Knights Hospitaller - Protestant Continuation in Continental Europe

Protestant Continuation in Continental Europe

Following the Protestant Reformation, most German commanderies of the Order declared their continued adherence to the Order while accepting Protestant theology. As the Balley Brandenburg des Ritterlichen Ordens Sankt Johannis vom Spital zu Jerusalem (Brandenburg Bailiwick of the Chivalric Order of Saint John of the Hospital at Jerusalem), the Order continues in Germany today, virtually independent of the Roman Catholic order.

From Germany, this Protestant branch spread into other countries in Europe (Hungary, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, France, Austria, the United Kingdom, and Italy among them), the Americas (including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, and Venezuela), and Africa (most notably in Namibia and South Africa), and to Australia.

The Dutch and Swedish commanderies after World War II became independent orders under the protection of their respective monarchs. In the Johanniter Orde in Nederland, the Dutch monarch is an honorary commander. In the Johanniterorden i Sverige, the Swedish monarch is its High Protector.

All three branches (German, Dutch, Swedish) are in formalised co-operation with the British order in The Alliance of the Orders of St. John of Jerusalem, just as there is extensive collaboration between these four Alliance orders and the Order of Malta.