Martin de Redin y Cruzat, Grand Master of the Order of Malta, 1656 - 1657
- Grand Master de Redín’s election marked a shift in the Order’s leadership toward primarily Spanish and Portuguese influence.
- He prioritized reinforcing the defenses of Malta and built 14 watchtowers, strengthened fortifications, and opened a women's hospital.
- He sent the Order's galleys to aid the Venetian base of Candia, which was besieged by the Turks during the 24-year war.
- Before his election as Grand Master, he was Admiral of the Neapolitan Fleet and President of the Cortes in Navarre.
Martín de Redín y Cruzat was a Spanish noble born in 1590 in Pamplona. He joined the Order in 1609 and quickly distinguished himself for his bravery in military campaigns, especially during the enterprise at Corinth.
De Redín served in several important posts, such as Admiral of the Neapolitan Fleet, General of the Infantry in Galicia, and President of the Cortes in Navarre, appointed by the King of Spain. He was also appointed as Grand Prior of Navarre within the Order of Malta, and was sent on various diplomatic missions to European courts on behalf of the Grand Master.
In 1647, the King of Spain appointed de Redín as Viceroy of Sicily. Ten years later, de Redín was nominated for the vacant post of Grand Master after the death of Grand Master Lascaris Castellar.
De Redín's election shifted the Order's leadership toward Spanish and Portuguese influence.
However, his nomination was strongly opposed by the Inquisitor in Malta, Giulio Degli Oddi, who considered him to have a bad reputation and therefore unfit for the position.
Portrait of Martin de Redin y Cruzat by Mattia Preti
Portrait of Philip IV, King of Spain from 1621 - 1665
Despite this opposition, de Redín was elected as Grand Master, and arrived in Malta on September 10, 1657. Until this point, the majority of Grand Masters had originated from the French Langue. His election marked a shift in the Grand Magistry toward primarily Spanish and Portuguese influence.
He personally financed the construction of 14 new watchtowers along the Maltese coasts.
The Grand Master’s first priority was to reinforce the defenses of the islands. De Redín built fourteen new watchtowers along the Maltese coasts at his personal expense, known today as the De Redin towers. He also established armories in larger villages to store arms and ammunition in case of attack, strengthened the fortifications of Mdina, and built granaries in Floriana to store wheat as a reserve in case of famine.
Madliena Tower, Part of the De Redin towers and the Victoria Lines
White Tower, Part of the De Redin towers
De Redín reopened the women's hospital, which had been closed down in 1631, and sent the Order's galleys to provide provisions and military reinforcements to the Venetian base of Candia, which was besieged by the Turks for 24 years, at the request of Pope Alexander VII.
Grand Master De Redín died at the age of 70 on February 6, 1660, and was buried in the Chapel of Aragon in the Conventual Church. His contributions to the Order of Malta, particularly his commitment to the defense of the islands, are still celebrated today.