisterial bulls on parchment, not registered in the Liber bullarum (1336, 1356, 1358, 1362, 1373) issued by Master R. de Pins.
• Archive 22:  Bulla capitularis quae in Libris bullarum non est registrata sub emol. Et rev.mo domino Magno Magistro Fratre Deodato de Gozon expedita de anno 1352. One document on parchment, containing the enactments made in the Chapter General held in Rhodes on the 2nd March 1352, enacted under Master Deodato de Gozon, but not registered in the Liber bullarum (copy, in French, containing 17 enactments)
• Archive 23: Bullae originales per titulos et materias divisae quae in Libris bullarum non sunt registratae sub emo. Et rev. mo Domino Magno Magistro Fratre Roberto Julliaco de annis 1374, 1375, 1376, 1393. Five original bulls on parchment, not registered in the Liber bullarum, issued by Master Robert de Juilly
• Archive 24: Bullae originales per titulos et materias divisae quae in Libris bullarum non sunt registratae sub em.mo et rev.mo domino Magno Magistro Fratre Ioanne Ferdinando de Heredia expeditae de annis 1378, 1379, 1381, 1382, 1384, 1385, 1390, 1391, 1392. Twenty-five original magisterial bulls on parchment, not registered in the Liber bullarum, pertaining to Master Juan Fernandez de Heredia
• Archive 25: Bullae originales per titulos et materias divisae quae in Libris bullarum non sint registratae sub emo. Et rev.mo Domino Magno Magistro Fratre Philiberto de Naillacco expeditae de annis 1400, 1401, 1402, 1403, 1405, 1409, 1411, 1416, 1417 et 1419. Twelve original magisterial bulls on parchment, not registered in the Liber bullarum, pertaining to Master Philibert de Naillac
• Archive 26: Bullae originales per titulos et materias divisae quae in Libris bullarum non sunt registratae sub emo. Et rev.mo Domino Magno Magistro Fratre Antonio Fluviano expeditae de annis 1422, 1428, 1429, 1430, 1432, 1433. Twelve original magisterial bulls on parchment, not registered in the Liber bullarum, pertaining to Master Antonio de Fulviá  
• Archive 27: Bullae originales per titulos et materias divisae quae in Libris bullarum non sunt registratae sub emo. et Rev.mo Domino Magno Magistro Fratre Ioanne de Lastich expeditae de annis 1430, 1438, 1439, 1440, 1441, 1444, 1449, 1452. Sixteen original magisterial bulls on parchment, not registered in the Liber bullarum, issued by Master Jean de Lastic .
• Archive 28: Six original magisterial bulls, one on paper and five on parchment, concerning the administration of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, issued by Master Jacques de Milly (1455, 1457, 1458, 1459)
• Archive 29: Bullae originales per titulos et materias divisae quae in Libris bullarum non sint registrate sub emo. et Rev.mo Domino Magno Magistro Fratre Raimundo Zacosta expeditae de annis 1465, 1466. Six original magisterial bulls on parchment, not registered in the Liber bullarum, issued by Master Raimundo Zacosta.
• Archive 30: Bullae originales per titulos et materias divisae, quae in Libris bullarum non sint registratae, sub em.mo et Rev.mo Domino Magno Magistro F. Baptista de Ursinis expeditae de annis 1469, 1474, 1475 et 1476. Five original magisterial bulls on parchment, not registered in the Liber bullarum, issued by Master Giovan Battista Orsini.
