Jean l’Evêque de la Cassière, Grand Master of the Order of Malta, 1572 - 1581
- La Cassière faced a rebellion by a group of knights within the Order and was imprisoned in Fort St Angelo.
- He witnessed the establishment of the Inquisition in Malta in 1574.
- He built the Magistral Palace, Sacra Infermeria, Conventual Church of St. John, and the Auberges in Valletta.
- During his term of office, he convened two Chapters-General.
Grand Master Jean l’Evêque de la Cassière was born in 1503 and joined the Order shortly after the loss of Rhodes in 1522.
La Cassière joined the Langue of Auvergne and received his habit from Grand Master L’Isle Adam in Viterbo.
In the 1552 expedition to Zoara, la Cassière was the Standard Bearer amidst fierce Moorish attacks and was named head of the Langue of Auvergne and Marshal of the Order for his accomplishments.
La Cassière oversaw a number of impressive construction projects in the new city of Valletta.
After the death of Grand Master Pietro del Monte, la Cassière was elected Grand Master in 1572. Two years later, he witnessed the establishment of the Inquisition as a separate institution from the Bishop’s Court, following disputes with the Bishop of Malta over extra-jurisdictional matters.
La Cassière oversaw a number of impressive construction projects in the new city of Valletta. The Magistral Palace, Sacra Infermeria, the Conventual Church of St John, and the Auberges were built during his reign. As Grand Master, la Cassière also convened two Chapters-General during his term, the first in 1574 and the second in 1578.
The original armoury hall in the Magistral Palace (1881)
The Sacra Infermeria, the Holy Infirmary of the Knights of St John
The Sacra Infermeria, the Holy Infirmary of the Knights of St John
The Auberges in Valetta
A rebel group of knights [...] declared la Cassière unfit to be Grand Master and took over the government of the Order.
At this time, there was conflict rising among various Langues over preeminence within the Order. La Cassière, in an attempt to suppress the growing dissension within his Order, carried out some drastic measures to re-establish discipline in the Convent.
In light of this, some knights were unhappy with his leadership. A rebel group of knights led by a Gascon Knight named Mathurin de Lescout, known as Romegas, declared la Cassière unfit to be Grand Master and took over the government of the Order. La Cassière was deposed and imprisoned in Fort St Angelo.
Fort St Angelo, where la Cassière was deposed and imprisoned
Pope Gregory XIII
After learning of his imprisonment, Pope Gregory XIII ordered la Cassière’s release. He was accompanied by nobles, prelates and 800 knights on a triumphant journey back to Rome in October 1581, where the Pope reinstated him as Grand Master with full honors.
By now, old age and fatigue from the last years had taken their toll and la Cassière died shortly after his arrival in Rome. In accordance with his dying wishes, his body was laid to rest in the crypt of St John’s Conventual Church in Malta.