De Valette’s armour and fighting sword reunite

In the same year when the ceremonial dagger of Grand Master de Valette was on display in Malta from the Louvre for the first time since 1798, Heritage Malta is also bringing together a number of items that belonged to the Grand Master. The aim of the exhibition which opened last week, is to bring together for the first time in over 450 years a number of items belonging to De Valette (1557-68) and allegedly used during the epic siege of 1565. These comprise three pieces of armour, a hat and a fighting sword. Hailing from the Palace Armoury at Valletta, these three pieces of armour (breastplate, backplate and the falling buffe) are datable to the early/mid-1550s. They formed part of a full garniture of armour that could have totalled up to 15 pieces and which bears the armorial shield of one of the members of the de Valette family in the higher ranks of the order. While various members of the de Valette family are known to have professed and served the Order of St John during the time, all available clues on the original ownership of this suit point convincingly towards the heroic Grand Master. Most likely, this fine armour must have been commissioned by the same de Valette prior...