• Archive 31: Seventeen original magisterial bulls on parchment, issued by Master Pierre d'Aubusson (1478-1496)
• Archive 32: Bulla capitularis quae in Libris bullarum non est registrata sub emo. et rev.mo Fratre Emerico expedita de anno 1509. One capitular bull, on parchment, not registered in the Liber bullarum, issued by Master Emery d'Amboise (1509)
• Archive 33: Bullae originales per titulos et materias divisae quae in Libris bullarum non sunt registratae sub emo. et rev.mo domino Magno Magistro Fratre Philippo Villiers Lisleadam expeditae de annis 1522, 1523, 1527. Six original magisterial bulls, four on parchment, not registered in the Liber bullarum, issued by Master Phillip Villiers l'Isle Adam (1522, 1523, 1527)
• Archive 34: Bullae orginales per titulos et materias divisae quae in Libris bullarum non sunt registratae sub emo. et rev.mo Domino Magno Magistro Fratre Ioanne de Homedes expeditae de annis 1531, 1545, 1548, 1550, 1551. Six original bulls on parchment, not registered in the Liber bullarum, issued by Master Juan de Homedes (1531, 1545, 1548, 1551)
• Archive 35: One magisterial bull on parchment, issued by Master Claude de la Sengle (9 September 1555, Malta)
• Archive 36: Royal charter of Henry VIII of England (7 August 1538)
• Archive 37: Royal charter of Philip II of Spain and Mary of England (13 March 1558)
• Archive 38: Royal charter of Ferdinand II, Emperor and King of Bohemia (18 November 1631)
• Archive 39: Royal charter of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor (17 December 1560)
• Archive 40: Royal charter of Philip II of Spain and Mary of England (7 March 1558)
• Archive 41: Four original royal charters on parchment, issued by Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor; Charles III, King of Spain; Philip V, King of Spain; Victor Amedeus, King of Sicily (text in Italian)(1637, 1669, 1706, 1714)
• Archive 42: Original charter of the Sicilian chancery (15 July 1533)
• Archive 43: Original charter of Cosimo d'Medici (9 September 1563)
• Archive 44: Fourteen original charters on parchment pertaining to the commandery of St. John of Cremona; uncounted charters on paper, pertaining to the Langue of Italy and the Priory of Lombardy (1471-1475; 17th century)
• Archive 45: Visitatio commendarum superioris et inferioris alemaniae, anno domini 1495. Visitation of the Commanderies of Upper and Lower Germany, 245 folia (1495)
• Archive 46:  Miscellanea di documenti antichi. Twenty miscellaneous documents on parchment (1146-1579)
• Archive 47: Fondazioni delle venerande lingue di Provenza, Alvernia, Francia ed Alemagna.  Documents concerning the foundation of the commandaries of the langues of Provence, Auvergne, France and Germany, 295 folia (1183-1740).
• Archive 48: Livre des receptes des revenus du Grand Maitre et couvent de Rodes sur tous les priores et comandes. Fernandes d'Eredia Maitre Rodes. Book of receipts of revenues of the Master and Convent of Rhodes from all the Priories and Commandaries. Fernandez de Heredia, Master of Rhodes. 226 folia. (14th century)
• Archive 49: Seven charters on parchment concerning the church of St. Anthony, Marseilles (1375, 1376, 1401, 1405, 1448).
• Archive 50: Sciampagna. Scritture diverse dal 1511 al 1678. A collection of documents, mainly original, forming a volume of 401 ff. concerning the Grand Priory of Champagne.
• Archive 51: Francia. Scritture diverse dal 1518 al 1565. Diverse documents concerning the accounts of the priory of France. 463 folia. (1518-1565).
• Archive 52: [Old title] Le libre des debites le quiel doit demeurer alla boyte de la Langue de Provance fet l'an Mil 5c et 16 [later title] Livre des debtes deubs a la v.l. en 1516 et finisssant en 1602 a Rodes et a Malte. A volume of 183 ff. on paper concerning the administration of the finances of the Langue of Provence: ff. 133-159 have been torn., 1516-1602. 183 folia.
• Archive 53: Fondationi di varii gran maestri, e d'altre persone di cappellanie e messe perpetue in Rodi, con l'approvazione del Capitolo Generale [e sudette fondationi si trovano registrate nella copia de Capitoli Generali ... anni 1466, 1471, 1478, & 1513 ff 17-232]. Foundation by various masters and other persons of chapels and perpetual Masses in Rhodes, with the approval of the Chapter General. 60 folia. (1466, 1471, 1475, 1478, and 1513)
• Archive 54: Ricette d'Inghilterra dal 1520 sin'al 1526 e dal 1531 sin'al 1536. Accounts of the Langue of England from 1520 until 1526 and 1531 until 1536. 302 folia.
