Ancient and Modern Malta: containing a description of the ports and cities of Malta and Goza ... also, the history of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem ... till the beginning of the 19th century ... With an appendix containing a number of authentic state papers, etc

Front matter

ANCIENT AND MODERN MALTA. " Ce Rocher heroique, en hauts Faits si fertile, " Qui voit fumer de loin le Sommet de I'Etna, * " Malthe. **»«*****•* u • •. • 4 -4 • »•••••*• * " Les Lauriers seuls sembloient y croitre " Sans Culture." Homme des Ch/rmjis, Vol. II. IN TWO BOOKS. Printed by S. Hamilton, Shoe-lane, Fleet-street ANCIENT AND MODERN MALTA: CONTAINING A DESCRIPTION OF THE PORTS AND CITIES OF THE ISLANDS OF MALTA AND GOZA, TOGETHER WITH The Monuments of Antiquity still remaining, the different Governments to which they have been subjected, their Trade and Finances : AS ALSO, THE HISTORY OF THE KNIGHTS OF ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM, From their first Establishment in Malta till the Beginning of the 19th Century : WITH A PARTICULAR ACCOUNT OF THE EVENTS WHICH PRECEDED AND ATTENDED ITS Capture by the French and Conquest by the English.

BY LOUIS DE BOISGELIN, KNIGHT OF MALTA. " De tous les Ordres qui prirent Naissance a l'Occasion des Guerres de la Terre Sainte, celui de St. Jean est le senl qui, consenant I'Espril de sa premiere Institution, a toujours continue depuis d defindre la Religion." Henault. WITH AN APPENDIX, Containing a Number of authentic State-Papers and other Documents, a Chart of the Islands, Views, Portraits, Antiques, fye. IN THREE VOLUMES Vol. II. LONDON: PRINTED FOR G. & J. ROBINSON, PATERNOSTER-ROW. 1804.

Introduction

. .HISTORIANS of all ages have transmitted to posterity the dying words of expiring heroes ; and related, with precision and with just praises, those memorable actions which so deservedly entitled them to that glorious epithet. It appears, therefore, extraordinary, that an Order ever distinguished for piety, military exploits, and wise form of government — an Order which had hitherto triumphed even in the midst of misfortunes — should cease to exist, and no kind pen, no friendly hand, be found to rescue it from oblivion. Several different authors have described the laws and statutes of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem with great exactness, and have spoken of the virtues and valiant deeds of its members with equal strength and eloquence. Vertot, in particular, has thrown a light on the history of Malta which time itself can never efface : VOL. II. b

INTRODUCTION.

. and it is greatly to be regretted, that the man who has so forcibly described the religious and military actions of the pious personages and celebrated warriors who have raised the glory of the Order to so high a pitch, from the first moment of its institution to the beginning of the eighteenth century, should no longer exist, to record the fatal events which have so cruelly annihilated it. He alone could do justice to Malta, render the last honours to her memory, and throw over her the funereal pall ; which, it is much to be dreaded, will never be removed. How truly should I value and admire the pen which could trace to posterity, and to the whole Christian world, the sentiments of affection and esteem felt for the knights of Malta by the surrounding nations ! — sentiments so justly due to their hospitality and military prowess, and of which the inhabitants of Calabria and Sicily must most particularly partake*.

To them, indeed, I may with justice appeal, since by them the hospitable virtues of the knights of St. John can never be forgotten. Neither the severity of the weather, nor the passage through the Faro of Messina, which at the season of the year when the earthquake happened is extremely dangerous, could abate the zeal of the Order : and, notwithstanding * See the account of the earthquake in Calabria and Sicily, and the relief afforded the inhabitants by the knights of Malta, Vol. III. p. 12.

INTRODUCTION.

