Island nation once ruled by an order of knights

Latest answer — September 13, 2026

5 Across

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Clue explained

MALTA is the Mediterranean island nation historically ruled by the Knights of St. John, also known as the Knights Hospitaller. “Island nation” supplies the geographical description.

Clue type:
Definition
A coastal view of Malta with historic buildings

WSJ Crossword

This clue's Sunday, September 13, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Tea with tapioca balls
  2. 5Island nation once ruled by an order of knights
  3. 10Young fellows
  4. 14Five on a foot
  5. 15Wise lion of Narnia
  6. 16Butter alternative
  7. 17Fast food chain started as a cart in Madison Square Park
  8. 19Forearm bone
  9. 20“Gee whiz!”
  10. 21Venus de ___ (Louvre statue)
  11. 23Bronze ingredient
  12. 24Port-___ (French cheese)
  13. 26Event marking a turning point
  14. 28“Nearly done!”
  15. 30Male pigs
  16. 31Used to be
  17. 32Approves
  18. 34“Yer lyin’!”
  19. 35“Drunken Sailor” or “Blow the Man Down,” e.g.
  20. 38Donny and Marie’s surname
  21. 41Antlered animal
  22. 42Some S&L products
  23. 45Barely perceptible
  24. 46“Dang it!”
  25. 49Bygone mail-order company based in Minnesota
  26. 53Rash
  27. 54Joseph of ice cream fame
  28. 55Speed Wagons and Flying Clouds, e.g.
  29. 56Pepper partner
  30. 57“Knives Out” director Johnson
  31. 59Play boisterously, and a hint to the ends of 17-, 26-, 35- and 49-Across
  32. 63Writer Ferber
  33. 64Pioneering video game company
  34. 65Long-distance racer Zátopek
  35. 66Prescription amount
  36. 67Camping tent material
  37. 68Feudal laborer

Down

  1. 1“Dynamite” K-pop group
  2. 2“How delightful!”
  3. 3Gromit and Snoopy, for two
  4. 4Invite on a date
  5. 5Reduce to a pulp
  6. 6Fire residue
  7. 7Andes animal
  8. 8Unspoken
  9. 9Low joint
  10. 10Baseball’s Gehrig
  11. 11Excellent, in slang
  12. 12They refuse to recognize the truth
  13. 13Unnamed rascal
  14. 18“___ perpetua” (Idaho motto)
  15. 22Satellite’s path
  16. 24Female pig
  17. 25California’s Santa ___ winds
  18. 26Stir-frying pans
  19. 27PlayStation maker
  20. 29Prod
  21. 33Yonder lass
  22. 34Egyptian symbol of life
  23. 35Bird call
  24. 36Door sign
  25. 37Loads
  26. 38Made available
  27. 39Tied the knot
  28. 40Jewish prayer quorums
  29. 42Halloween wear
  30. 43Period
  31. 44Pig’s place
  32. 47Former Iranian ruler
  33. 48Head lights?
  34. 50Aired again
  35. 51Like owl calls
  36. 52Ordinary
  37. 56Tibia’s spot
  38. 58Scottish refusal
  39. 60Miracle-___ (fertilizer brand)
  40. 61Title for a knight
  41. 62Middle-earth’s Galadriel or Legolas

The answer to “Island nation once ruled by an order of knights” in the Wall Street Journal crossword is MALTA — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the Wall Street Journal crossword on September 13, 2026, a Sunday puzzle, at 5-Across. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Island nation once ruled by an order of knights” answer

MALTA (5 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is MALTA.

When else has “Island nation once ruled by an order of knights” appeared?

Wall Street Journal reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

September 13, 2026 (most recent) → MALTA. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Island nation once ruled by an order of knights”?

The answer is MALTA, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the Wall Street Journal crossword on September 13, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Island nation once ruled by an order of knights”?

5 letters: MALTA.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the Wall Street Journal crossword on September 13, 2026 (a Sunday puzzle), at 5-Across.

Can “Island nation once ruled by an order of knights” have a different answer?

Yes — Wall Street Journal sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's WSJ answers?

The full grid for September 13, 2026 is on the WSJ answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

Wall Street Journal Crossword is published by The Wall Street Journal; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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