The fragment of the anon. copy after Antoine Favray’s 18th century painting of Grand Master Jean Parisot de Valette, Rabat, Malta. The grandmaster is shown with a red, bearing a white cross, sopra vest or a surcoat over an armour. It is believed that a wearing of surcoats were adopted by knights during the Crusades as a protection against sun during the day and cold during the night, but, probably, the main purpose was to keep away rain and dirt from an easily corroded armour. Also, the surcoat displayed a coat of arms of a bearer thereby identifying him, which was essential in a battlefield. For the reasons mentioned above, the Order of St John had started use of this sleeveless garment during war campaigns since the 13th century, however, later it has become more part of the ceremonial vesture of the Order