. III the galleys were laid up for the winter, preparations were so quickly made, that, thirty-six hours after the arrival of the dreadful intelligence, they set sail for Sicily, carrying with them medicine-chests, tents, beds, surgeons — in short, every thing necessary for fitting up an hospital. The standard of St. John floating in the air, was the first signal of relief perceived by these miserable sufferers ; and the knights of Malta eagerly flew to alleviate their distress. They distributed among them every thing requisite to supply the exigence of the moment ; and thousands of people on the Quay of Messina daily received provisions from their hands. How affecting was the scene, to behold these same knights, accompanied by the surgeons, searching among the ruins, and rescuing from destruction the un happy beings who were buried beneath them, and whose wounds prevented their making any efforts for themselves !

They next proceeded to the miserable dwellings scattered over the fields, in which some of these wretched sufferers had sought an asylum, whilst others, still more wretched, were stretched on the ground, where I myself beheld them, bathed in their blood. To these like wise the knights administered relief, and even applied the first dress ing to their wounds ; thus affording that assistance which the unfortunate victims had vainly implored from their fellow-citizens. b2

INTRODUCTION.

. During the whole of their stay on this desolated shore, they continued their pious occupations, and found means to shelter, from the inclemency of the weather, numbers of beings who had been reduced to rest their weary limbs on the cold bosom of their mother earth. If such, then, were the hospitable virtues of the knights of St. John, their military exploits were surely equally conspicuous ! How easily could I point out the memorable and recent periods when the Maltese galleys and men-of-war so gloriously com bated, in the post of honour on the African Sea, in the midst of the Christian fleets, when they threatened with destruction the coast of Barbary, and spread universal terror to the very walls of Algiers ! But I will leave to others this wide field of glory, and confine myself, in the following pages, to a slight sketch of the history of the knights of St. John, from their first establishment in the island of Malta till the fatal moment when they were so cruelly forced to abandon it.

How frequently shall I regret, in this rapid account of the memorable exploits of the heroes who have done honour to Malta, the impossibility of placing before the reader the names of all those whose actions have obtained the prize of immortality, and

INTRODUCTION.

. V who must ever live in the memory of their successors ! The barbarians who have defiled, mutilated, and laid waste the monuments erected in remembrance of their virtues by the hand of Piety and Gratitude, have, if possible, added to their shame, and rendered the memory of these heroes still more dear, by proving to mankind how necessary are the services of such warriors to free the world from those detestable monsters. The noble sarcophagi, the rich tombs which decorated the church of St. John, where the magnificent efforts of art seemed exhausted, ought to have entitled the knights to the respect and veneration of even these de stroyers. All, all have been overthrown — mercilessly broken — and their contents dispersed ! Who knows, but, in some future day, the precious remains of La Valette and LTsle Adam may be found in the same place into which those of Turenne have been thrown ! and who knows, but they may likewise receive the same honours which are now so eagerly paid to the memory of that great general ! * How cruelly painful must be the reflexions of a conqueror, the lover of true glory and the fine arts, who, intoxicated with * I have just learned, that every thing which was not of gold, silver, or precious stones, has been respected : I therefore think it proper to do immediate justice, in that particular, to the scrupulous executors of the orders of the directory. VI

INTRODUCTION.

. success, has suffered the laurels of victory to be planted in the midst of heaps of rubbish, the sad remains of fallen edifices ! Alas ! the faded state of those laurels must quickly convince him of his error, and serve as a severe lesson on future occasions. The ruins of Persepolis are to this day an indelible stain on the memory of him who vainly hoped to make amends for the destruction of that city by laying the foundation of Alexandria, where the invaders of the present day have fruitlessly sought the monuments of ancient times, and carried their ambition so far as to attempt re-building its walls. Arts once lost cannot be restored ; since those which flourished in one century can never equally suit the taste of another. I can never sufficiently regret, that I should be compelled, in the course of this history, to place, in the same page with the most illustrious personages who have honoured the Order, names (though happily but few in number) which ought for ever to be proscribed.

The history of their crimes will serve as a striking instance of the frailty of human nature, which yields to temptation even in presence of the most sublime virtue. And you, illustrious, religious dames ' who, after the example of the original hospitallers of St. John, have devoted yourselves to

INTRODUCTION.