• Archive 55: Conto antico della ricetta generale dell'anno 1561, con nota dei castelli del principato d'achaia. Old accounts of the receiver general of the year 1561, with a note of the castles in the principality of Achoea. 83 folia.
• Archive 56: Varie fondazioni del G. M. D'Aubusson. Various foundations of Master Pierre d'Aubusson. 30 folia. (1487, 1489, 1497).
• Archive 57: Liber epistolarum (1523-1764). Book of letters.  A collection of original letters addressed to the Grand Masters by Sovereigns and Dignitaries of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. 412 folia. 
• Archive 58: Lettere di Francia (1528-1764). Letters from the Kings of France to the Masters of the Order.  Originally this collection contained letters up to the year 1707, but a considerable number of a later date were subsequently added. 518 folia.
• Archive 59: Lettere di castiglia portogallo ed aragona (1522-1764). Letters from the Kings of Castile, Portugal, and Aragon to the Masters of the Order. 510 folia.
• Archive 60: Correspondence. A collection of original letters European sovereigns addressed to the Grand Masters, forming a volume of 256 folia (1528-1764)
• Archive 61: Letters from Italian Princes to the Masters of the Order. 209 folia. (1522-1762).
• Archive 62: Donation of the island of Malta, Gozo and Tripoli made by the Emperor Charles V in the year 1530, with the confirmation by Pope Clement VII and the Exequatur of the Viceroy and the Court of the King of Sicily. 50 folia. (1530). This volume contains-in original and in copy-the 'Exequatur' given by the Viceroy De Monteleone and the Court of Sicily to the Charter of Charles V and the Bull of Clement VII regarding the cession of Malta, Gozo, and Tripoli to the Order
• Archive 63: Miscellanea Hierosolimitana (1183-1697). Miscellaneous documents, mostly original, consisting of donations made to the Order of St. John by various Sovereigns and Princes. 120 folia.  
• Archive 64: Statuta et ordinationes in diversis capitulis generalibus condita et promulgata (1335-1366). Statutes and Ordinances promulgated in diverse chapter generals. Five original documents on parchment.
• Archive 65: Dispense. Petitions to the Holy See. 124 folia. (16th century)
• Archive 66: Fundatione fatta dal G.M.Ro D'Aubuson de Fra Cap. Ni e vicario della chiesa di S. Gio. Di Pre di Genova in onore delle sacre ceneri del sud.to s.to con la norma della nominatione de sud.ti et assignatione del vitto, con sua confirma ap.lica. Foundation made by Master Pierre d'Aubusson of the Church of St. John di Prè in Genova, with its confirmation by Pope Julius II. 22 folia. (1501)
• Archive 67: Lettere patenti di S.M. Crist.ma colle quali gli abitanti di queste isole vengono naturalizzati regnicoli di Francia 1765. Letters patent of Louis XV of France, .declaring the inhabitants of Malta his naturalized subjects. 6 folia. (June 1765).
• Archive 68: Pierre d'Aubusson's Register of Esgardium from 1476, 1477, 1478, 1480, 1481, 1482, 1483, dated 1525. 149 folia. A volume on paper with records concerning disputes and controversies between members of the Priories of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.
• Archive 69: Statuta et consuetudines ordinis S. Joannis in linguam latinam versa a magistro Rogerio de Pinibus. 1357. Statutes and Constitutions of the Order of St. John, in Latin, compiled during the magistrate of Roger de Pins. 34 folia.
• Archive 70: Imperial diploma of Charles V, conceding the islands, cities and castles of Tripoli, Malta and Gozo to the Order of St. John. (23 March 1530).
• Archive 71: Three detached seals, without charters.
• Archive 72: Dipl. orig. [Litterae Leonardi Donati Ducis Venetiarum.] Illustrissimo et Reverendissimo in Christo Patri, D.no Aloffio de Wignacourt, Dei gratia, Sacrae Domus Hospitalis Sancti Joannis Hierosolymitani Magno Magistro, ac pauperum Christi custodi dignissi. Original charter of Leonardi Donati, Duke of Venice, to Master Alof de Wignacourt. (27 April 1606).