HISTORY

HERALDRY

Jeruzalem

Cyprus

Rhodes

Malta

Russia

Restoration

The arms of the Grand Master

The Grand Masters of the Order initially separated their own arms from that of the Order. The oldest arms usually given for the grandmasters are certainly apocryphal. The oldest non-apocryphal coat of arms of a grandmaster is that of Hugo de Revel (1258-'77) with a black or blue wing on a golden field. From the middle of the fifteenth century the arms of the order and the personal ams of the Grand Master were quartered. The cross on the arms of the Order is always in the first and fourth quarter. One of the oldest known arms quarterly of the Grandmaster are those of Filiberto de Naillac who became grand master in 1392. Not long afterwards the arms of the order and the grandmasters are also placed on a Maltese cross and surrounded with a rosary and accompanied by the motto PRO FIDE.

In 1607, the Grand Master of the Order was recognized by Rudolf II as Prince of the Holy Roman Empire. This was confirmed again in 1620 by Ferdinand II. From this time on, the grandmasters are entitled to put a princely crown on their arms.

The current Grandmasters still quarter the arms of the Order with their own blason. The coat of arms is placed on a white eight-pointed cross and surrounded by the Grandmaster's collar of the order. The arms are surrounded by  a purple or black crowned mantle.

Jeruzalem 1050-1291

No coats of arms are known of the Grand Masters in Jeruzalem until the end of the 13th century.

1 Fra Gerardo

1100ca - 1120

2 Raimondo du Puy

1120(?)-1169(?)

3 Augero de Balben

1160(?)-1162(?)

4 Arnaud de Comps

1162(?)-1163(?)

5 Gilberto d’Assailly

1163(?)-1170

6 Gastone de Murols

1170ca-1172

7 Fra Gioberto

1173-1177

8 Rugiero de Moulins

1177-1187

9 Ermengardo d’Asp

1188-1190

10 Garniero de Napluse

1190-1192

11 Geoffroy de Donjon

1193-1202

12 Alfonso de Portogallo

1203-1206

Afonso (*~1140 –†1207), son of King Alfonso I of Portugal. Born around 1140,  according to recent investigations, he is the same person as the one often called Fernando Afonso who was the alferes-mor of the king and later Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller. His presence in the court is first recorded in 1159. In 1169 he succeeded as alferes-mor his half-brother, Pedro Pais da Maia, the legitimate son of his mother and Paio Soares da Maia. Participant of the 4th Crusade.

13 Goffredo le Rat

1206-1207

14 Garin de Montaigu

1207-1227

15 Bertrando de Thessy

1228-1230

16 Fra Guerino

1230-1236

17 Betrando de Comps

1236-1239

18 Pietro de Vielle Bride

1239-1241

19 Guglielmo de Chateauneuf

1241-1258

20 Ugo de Revel

1258-1277

Arms of Ugo de Revel as a member of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (1260)

Arms: Or, a wing Azure and a chief Gules, a cross Argent.

Legend: F FRANCIS SANS LOCOTENENT DE LAN60

21 Nicola Lorgue

1277-1283

22 Giovanni de Villiers

1285-1293

Cyprus 1292-1310

23 Eudes des Pins

1294-1296

Arms: Gules, three fir-cones 2 & 1.

24 Guglielmo de Villaret

1296-1304

25 Falco de Villaret

1305-1319

Rhodes 1311-1523

26 Helion de Villeneuve

1319-1346

The arms of Villeneuve on Knights’ Street, Rodes

Arms: Gules, fretty per lozenge in each lozenge an escutcheon Or.

Together with the arms of the Order and Perello: Or, three pears Vert 2 & 1.

This coat of arms also in Gelre n° 650: d’or à 3 poires au naturel. C.: une tête de chien dans un vol; tortil; le tout d’arg. L.: Viconte de rodes).

And Bellenville Fo 7v. 16: visgte de roda: Or, 6 poires (3.2.1) Vert.  François II Perellos depuis1366 v. de Rodes-Roda, fils de François amiral de France 1368.

The arms of the Order between the arms of Denmark and Grandmaster Helion de Villeneuve, and

the arms of Gozon and of  the King of England 

Arms: 1. Waldemar IV of Denmark (1340-’70): Or, three lions passant Azure; 2. ¼ of the Order and Vileneuve 3 Of the Order; 4. Dieudonné de Gozon: Gules, a bordure compony Gules and Argent and bar Azure fimbriated Argent. 5. Edward III of England after 1337: ¼ of  France and England.

27 Diodato de Gozon

1346-1353

Tomb of Diodato de Gozon

Musée de Cluny, Paris

Arms of Diodato de Gozon: Gules, a bordure compony Gules and Argent a bend Azure fimbriated Argent.

1348 Capture of  Smyrna.

28 Pierre de Corneillan

1353-1355

Coat of arms of Pierre de Corneillan

Archeological Museum Rhodes

Arms: Gules, on a bend argent three Cornish choughs sable

29 Ruggero des Pins

1355-1365

Arms: Gules, three fir-cones 2 & 1.

Together with the arms of the Order. (Rhodes, ‘98.)

30 Raymond Berenger

1365-1374

Silver gros of Raymond Berenger (1365-1374)

Obv.: The Grand Master kneeling before a double-cross, a shield with a bend behind his back (Gozon ?, Corneillan ?)

Rev.: Cross fleurdelisée.

L.: X F: RImONDUS° BEREnGARII: D: GR:  / X  OSPTAL'. S. IOhS. IRL nI° ET': RODI. (Schlumberger, Tav. X)

However a blason gironny of eight pieces Or and Gules is also ascribed to him.

31 Roberto de Julhiac

1374-1377

Tomb of Roberto de Julhiac

Musée de Cluny, Paris

Arms: Argent, a lily-cross Gules and a label of  five Azure, each pendant charged with three balls of the field

32.  Juan Fernández de Heredia

1377-1396

Arms: Gules, 7 castles Or.

On its dexter side the arms of the Order

Heraldic stone (ca 1392)

(Izmir Archaeological Museum)

The arms of the Papacy, the mitre of the pope, the arms of Fra Domenico d’Alemagna, and of Richard Caracciolo.

 Heraldic stone from Smyrna:

Arms of Heredia, the Order of St. John, the Papacy, Alemagna, Baux and Caracciolo

 (Izmir Archaeological Museum Also: The Annual of the British School at Athens, xvii. Galbreath fig 37).

Heredia: Gules, three castles Or

The Order: Gules, a cross Argent

The Papacy:  Gules, two keys in saltire Argent. Crowned with a papal tiara

Fra Domenico d’Alemagna [1]

Arms: Gules two fesses Or between eight martlets Argent, 3, 2 and 3.

Baux: Gules a 16-rayed sun Or.

Caraciolo: Azure, a lion Or

But also a quarterly of The Order and Heredia in manuscripts of  Juan Fernándes de Heredia [2]

Gran Cronica de los Conquiridors, Part 1, fol 1.

33a Richard Caracciolo

1384-1395

According to some historians his election in 1383 was invalid

33b Filiberto de Naillac

1396-1421

Arms: Azure, two lions passant Argent

Eagle between the arms of the Order (?) and of Champagne

Référence

00000418

Fonds

SCEAUX

Série

sceaux ; collection Bourgogne

Cote

SC/B1562

Analyse

Moulage du sceau du chapitre de l'Hôpital de Saint-Jean de Jérusalem en Champagne.
Légende abîmée et restituée en latin : "SIGILLUM HOSPITALIS PRIORATUS CAMPANIE", (sceau du prieuré de l'Hôpital en Champagne)

Dates

1418-01-01 / 1418-12-31

Accès

moulage consultable au service des sceaux

Reproduction

reproduction du moulage possible par le service des sceaux ; photographie ou impression d'image numérique

Support

plâtre pris sur cire originale

Forme

rond Æ 40 mm

34 Antonio Fluvian de la Rivière

1421-1437

Relief above the main entrance of the New Hospital of the Knights. Rhodes.

Arms:  Or, a fess Gules

Supporters: Two angels

Above the achievement the flag of The Order.

35 Giovanni de Lastic

1437-1454

Rhodes, near St. Athanasius Gate

Arms of Giovanni de Lastic

Arms: Gules a fess Argent

36 Giacomo/Jacques de Milly

1454-1461

Foto G. Boon, ‘98

The arms of the Order between the arms of Giacomo de Lastic: Gules a fess Argent and the arms of Giacomo de Milly: Gules a chief indented of three points Argent..

Heraldic stone on Kos dd. MCCCCLIIII (1454).

Legend: Revered • de • castelnov • p • la gonis • aposvit • plites • armas • die XXII • decebris • et • posessione • acepit.

37 Pietro Raimondo Zacosta

1461-1467

Archangelos Castle. Rhodes

The arms of the Order and Zacosta

Arms: Or,  two fesses indented Gules and a bordure Sable charged with eight besants Argent.

38 Giovanni Battista Orsini

1467-1476

Archangelos Castle, Rhodes

Arms of the Order and Orsini

Arms: A fess Or [a serpent], in chief Argent, a rose Gules and a base bendy Gules and Argent.

39 Cardinal Fra Pierre d’Aubusson

1476-1503

Shield and some weaponry of Pierre d’Aubusson as a commander of Salins (?)

Museum of the Order, Valetta

His arms here with a label of four (5th son)

Photo G. Boon ‘98

Arms: Or, a cross moline Gules  Heraldic stone dd. MCCCCLXXVIII (1478)

.

Arms: ¼ 1&4: The Order; 2&3: Or, a cross moline Gules

From: BNF Latin 6067: Caoursin, Guillaume: Obsidionis Rhodiae urbis descriptio. fol. 3 v° .

Photo G. Boon. ‘98

Arms: ¼ 1&4 Gules, a cross Argent; 2&3: Or, a cross moline Gules

Crown: A cardinal’s hat (of 10 fiocchi) Vert. Behind the shield a procession cross (Heraldic stone, Kos? undated.)

Heraldic stones on the Hospice of the french Langue. Rhodos, 1495.

Together with the arms of King Charles VIII  of France (1483-1498)

W.: ¼ 1&4 rood een wit kruis; 2&3: Goud, een rood ankerkruis.

O.: Een rozenkrans met  het kruis van de Johannieter Orde

S.: Een wit achtpuntig kruis

D.: PRO FIDE, geschreven tussen de punten van het dragende kruis. 

(Op de standaard van The Order)

Arms of Pierre d'Aubusson at the gate Aghiou Athanasiou, Rhodes, with a griffon and a lion regardant for supporters. Below a part of the legend is readable:

DIVUS F[ra] PETRUS DAUBUSSON RHODIORUM MAGNUS MAGISTER and on the lower line, the date 1486.

40 Emerico d’Amboise

1503-1512

Foto G. Boon.

Heraldic stone dated 1510

Arms: ¼ 1&4: The Order; 2&3 Paly of six Or and Gules.

Marble relief from the westface of the “Castellania” ,

depicting two “hommes sauvages” holding the coat of arms of E. d’Amboise. Carved on the buff stone below the escutcheon of J. d’Aymer de la Chevalerie.

Arms: ¼ 1&4: The Order; 2&3 Paly of six Or and Gules.

Supporters: Two Savages

Arms of the Order and of Grand-Maste Emery d'Amboise supported by an angel

From a portal of the Castellania Rhodes

Achievement on the wall of  Kos Castle

Said to be of Dupuy, the commander of the Fortress

Arms: Or a lion Azure and a label of three

Crest: A lion issuant between two wings

Supporters: Two angels

41 Guido de Blanchefort

1512-1513

Foto H.d.V. ’97

The arms of Guido de Blanchefort

(St. Johns Co-Cathedral Valetta).

Arms: ¼: 1&4 The Order; 2&3:  Or, two lions passant Gules.

42 Fabrizio del Carretto

1513-1521

Achievement of Frabrizio del Carretto on the façade of the palace of the Italian Langue

Arms: ¼ 1&4: Gules, a cross Argent; 2&3 Bendy of 11 peces Or and Gules.

Supporter: A crowned eagle.

43 Philippe Villiers de L’Isle-Adam

1521-1530

W.: Goud, een blauw schildhoofd waarin een uit de linkerzijde van het schild komende arm gekleed in hermelijn met een doek van hermelijn.

Marble relief at the facade of the Inn of the French Tongue in Rhodos together with the arms of the Order and the arms of an unknown bailiff of the Order. D.: 1521.

In 1530 werd het eiland Malta door Karel I van Spanje afgestaan aan de in 1523 van Rhodos verdreven Johannieter Orde. Het tribuut bedroeg een valk per jaar als erkenning van de suzereiniteit van Spanje. The Order leefde gescheiden van de Maltezers en kreeg haar inkomsten voornamelijk uit oorlogsbuit, piraterij en landgoederen in Europa. The Order werd in 1798 door Napoleon van het eiland verjaagd. De geschiedenis van het wapen van de Johannieter Orde volgt hieronder.

Malta 1530-1798

43 Philippe Villiers de L’Isle-Adam

1530-1534

Foto H.d.V. ‘97

The arms of Philippe Villiers de L’Isle-Adam in the Grand Master’s Palace

Arms ¼: 1&4: The Order 2&3: Or, a chief Azure, over all,  issuing from the sinister an arm vested ermine, a cloth hanging from its wrist also ermine.

Date.: 1531. 

45 Pierre del Ponte

1534-1535

Arms: ¼: 1&4: The Order 2&3:Argent, a cross saltire Gules

46 Didier de Saint-Jaille

1535-1536

47 Juan de Homedes

1536-1553

1551

48 Claude de la Sengle

1553-1557

49 Jean de Valette

1557-1568

Arms: ¼: 1&4: The Order; 2&3: 1|2: 1. Gules, a blackbird; 2. Gules, a lion Or

Crown: Five leaves and four pearls.

Supporters: Four banners of the Order in saltite and a garland of palm-leaves

Mantle: Purpure, fringed Or and lined ermine.

50 Giovanni del Monte

1568-1572

51 Pierre l’Evêque de la Cassière

1572-1581

Photo H.d.V. ‘97

The arms of Jean d’Omedes in St.Johns Co-Cathedral

Arms: ¼: 1&4: The Order; 2&3: Argent, a lion Gules.

52 Hugues Loubenx de Verdalle

1582-1595

Photo H.d.V. ‘97

The arms of Hugues Loubenx de Verdalle in St. Johns Co-Cathedral

Arms.: ¼: 1&4: The Order; 2&3:Gules, a wolf saliant Or.

Crown: A bishop’s hat (2 ´ 6 fiocchi  (bishop))

D.: 1591. (G.M.Palace).

The achievement of  Hugues Loubenx de Verdala

From: Dell’ Istoria Della Sacra Religione Et Illma Militia Di S. Gio Gierosolno di iacomo bosio. Volume 2, 1594

Achievement

Arms: ¼: 1&4: The Order; 2&3: Gules a wolf saliant Or.

Crown: A crown of four pearls and five keaves, and a cardinal’s hat (2´10 fiochhi) supported by angels, the sinister keeping a pope’s tiara and the dexter keeping a helmet.

Supporters: Two angels riding wolves with crescents in their mouths, the sinister keeping a double crossed staff and the dexter a sword upright.

53 Martin Garzes

1595-1601

Photo H.d.V. ‘97

The arms of Martin Garzes in St.Johns Co-Cathedral

Arms: ¼: 1&4: The Order; 2&3:Azure, a crane Argent in chief three mullets Or.

Crown: Of five groups of three pearls and four single pearls

54 Alof de Wignacourt

1601-1622

Photo H.d.V. ‘97

The arms of Alof de Wignacourt in St.Johns Co-Cathedral

Arms: ¼: 1&4: The Order; 2&3: Argent, three fleurs de lys Gules. (G.M.Palace)

1607 Prince of the Holy Roman Empire by diplom of Emperor Rudolf III

1620 Prince of the Holy Roman Empire confirmed by diplom of Emperor Ferdinand II

55 Louis Mendez de Vasconcelles

1622-1623

Foto H.d.V. ‘97

The arms of Louis Mendez de Vasconcelles in St.Johns Co-Cathedral

Arms: ¼: 1&4: The Order; 2&3:: Sable three fesses vair Argent and Gules, in dexter chief a mullet Or. Crown: Damaged

56 Antoine de Paule

1623-1636

Photo H.d.V. ‘97

The arms of Antoine de Paule in St.Johns Co-Cathedral

Arms: ¼: 1&4: The Order; 2&3:Azure, a peaock on a bunch of leaves Or, and a chief Gules, three mullets Or

Achievement: Arms: The same, crowned and supported by two angels

From: Dell’ Istoria Della Sacra Religione Et Illma Militia Di S. Gio Gierosolno di iacomo bosio. Volume 2 Frontispiece

57 Jean Lascaris-Castellar

1636-1657

Photo H.d.V. ‘97

Arms: ¼: 1&4: The Order; 2&3: Or, a two-headed eagle, billed, clawed and crowned Or. (Palace St. John).

58 Martin de Redin

1657-1660

Arms: ¼: 1&4: The Order; 2&3: Azure a cross quarterly Or and Gules

59 Annet de Clermont-Gessant

1660

Photo H.d.V. ‘97

The arms of Annet de Clermont-Gessant in St.Johns Co-Cathedral

Arms: ¼: 1&4: The Order; 2&3: Gules, two keys in saltire Argent. .

60 Raphael Cotoner

1660-1663

Arms: ¼: 1&4: The Order; 2&3: Or a branch of cotton of five flowers  proper (St.John)

61 Nicolas Cotoner

1663-1680

Photo H.d.V. ‘97

The arms of Nicolas Cotoner in St.Johns Co-Cathedral

Arms: ¼: 1&4: The Order; 2&3:  Or a branch of cotton of five flowers proper (St.John)

62 Gregorio Caraja

1680-1690

St. Francis of Assisi Church, Malta

Arms: ¼: 1&4: The Order; 2&3: Barry of seven pieces Gules and Argent, a bend raguly Vert.

63 Adrien de Wignacourt

1690-1697

Photo H.d.V. ‘97

The arms Adrian de Wignacourt in the Grand Master’s Palace

Arms: ¼: 1&4: The Order; 2&3: Argent, three fleurs de lys Gules and a label of three  Azure.

64 Ramon Perelles y Roccaful

1697-1720

Photo H.d.V. ‘97

The arms of Ramon Perelles y Roccaful in St.Johns Co-Cathedral

Arms:  Or, three pears Vert, 2 and 1

(Also on other places in Valetta and Mdina and in alliance with The Order in Fort St. Elmo) .

1700 Flag: Rood, een wit breedarmig kruis.

1703  W.: Rood, een wit kruis. Kroon met vijf fleurons. S.: een wit maltezer (achtpuntig)  kruis. O.: Rozenkrans met wit maltezer kruis. L.: Grosmeisterthum des Iohaniter ritter ordens zv Malta. (Siebmacher T. VI Taf. 3 n°5).

65 Marc’ Antoine Zondadari

1720-1722

Photo H.d.V. ‘97

The arms of Marc’ Antoine Zondadari in St.Johns Co-Cathedral

Arms: ¼: 1&4: The Order; 2&3: Bendy of five pieces Azure and Or, the second charged with three roses Gules.

66 Antoine Manoel de Vilhena

1722-1736

Photo H.d.V. ‘97

The arms of Antoine Manoel de Vilhena in St.Johns Co-Cathedral

Arms: ¼: 1&4: The Order; 2. Argent, a lion Or; 3. Gules, a winged hand holding a sword upright Or. (St.John).

67 Ramon Despuig

1736-1741

Photo H.d.V. ‘97

The arms of Ramon Despuig in St.Johns Co-Cathedral

Arms: Purpure, a mountain Or, charged with a five-pointed star of the first and crested with  a fleur de lys of the second. (St.John).

Crown: A princely crown

68 Manuel Pinto de Fonseca

1741-1773

The arms of Manuel Pinto de Fonseca in the Grand Master’s Palace

Arms: Argent, five crescents 2,1,2 Gules (Pal., St.John).

The arms crowned with the princely crown and supported by two turkish prisoners.

69 Francis Ximenes de Texada

1773-1775

Arms: ¼: 1&4: The Order; 2: Gules a lion Or; 3: Vert a tower Or.

70 Emmanuel de Rohan-Polduc

1775-1797

Palace of St. John

St. John’s Co-Cathedral

Arms: ¼ 1&4: The Order 2&3: Gules, nine diamonds Or, voided of the field 3,3,3

Crown: 5 leaves and five hoops

Supporter: An eagle, the crown over its head.

71 Ferdinand von Hompesch

1797-1798

Russia 1798-1907

72 Paul I Romanov

1798-1801

73 Giovanni Battista Tommasi

1803-1805

Arms: ¼: 1&4: The Order; 2&3: Barry of six Gules and Or

Legend:  DIE V ID FEBB MDCCCIII RENUNTIATUS.

Grandmasters Ad Interim 1805-1879

Enrico Guevara-Suardo

1805-1814

Andrea Giovanni

1814-1821

Antonio Busca

1821-1834

Carlo Candida

1834-1845

Filippo di Colloredo

1845-1864

Allessandro Borgia

1865-1871

Restoration

74 Giovanni Battista Ceschi da Santa Croce

1878-1905

Quarterly, 1. and 4. Azure a griffin crowned or, 2. and 3. per fess gules and argent a cross patty counterchanged; over all per fess, sable a lion issuant crowned or its tail forked, and sable three bars or. (R)

Grand Master Giovanni Battista Ceschi a Santa Croce, 1879-1905

Silver Medal 1879, commemorating the restoration of the Order on the Initiative of Pope Leo XIII. 44.13g. IO.BAPT.CESCHIVS.A.S.CRVCE.SVMMVS.ORD.HIEROSOL.MAGISTER. Crowned arms of the Grand Master, quartered with those of the Order.

Rev. SVMMVM.ORD.HIEROSOL.MAGISTERIVM.A.LEONE.XIII. RESTITVTVM. Crowned shield of the Order.

75 Galeazzo di Thun e Hohenstein

1905-1931

Quarterly: 1) azure a bend or, and 2) per pale argent an eagle displayed gules, and Sable a fess argent; overall gules a fess argent.

76 Ludovico Chigi Albani della Rovere

1931-1951

Quarterly, 1. azure an oak-tree eradicated or, its four branches knotted-saltireways (Della Rovere), 2 and 3. Gules in base a mount of six coupeux and in chief and estoile or (Chigi), 4. Azure a fess between an estoile of six rays in chief and a mount of three hillocks in base or (Albani). (Gotha)

Interregnum

77 Angelo de Mojana di Cologna

1962-1988

Drawing B.B. Heim

Achievement

Arms: :¼. 1&4: The Order; 2&3: Azure, a fess dancetty Gules between three fleurs de lys Or, 2 and 1.

Order: The rosary and cross of the Order of Malta

Supporter: An eight/poointed cross Argent, fimbraited Or.

Mantle: Sable, finged and tasseled Or, strewn with fleurs-de-lys Argent and princely crowned. [3]

78 Andrew Willoughby Ninian Bertie

1988-2008

Arms: ¼: 1&4: The Order; 2&3:  Argent three battering-rams proper.

Order: The rosary and cross of the Order of Malta

Supporter: An eight/poointed cross Argent, fimbraited Or.

Mantle: Sable, finged and tasseled Or, strewn with fleurs-de-lys Argent and princely crowned.

79 Fra Matthew Festing

2008-2017

The arms of Grand Master Fra’ Matthew Festing are quartered with those of the Order.

At 1 and 4 gules (red) a cross argent; at 2 and 3 Azure an eagle displayed erminois between three castles argent.

The arms are surrounded by the Collar, symbol of the Grand Master, within a princely mantle and surmounted by a closed crown.

80 Giacomo dalla Torre del Tempio di Sanguinetto

2017-present

Design: Fra Ikkon André Yamashita

Arms: Azure, a tower crested with a latin cross between two six-pointed stars in chief Argent

Literature about the arms of the Grand Masters:

Bascapé, Giacomo & Marcello del Piazzo

Insege e Simboli. Araldica Pubblica e privata medievale e moderna. Min. per beni culturale e ambientali. Roma, 1983.