Jean Parisot de la Valette

Grand Master of the Hospitallers

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July 14, 2026

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Jean Parisot de la Valette was the Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller during the Siege of Malta in 1565. The Knights Hospitaller, also known as the Knights of Malta, were a military religious order founded in Jerusalem.12

During the siege, a massive Ottoman force invaded Malta, aiming to halt Christian defenses in the Mediterranean. Despite being vastly outnumbered, de la Valette's strategic decisions, including reinforcing Fort Saint Elmo, proved crucial. Although the Ottomans eventually captured Saint Elmo at a high cost, their subsequent assaults on other forts were repelled. The arrival of a Christian relief force and a daring counterattack by the knights ultimately led to the Ottoman retreat, shattering their reputation for invincibility. This victory was a significant setback for Ottoman expansion.12

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Malta
Early history
…under the Knights’ grand master, Jean de Valette, successfully withstood the Ottoman siege of 1565. The new capital city of Valletta, founded in 1566, became a town of splendid palaces and unparalleled fortifications. Growing in power and wealth—owing mainly to their maritime adventures against the Ottomans—the Knights left the island…
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…under the Knights’ grand master, Jean de Valette, successfully withstood the Ottoman siege of 1565. The new capital city of Valletta, founded in 1566, became a town of splendid palaces and unparalleled fortifications. Growing in power and wealth—owing mainly to their maritime adventures against the Ottomans—the Knights left the island…
Read More

Siege of Malta
…of the vastly outnumbered Knights, Jean Parisot de Valette, had gambled on the Ottomans’ invading Saint Elmo first and had moved his heavy artillery into the fort. To Mustafa’s dismay, the capture of the fort took several weeks, and he was forced to keep his army idle while the cannon…
Read More
…of the vastly outnumbered Knights, Jean Parisot de Valette, had gambled on the Ottomans’ invading Saint Elmo first and had moved his heavy artillery into the fort. To Mustafa’s dismay, the capture of the fort took several weeks, and he was forced to keep his army idle while the cannon…
Read More

Valletta
…Europe, it was named for Jean Parisot de la Valette, grand master of the order of Hospitallers (Knights of St. John of Jerusalem), and became Malta’s capital in 1570. The Hospitallers were driven out by the French in 1798, and a Maltese revolt against the French garrison led to Valletta’s…
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…Europe, it was named for Jean Parisot de la Valette, grand master of the order of Hospitallers (Knights of St. John of Jerusalem), and became Malta’s capital in 1570. The Hospitallers were driven out by the French in 1798, and a Maltese revolt against the French garrison led to Valletta’s…
Read More