Malta and the Knights: Henry VIII's role

It seems little is known in Maltese history of the fact that the deed of donation of Malta to the Knights in 1530, at present on display at an exhibition on Charles V of Spain at the National Library in Valletta (May 30), would not have been published, and the Knights would not have settled in Malta, had it not been for the intervention of King Henry III of England.

When the Knights of St John were defeated at Rhodes in 1522 they travelled to Rome to seek the help of Pope Adrian VI. Knowing that his predecessor Pope Leo X had bestowed the title "Defender of the Faith" on King Henry VIII, Henry's assistance was sought and he was asked to use his influence with Charles V of Spain in finding a new country for the Knights to live in.

Charles V was then in alliance with Henry VIII against the French and Henry's first wife at that time was Cathenne of Aragon, the aunt of Charles V.

Henry VIII, wishing to please Pope Adrian, sent a letter dated January 8, 1523 to Grand Master L'Isle Adam in which he expressed his interest in the welfare of the Order, and saying that he had written to Charles V to persuade him to give the "Island of Malta" to the Order of St John.

It would seem this was the first time Malta was mentioned during negotiations when trying to find a country for the Order. Correspondence continued between Grand Master L'Isle Adam and Henry VII as, by another letter dated January 10, 1526, Henry referred to the Order's property in England.

At this time Pope Clement VII was facing difficulties and in fact Charles's mutinous troops marched into Rome and plundered the city which went down in history as the Sacking of Rome.

During this period of unrest between Charles V and Pope Clement VII, Grand Master L'Isle Adam decided to visit England to discuss further with Henry VIII about Malta becoming the new home for the Order.

The talks were not, however, completed until peace was restored with Pope Clement VII, which came about in February 1530. It was only then that Charles V granted Malta to the Order, on March 24, 1530. The treaty was confirmed on July 21, 1530

After L'Isle Adam arrived in Malta on October 26, 1530, Henry VIII, no doubt happy and satisfied with the outcome, by a letter dated November 22, 1530, congratulated the Grand Master and the Order.

Henry's congratulations were short lived, however, as he suppressed the Order of St John in England in 1540 though the formal confiscation of its possessions followed under Elizabeth in 1559.

This does show, however, that without King Henry VIII's intervention, it is unlikely the Knights of St John would have set foot in Malta.