. VII the relief of the poor and sick of your own sex, think not I will pass over in silence your distinguished virtues ! It may, perhaps, be asked, why you, who are associated with the hospitallers, who have regarded them as your superiors, and have always accompanied them, have never, equally with themselves, had historians to pub lish those heroic and charitable deeds which, in whatsoever countries you have been dispersed, have so deservedly obtained the admiration of the rich and the blessings of the poor ? The reason, alas ! is clear ; since the peaceful and secret virtues of religion and charity offer nothing interesting to a corrupted world, which demands1 brilliant acts of valour to arrest its attention — acts but too frequently stained with blood, which your tender hands have stanched in silence.

Your glory, like that of the God whose example you follow, is not of this world. If, indeed, it subsists any where in all its purity, it must be in the breasts of those who practise the same virtues ; of those who owe their existence to your charitable care, and who, like you, look up to the joys of another life, to console them for the transitory troubles of this. Let the curious reader now proceed to examine the origin of hospitals, and he will evidently perceive, that the admirable institu tions, founded by the true spirit of charity for the relief of suffering humanity, where the poor found an asylum, and the sick were

INTRODUCTION.

. snatched from the jaws of death, were not the work of Pagan hands. The legislators and philosophers of the heathen world preached no such doctrine ; for the gods worshipped by idolaters breathed nothing but battle and vengeance, and delivered them selves up to all the disorderly passions of men. For one simple altar raised to Benevolence, more than a hundred magnificent temples were erected in honour of Venus. Rome, whilst plunged in the dark abyss of idolatry — nay, even Greece herself, so renowned for wise laws and sublime institu tions — could never boast of either law or institution dedicated to the relief of miserable humanity. And ye, pious Numa ! wise Solon ! virtuous Lycurgus ! why, O why did ye forget, in the midst of so many religious establishments, that which, doubtless, must ever be the most pleasing to the Divinity — an asylum for the sick and dying !

How glorious would it be for the academies, lyceums, and porticoes, of Pagan philosophy, which have given to the world so many illustrious personages worthy of admiration, could I present to my reader only one of the disciples of that philosophy, who, on quitting its schools, had given freedom to his slaves, or com manded them to stretch out a pitying hand to relieve the distress

INTRODUCTION.

. IX of an unfortunate being sinking before them under the accumulated weight of indigence and infirmities ! The most enlightened part of mankind, in those distant ages, was ahnost equally divided into two sects of philosophers. But what efforts of humanity could be expected, either from the Stoics, who, taught to despise pain and misery in their own persons, were naturally insensible to the sufferings of others, or from the followers of Epicurus, whose happiness consisted in the successive enjoyment of sensual pleasures, which the spectacle of an unfortu nate fellow-creature would have only served to interrupt ? Neither do the boasted religion and government of China or India, offer any asylum to either master or slave, reduced to poverty or suffering from sickness. Those, indeed, who believed in the metempsychosis, erected hospitals for animals, into which even the most impure were received : man alone was forgotten.

It was, then, reserved for Christianity to shed its benign influence around, and bestow this new blessing on a suffering world. To the honour of the female sex let it be said, that a woman was the first founder of such a pious institution in the capital of the world. VOL. II. c

INTRODUCTION.

. X The affecting spectacle of a God expiring on a cross for the salvation of all mankind, who, in his dying moments, even forgave his executioners — his disciples constantly preaching the duty of loving our neighbour as ourselves — the doctrine of the Gospel, which proves that all men are equal in the eyes of their Creator — must naturally revive in the human breast that sensibility so long stifled by the erroneous tenets of idolatrous lawgivers and philosophers. Fabiola*, a Roman lady, moved by the tears and groans of the wounded and dying mercilessly left extended in the public squares of the city, felt, from the principles of her religion, that it was the duty of the rich in this world to alleviate the distress of the suffering poor, and afford them shelter in their misfortunes; she therefore instantly devoted her immense fortune to the construction of a spacious edifice, in a healthy situation, for the reception of the sick and infirm, where they were supplied with proper food, and every possible assistance.

