Be the first to check out our Maltese Cross Pendants at our new "The1001Store" at the world's largest online craft store. I had a hand in designing them, and they are hand-made for me here in Virginia Beach. They are not only unique and distinctive-they are also individually numbered so that no two are alike. We are offering world wide shipping since many of our listeners come from outside the US. We just opened 01/29/19 so be among the first to check us out and get your order in early.  Own a Legend!  Visit us at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/the1001store There are many versions of the Maltese Cross, including the one shown with this episode, which is commonly used by fire and rescue departments. It is also seen around the world on flags, on medals given for bravery, on uniforms, and on military insignias. The story of the Maltese Cross reaches hundreds of years back into the past to a tiny island of rock called Malta, located about 80 miles off the southern coast of Italy, where a ragged band of warriors called the Knights of Saint John held out through 112 days of brutal fighting to defend Christianity from the Muslim scourge that was threatening all of Europe, Asia, and the Mediterranean. Credits: "Historie's Bloodiest Seige Used Human Heads as Cannonballs" for UK Daily News, by James Jackson, author of Blood Rock (2007) Pickles, Tim. Malta, 1565, Last Battles of the Crusades, Osprey Press 1998 Corregio, Francesco Balbi 1568 Account SUPPORT OUR SHOW MONTHLY AT PATREON Become an Assistant Producer at 1001 Stories Network ( a great resume enhancement) and support us at Patreon today! Here;s the link:  https://www.patreon.com/1001storiesnetwork\ YOUR REVIEWS AT APPLE/ITUNES ARE NEEDED AND APPRECIATED! Catch RADIO DAYS now at Apple  iTunes!   https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/1001-radio-days/id1405045413?mt=2 Catch 1001 HEROES now at Apple iTunes Podcast App:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/1001-heroes-legends-histories-mysteries-podcast/id956154836?mt=2 Catch 1001 CLASSIC SHORT STORIES at iTunes/apple Podcast App Now:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/1001-classic-short-stories-tales/id1078098622?mt=2 Catch 1001 Stories for the Road at iTunes/Apple Podcast now:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/1001-stories-for-the-road/id1227478901?mt=2 ANDROID USERS- CATCH OUR SHOWS AT WWW.CASTBOX.FM  SUBSCRIBE FREE  THEN SHARE  THANK YOU 1001 Classic Short Stories & Tales:  https://castbox.fm/channel/1001-Classic-Short-Stories-%26-Tales-id381734?country=us 1001 Heroes, Legends, Histories & Mysteries:  https://castbox.fm/channel/1001-Heroes%2C-Legends%2C-Histories-%26-Mysteries-Podcast-id1114843?country=us 1001 Stories for the Road: https://castbox.fm/channel/1001-Stories-For-The-Road-id1324757?country=us Catch ALL of our shows at one place by going to www.1001storiesnetwork.com- our home website with Megaphone. Website For  1001 Heroes is still www.1001storiespodcast.com  (we redirected that one to www.1001storiesnetwork.com) Website For 1001 Classic Short Stories is still www.1001classicshortstories.com ( we redirected that as well) Website for 1001 Stories For The Road is still www.1001storiesfortheroad  (we redirected that one, too) Website for 1001 Radio Days is www.1001radiodays.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices