CHRONOLOGY OF MALTA.

xxiii

NAMESof the

Grand-Masters.

4 )

•s u Place ofP their Birth.

PRINCIPAL EVENTS.

Dates.

Observations.

22 .

Jean de Vil-li ers.

1289

Beauvais,in France.

The Order went to Limisso, in thekingdom of Cyprus. The grand-master convened a general chapterin that place, which was attended bya considerable number of persons.

The kings of England and Portu-gal, imagining the Order abolished,sequestered its possessions.

Pope Boniface VIII. took off thesequestration.

The king of Cyprus insisted thatthe Knights Hospitallers should paythe poll-tax: the pope in vain en-deavoured to procure them an ex-emption from it.

The exact time of the death of thisgrand-master is unknown, though itis ascertained that he was still livingin September ...

1297

According to Vertot, the cere-mony of electing a grand-master, asobserved at present, was first esta-blished during the reign of Villiers.

23.

Odo de Pins.

1297

Provence,in France.

On a complaint made by the con-vent, the grand-master was summon-ed to appear at Rome by pope Bene-dict VIII. His death happened onhis journey thither.

1300

24.

Guillaume

Villaret.

de

1300

Languedocin France.

He planned the conquest ofRhodes, at that time in the posses-sion of some Greek rebels and Ma-hometan corsairs.

He died in the beginning of theyear 1307, and was succeeded by hisbrother.

1307

25.

Foulques deVillaret.

1307

Languedocin France.

Conquered Rhodes on the 5th ofAugust...

1310