Grand Master's Palace Armoury, Valetta, Malta

Malta is a tiny, dry limestone rock in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily and north-east of Tunisia. Thanks to its strategic position, Malta had been fought over for millennia, from the Phoenicians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Arabs, the Spanish, the Italians, the Ottomans, the Knights of St John, the French and the British. Each conflict has left its mark on this land, which can be seen in the buildings, fortifications and museums.

The Grand Masters Palace is located in St George's Square in the capital Valletta. Originally the private palace of the knight Eustachio del Monte, constructed in 1569. In 1571, Grand Master Pierre del Monte, the uncle of Eustachio, moved into the house. His stay was not intended to be permanent, but the location was conveniently located beside the Italian knights' auberge (communal offices). In 1574, Pierre expanded the palace and incorporated the auberge into the building's fabric. Over the next two centuries the palace was renovated and expanded to occupy the whole block along the square. 

In 1798, Napoleon stopped at Malta on his way to invade Egypt and with the help of the French knights on the island overthrew the Knights of St John. Napoleon established Malta as a republic and the knights - long an anachronism - slunk away to exile. Two years later the British besieged the French garrison and took over the island. Malta would become home for the British Mediterranean fleet. The palace then became the governor's mansion. The palace was left in a decrepit state after Maltese independence but has recently been restored. It now hosts an amazing collection of weaponry from the period of the Knights of St John.

The Knights of St John at the time of the Great Siege 1565

Crossbowman from the period of the Great Siege 1565

Musketeer from the period of the Great Siege 1565. Note he has quilted armour

Maltese sergeants

Pikeman from the Great Siege period 1565

Helmets and armour

Gilded 16th century armour

French steel armour for a mounted knight 17th century

Rapiers

Spanish style helmets

17th century bascinets

Full faced bascinets

Highly ornamented armour

Gilded armour of one of the Grand Masters

Italian 17th century helmet

Italian burgonet 16th century

Combed morion

Morion helmet. Lacking the high comb but still very tall

Close faced helms

Ottoman armour

The gilded armour of Grand Commander Jean Jacques de Verdelon

Extremely ornate armour of Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt (1601-22)

armour of Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt b.1547 - d.1622 

Full suit of armour

This particular knight enjoyed a little too much pasta

The above and below full faced helmets look like something out of Star Wars



Quite extraordinary designs

The Grand Corridor

Lion guard

The corridor leads to the private rooms

Sitting room



Private chapel

The council chamber

The chamber features murals of the great moments of the Knights of St John on Malta. This panel shows the Turkish besieging the Birgu peninsula.

The list of Grand Masters engraved in the corridor

The arms and armour collection in the Grand Palace is exceptional and a must see if you have any interest in the Great Siege of 1565. The history of the siege is only briefly covered in the War Museum (separate post). It's an amazing tale that could be much better told.