The Christian emperors in the East likewise vied with each other in establishing houses on the same plan. Constantinople alone soon contained thirty-five charitable institutions, in which the * See Encyclopedie Methodique, Art. Hopital.

INTRODUCTION.

. XI poor and sick of all descriptions were received, and their necessities relieved. The hospital of St. John existed in Jerusalem from the reign of Justinian. It was principally intended for the reception of strangers, and the great crowds of pilgrims who constantly thronged from all parts to visit the Holy Sepulchre : it afterwards became a nursery for the knights of Malta ; and the time they passed in that place may well be regarded as the golden age of their history. I do not intend, in this work, to write the history of those primitive times, nor of the knights of St. John, afterwards knights of Rhodes; I shall only present to my reader a chronological historical table*, with observations, of the principal events which took place in the reigns of the successive grand-masters, from the time of Gerard till the epoch when LTsle Adam was obliged to abandon Rhodes.

I have corrected the dates of several facts, which were erroneous in most of the ancient authors who have treated of the Order, and taken notice of other mistakes, which, from never having been rectified, had glided into the works of more modern historians. * Intended to make part of a complete history of Malta, about which I have for some time past been employed. C A CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORICAL TABLE (WITH OBSERVATIONS) Of the Grand-Masters and of the Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, from the Reign of Gerard to that of Lisle Adam ; together with the Dates of the principal Events which took place during their respective Masterships, many of which are erroneously stated in the different Histories of Malta hitherto published, though in other Respects those Histories may be extremely accurate.

NAMES ofthe Grand-Masters. -_ z 4J Place of their Birth. PRINCIPA1 EVENTS. Dates. Observations. 1. Peter Gerard. 1099 Provence, in France. Modern authors have, by an extraordinary mistake, called this grand-master Turn, or Tune: this arose from their having met with the expression Gerardus Turn or Gerardus Tune ; thus changing an adverb into a sirname Born at Amalfi, according to Born at Av&nes, in Hainault, according to Born at St. Genior in the Island of Martique, in Provence. His body was sent to the church of the commandery or bailiwick of Manosque in that province. This last opinion is the most prevalent, and appears very nearly proved to demonstration by the Author of the History of Pro- Codice del Sac. Ord. Mil. Geros. (Error.) Vertot, ditto. Brosio, ditto. Art de verifier les Dates.

Sebastian Paoli. P. AntonioPaolo. Art de verifier les Dates. Bouche, Hist, de Provence, vol.1. page 31. Cardinal deVitry Ditto. vence Capture of Jerusalem Bull of pope Paschal H., dated February 15, confirming the institution ot the Hospital ot St. John of Jerusalem, together with all the donations bestowed on it. Likewise enfranchising all lands belonging to the said Hospital from tithes, together with all those which might in future fall into it ; and enactin*;, ; that the successor of Gerard should 1099: 1113! NAMES ofthe Grand-Masters. t'S Place of their Birth. PRINCIPAL EVENTS. Dates. Observations. 1. Peter Gerard. 109! Provence, in France. be freely elected by common consent of the Brothers. Pope Calixtus II. issued another bull on the 19th of June : which gives reason to believe he was still alive at that time, though he was generally supposed to have died in 1118.

In the ancient bulls and charters he is entitled Provost and Guardian of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem. 1120 Art de verifier les Dates. Cronografo Malleacense. 2. Raymond du Puis, or del Push, or de Podio. from 1120 to 1121 Dauphine, in France. Some authors insist that he was an Italian, born at Florence. A modern writer declares the place of his birth to be Lucca. Notwithstanding all that has been said to the contrary, he certainly was the immediate successor of Gerard, and not Fra. Broyant Roger. The Order became military, and took the oaths to the patriarch of Jerusalem. An act passed the 9th of December between the brothers of the Hospital and the chapter of the church of Tripoli, in which Raymond was entitled Master and Father of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem. Raymond was the first who took the title of Master of the Sacred Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem.

