Hospitaller Sergeant-at-Arms Acre, 1191

The siege of Acre was a major battle of the Third Crusade. The siege lasted two years, involving most of the prominent Christian forces on the Holy Land and meant a serious defeat for the Muslim leader, Saladin, whose hopes of quickly destroying the full Christian kingdom of Outremer vanished into thin air.

The Order of the Knights of St. John, more commonly known as the Knights Hospitallers, traces its origin to the old Amalfitan hospital in Jerusalem. From their humble origins, they evolved to become one of the most important Christian military orders. After the Muslim conquest of the Holy Land, they moved their base of operations to the isle or Rhodes.

During the siege of Acre, the order was part of the Christian contingent commanded by Richard the Lionheart, participating in diverse actions, skirmish and battles against the Muslim forces.

Our figure depicts a humble class Sergeant-at-Arms with some elements more common on monks that in knights. The most striking element is a big processional cross that can be decorated in many ways. Also the rest of the garments and heraldry can be adapted to the painter’s choice.