The Malta maritime flag, also known as the Maltese cross flag, has its origins in the history of the Knights Hospitaller of St. John, who were based on the Mediterranean island of Malta from 1530 to 1798.
The flag features a white cross with four arms of equal length on a red background. The Maltese cross is made up of four “V”-shaped or arrowhead-shaped concave quadrilaterals that converge at an intersection point at right angles, with two tips facing outward symmetrically.
The flag’s design is based on the emblem of the Knights Hospitaller, which featured a white cross on a red background. According to legend, the emblem was adopted by the knights after they were granted the island of Malta by Charles V of Spain in 1530. The eight points of the cross were said to represent the eight obligations or aspirations of the knights: to live in truth, have faith, repent one’s sins, give proof of humility, love justice, be merciful, be sincere and whole-hearted, and endure persecution.
Today, it is used as a maritime flag, representing Malta’s shipping industry and registered vessels.
