Jean Parisot de la Valette

From Freepedia

Jean Parisot de la Valette (1494-August 21, 1568), was Grandmaster of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem since August 21, 1557. He joined the order in the Langue of Provence, and fought with distinction against the Turks at Rhodes.

He was imprisoned in Malta for a brief time for an assault in Gozo, and later served as governor in the order's short-held city of Tripoli. He was elected grand master in 1559 and fought to repulse the Turks at the great siege in 1565. As a result of the order's victory he gained much prestige in Europe, however he declined the offer of a cardinal's hat.

After the great siege, he commissioned the construction of a new city of Valetta, in 1566, which remains the Maltese capital to this day. He died in 1568.