It feels slightly strange – almost wrong – to say that the Grand Master who built Valletta was really called Jean de Valette – rather than Jean de la Vallette.
However, there is no evidence that La Valette – as generations of islanders have known him – ever used the moniker. According to historian and judge Giovanni Bonello, there is no single document, coin or medal of the grand master’s time where the name “La Valette” appeared, with his name being written as Jean de Valette.
“During his lifetime, he was never referred to as la Valette – if you look at medals, inscriptions, etc., de Valette. If you see all the documents, inscriptions, medals, coins, he’s always Valette or de Valette.
“Before he died he founded a city called La Valette. In time, people started to mix things up and started calling the Grand Master by the name of the city he founded,” Dr Bonello said.
A Facebook campaign that has just kicked off attests to how deeply embedded the incorrect name is in people’s imagination. The title of the campaign is: “Bring back the sword of La Valette to Malta,” referring to the famous sword held at the Louvre in France.
Dr Bonello said: “I challenged anyone to find me a document of his time which had the signature of la Vallette – so far, no one has turned up.”
Victor Mallia Milanes, who runs the Masters course in Hospitaller Studies at the University, said the name “La Valette” was no longer accepted in academic circles – but conceded that the old name was here to stay. “He used to sign as De Valette – with one l and at times even with one t. The few letters we have that he signed were signed that way,” Prof. Mallia Milanes said.
“Popular expression is what will stay – even if it is not academically correct. If everyone knows him as La Valette, this will not change. What’s wrong with following popular expression – unless you’re writing academically?” the historian said.
“This is like Furjana and Floriana – go try to change that,” he said referring to the Maltese popularisation of the town’s name.
Prof. Mallia Milanes does not really see the point of changing the popular version of the Grand Master’s name: “What’s the point? There’s nothing to gain.
“To draw attention in academic circles is fine, but he’s going to remain Grand Master La Valette to people”.