The Langues reflect the regions from which the noble knights came: Provence, Auvergne, France, Italy, Aragon, England, Germany, Castille & Portugal. Each langue had its own "pilier" (leader) & its own auberge (dormitory & eating hall). The knights had to prove noble lineage, some of them going back 16 generations. Each knight brought a dowry to the Order. Unfortunately, they became more & more arrogant as time went on. The Order lost the island of Malta in 1798 to Napoleon.