The first monastic knight order of the history was the  Cavalieri Ospedalieri of S. Giovanni of Jerusalemn. It was founded by fra’ Gerardo Sasso, from Scala near Amalfi, prior of the Amalphitain Hospital of Jerusalemn. The new Order became quickly the armed arm of the Crusader, approved by "Goffredo di Buglione". The Order in 1099 and after was recognized ufficialy by the Pope  Pasquale II, in 1113.

They used as their symbol, the White Octagon Cross in Black field, already used to represent the Amalfi's Republic and discovered on an old amalphitain gold coin called "tarì" (end of the XI century).