He bestowed a particular habit on the members of the Order, and made the first regulations, not in a general chapter, but in a particular assembly held in the convent. In these first statutes, two classes of brothers are alone mentioned, viz. the Clerks and the Laicks. The distinction between knights of arms and servants of arms did not take place till the pontificate of Anastasius IV. in 1153. Pope Innocent II. ordained, that the banner of St. John should bear a white cross on a red field Cod. del Sac 1121 At the latest. Art de verifier les Dates. 1125 Vertot. (Error.) Art de verifier les Dates. Art de verifier les Dates, NAMES . of the Grand-Masters. a -d (j* OJ if** a *> u 15 •» Place of their Birth. PRINCIPAL EVENTS. Dates. Observations. 2. Raymond du Puis. from 1120 Dauphins, in France.

The same pope, by a bull, took the Order under the immediate protection of the apostolical see to 1121 1134 Baudoin places this event in 1137- (An error.) The Order divided into seven languages, viz. Provence, Auvergne, France, Italy, Arragon, Germany, and England. The priories, bailiwicks, and commanderies were at that time in common. Alphonso, king of Arragon, leaves by will his dominions to be divided between the Hospitallers, the Knights Templars, and the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre 1131 Brompton, and Roger Hoveden, contemporary English historians, call Raymond Grand-Master: but the only title given hitherto by the popes was that of Master. Bonnier was mistaken in saying that Raymond took upon himself the name oi Grand-Master Raymond and his knights distinguished themselves on different occasions. 1st. Against Doldekuven, or Doldeguin, called Il-Guzi, king of Maridin 2d. They forced the enemy to raise the siege of Jaffa 3d. They contributed to the capture of Tyre. 4th.

They put a stop to the progress of Borsequin, who came from the furthermost parts of the Persian Gulf, and ravaged the whole of Cœlosyria. 5th. They took prisoners a body of Turks, who were marching to the relief of Damascus. 6th. They took fort Besabec, 6ince called Gebelet. 7th. They forced the sultan Kilidge Arslan to quit Phœnicia. 8th. They assisted in the capture of Ascalon 1123 1124 Recherches sur l'Ordre. NAMES ofthe Grand-Masters. c -0 Place of their Birth. PRINCIPAL EVENTS. Dates. Observations. 3. Auger de B-alben. 1160 Dauphine, in France. Baldwin III. in a diploma calls him Otteger. According to Naberat, nothing remains of the reign of this prince, but his name. Sebastian Paoli says he supported pope Alexander II. against the anti-pope Victor. The time of his death is not known A supposititious grand-master (see I' Art de verifier les Dates), notwithstanding the testimony of all modern historians who have written on Malta, excepting father Pacciandi Cod. del Sac. 4.

Arnaud de Comps. 1160 or 1162 Dauphine, in France. Vertot fixes the time of his death in 1167. (An error.) 5. Gerbert d'Assaly, or Gilbert de Sally. 1162 Tyre. The place of his birth was only known from the declaration he made in an act for the purchase of an estate, which is thus dated : Regnante Balduino Rege et Regind Milisanda ejus Madre : to which are added the following words, Gikbertus de Tyre. De Vaisette, who has written the History of Languedoc, confounds this grand-master with Gauceline or Gaucelin d'Assilan, and places him before Gerbert d'Assaly. JJ Art de verifier les Dates proves the identity of these two names; which, in fact, make only one. He accompanied the king of Jerusalem to Egypt He assisted in taking Belbeis, or Pelusium, according to some authors ; and Leontopolis, according to others.

