When lawyer and historian Robert Attard switched on his laptop last week to research helmets worn by the Knights of Malta, little did he know that he would make the discovery of a lifetime: locating the helmet that formed part of the battle armour of Jean Parisot de Valette.

The helmet, known as a Comb Morion, is part of a collection housed in the Museo Nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia, in Rome, where its true identity went unnoticed by the Italians.

The helmet features a round crown or ‘comb’ with angled edges and a curving brim, giving the helmet a hat-like appearance that is nonetheless extremely effective for defence.

Malta is richer than it was before

The Comb Morion is often associated with Spanish conquistadors, but was worn by 16th and 17th century soldiers across Europe.

A tax lawyer by profession with a passion for antiques and armour, Dr Attard’s excitement was still perceptible beneath his calm demeanour, as he shared his incredible discovery with The Sunday Times of Malta.

An accomplished historian, the 40-year-old has penned several books and journal articles on antiques and armour.

In a 1997 publication of Treasures of Malta, Dr Attard wrote an article entitled ‘The Golden Age of Armour’, where he examined de Valette’s cuirass, which is displayed in the Palace Armoury Collection in Valletta.

The cuirass consists of a breastplate, a backplate and a detachable bavier, which was a chin-shaped defence for the lower face. The bavier was worn strapped to an open-faced helmet (i.e. without a visor, such as a Morion) – but the helmet was never found within the Palace’s collection.

De Valette’s cuirass is etched with elaborate scrollwork, as befitted his status as Grand Master, which would serve to single him out from other fighters on the battlefield. Two lions and two eagles, which form part of de Valette’s coat of arms, are proudly displayed on the armour.

Last week, Dr Attard was leafing through the latest catalogue published by fine arts auction house Christie’s, when he spotted a 16th century North Italian helmet. It was etched with what Christie’s described as a ‘Maltese Cross’.

“It didn’t quite look like the Maltese Cross we’re accustomed to seeing though, so I started researching to see whether the helmet could possibly have been worn by the Knights of Malta.”

His research led him to a You Tube video with slide images of medieval and renaissance armour displayed during the 2007 inaugural exhibition of the Museo delle Armi di Gardone Val Trompia, in Brescia, northern Italy.

Towards the end of the two-minute slide show, an image of a 1570 helmet popped up that immediately caught his eye.

“I instantly recognised the coat of arms of de Valette etched on the helmet. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Could it possibly be his, I wondered to myself?”

Calming his rising excitement and not wanting to jump to conclusions, Dr Attard informed historian and close friend Giovanni Bonello of his find. The lawyer suspected that the coat of arms might have belonged to de Valette’s nephew, who died during the Great Siege.

But his doubts were put to rest by Judge Bonello, who informed him that only a Grand Master would have had his coat of arms quartered with the cross of the Order.

The elaborate design on the helmet does not quite match that on de Valette’s cuirass at the Palace Armoury – but then again, the breastplate, backplate and bavier themselves are not quite in sync with each other either.

“De Valette was a warrior for many years. He would have had more than one piece. And if any of his armour pieces got damaged or broken in battle, he would have had them replaced.”

Dr Attard contacted the Brescia museum’s curator, who directed him to the Palazzo di Venezia museum, where the helmet is currently housed. It was donated to the museum by Prince Ladislao Odescarchi (an old Roman aristocratic family) in 1959.

“It needs to be studied further, of course. The Italians seem willing to lend it to us. Now it’s up to the Maltese and Italian authorities to negotiate its safe transportation to our island. Who knows, perhaps the Italians might even return it to us permanently?

“But whatever unfolds, since last week, Malta is richer than it was before.”