This town was sold to the Hospitallers, who evacuated it the same year. This grand-master resigned his authority Died on his passage from Dieppe to England, on the 19th of September Some letters of his to Louis VII., king of France, are still in exist- Seb. Paol. 116S 1169 1183 See Roger Hoveden, who gives him the title of Magnus Magister. d V0L. II. NAMES ofthe Grand-Masters. a -d go Place of their Birth. PRINCIPAL EVENTS. Dates. Observations. ence ; in one of which he calls himself Magister; and in another, Gustos Hospitalis. 6. Gastus, or Castus. 1169 Great disputes arose concerning his election ; and several of the knights were of opinion that the abdication of his predecessor could not be valid without the approbation of the pope. The king of Jerusalem, and the patriarch, in conjunction with the bishops, appeased the disputants, and it was agreed to have recourse to the sovereign pontiff; but whether or not Gastus received his bull of election is unknown ; as indeed are the time and place of his birth.

He only reigned one year and a few months ; and not four years, as asserted by some authors. It is a matter of doubt, whether he abdicated or died in office. His election, it is thought, took place in See bull of election. 1173 7. Joubert, or Josbert. 1170 Syria. Was named regent of the kingdom of Jerusalem Acquisition of Castle Margat Death ofthe grand-master Baudoin and other historians say that his death happened in either 1178 or 1179; but Sebastian Paoli quotes charters which clearly prove that he died in October 1177. During this reign, Salahedin or Saladin Youssouf, the son of Nodgemeddir Aioub, by birth a Curd, took upon himself the title of Soudan of Egypt. 1172 1177 See Universal History. Vertot places this event in 1178. (Error.) Sebastian Paoli. 8. Roger de Moulin. from 1173 Normandy in France.

He was named grand-master in the diplomas ; which can only be explained by supposing that he was named to the mastership of the Hos- 1173 to NAMES ofthe Grand-Masters. £ 2 -c a te.8 **■ 4, Place of their Birth. PRINCIPAL EVENTS. [Dates. Observations. 8. Roger de Moulin. from 1173 to 1177 Normandy in France. pital during the time which passed between the sending to the pope, and the arrival of the bull confirming the election of Gastus. Disputes between the Hospitallers and Templars decided in favour of the former by the pope, who insisted that the Orders should make peace The grand-master sent to Europe to solicit assistance against Saladin - The grand-master, and the knights who accompanied him on the expedition, killed by the troops of Assdal, the son of Saladin See Brompton, an English his- 1179 1184 torian.

Gamier 1187 Naplouse, in Syria, the ancient Sichem. Different authors have asserted, that this grand-master was killed at the battle of Tiberias ; but he escaped, and took refuge at Ascalon. According to Baudoin, and many other writers, he only reigned two months : but, in a charter of Guy of Jerusalem, it appears he was still alive, and grand-master, on the 1st of February, 1191- Capture of Ascalon the 4th of September Of Jerusalem, the 2d of October... Of St. John d'Acre, the 13th of July, after a siege of two years 1187 1189 Baudoin. (Error.) 10. Ermangerd or Emengard Daps. 1191 Was grand-master for a very short time. Modern authors place his death in 1187 1187 1191 Vertot. (Error.) 1192 11. Godefroi de Duisson, or Gausfred de Donium. 1191 The majority of modern historians assert that he only reigned two years ; but there exists a charter which proves he was grand-master in the month of May 1201 Quarrel between the Hospitallers and Templars, adjudged in favour of the former by pope Innocent III. ...

Sebastian Paoli, vol. I. page 98. d2 NAMES ofthe Grand-Masters. IS i*3 Place of their Birth. PRINCIPAL EVENTS. Dates.! Observations. 12. Alphonso of Portugal, or Prince of Portugal. (See Vertot.) 4202 Could not possibly have been elected before 1202, though the generality of historians make him grand-master in 1194 The grand-master abdicated the same year A general chapter held at Margat. Many of the statutes made at that time are still existing. After his abdication, the grand-master retired into Portugal 1202 Baudoin. Vertot. (Errors.) 1202 13. GeofroileRat. 14. Guerin de Montaigu. 1202 France. Vertot erroneously states that the above-mentioned disputes between the Hospitallers and the Templars took place in this mastership. See Matthew Paris, a contemporary historian, in the year 1224. 1208, ■Auvergne, in France.

The Hospitallers possessed at that time in Christendom 19,000 manors, whilst the Templars had only 9>000. The term manor, or manre, meant the tillage of a plough and two bxen. Guerin, according to some authors, was elected in He, together with his knights, performed distinguished acts of valour at the siege of Damietta Andrew, king of Hungary, entered into the Order of Hospitallers The grand-master went to Europe, and refused, equally with the Templars, to obey the orders of the emperor Frederic IL, that prince being excommunicated 1206; See Baudoin. (Error.) 1218 1222 1228 15. Bertrand de Texis. 1230 This grand-master did not live later than the year 1231 ; notwithstanding a variety of authors have advanced the contrary 1231 See Baudoin. (Error.) 16. Guerin or Gerin. According to a charter of the 26th of October.

It was to this prince, and not to his successors, that pope See Sebastian Paoli. XX NAMES ofthe Grand- Masters. r"* v Place of their Birth. Observations. PRINCIPAL EVENTS. Dates. 16. Guerin or Gerin. 1231 Gregory recommended the interests of Frederic II It is said that the grand-master, with twenty-six of his knights, were slain in battle, fighting against the Kharismians : but the barbarians did not enter Palestine till 1244. See Vertot. (Error.) Bertrand. (Error.) See Vertot. (Error.) 17. Bertrand de Comps. 123' Dauphine, in France. At the end of this mastership, the Order had in different places 3500 chapels The grand-master, in a letter relative to the equipment of a vessel for the Holy Land, forbad any jewels, gold, or silver, being taken, except laced-hats. This grand-master died in though some authors pretend he lived till 1248. 1237; See Alderic. 1241 See Sebastian Paoli.

Bertrand. (Error.) Vertot. (Error.) 18. Pierre de Vil lebride. 1241 The Kharismians entered Palestine at the request of Nogemadin, soudan ofEgypt They took Jerusalem. A bloody battle, which lasted two days, the 17th and 18th of October, 1244. The grand-master was slain, and only sixteen Hospitallers escaped the sword of the Infidels. Sebastian Paoli places the death of the grand-master in 1243, according to a charter of his successor : but there was certainly a mistake in the date of that writing 1244 See Matthew Paris. In a letter written by the grand-master, Chateauneuf. Bertrand. (Error.) Sebastian Paoli. (Error.) 19- Guillaume de: Chateauneuf. 1244 France, The grand-master joined the king of France, St. Louis, at Damietta ... He was taken prisoner on the 5th of April, and remained in captivity eighteen months.

He arrived at St. John d'Acre on the 17th of October The Hospitallers contributed towards the ransom of St. Louis. The Kharismians made a new ir- 1249 1250 See Matthew Paris. NAMES ofthe Grand-Masters. c -o Place of their Birth. PRINCIPAL EVENTS. Dates. Observations. 19- Guillaume de Chateauneuf. 12441 France. ruption: their chief dignified with the title of Emperor of the Persians, by the name of Barka-Kan. The grand-master entered into a league with the soudan of Aleppo. They were defeated, and Chiteauneuf taken prisoner. Fresh disputes between the Hospitallers and the Templars. A dreadful action took place between these two Orders, and scarcely a Templar remained to give an account of the affair to his Order. Till that time there was no distinction between the Knights Hospitallers and the Serving Brothers : pope Alexander IV., in a bull of the ides of August, issued orders, that the Knights should wear a black cloak, clamydes nigras, to distinguish them from the Serving Brothers ; and when in battle, a kind of red petticoat, with other ornaments of the same colour ; and a white cross embroidered on them, in the same style as on the banners See Joinville. 125. 1259 Whether Chateauneuf, or his successor, received this bull, remains doubtful.