The directory «Plots»

Garzes Martin
(1526—1601)

Fra Martin Garzes was elected Grand Master of the Order of St. John (Knights Hospitaller) after Hugues Loubenx de Verdalle on the 8th May 1595. Like many of his predecessors, he too had a criminal record. When 27 years old, the Council charged him with beating up a married woman, hitting her jaw with the hilt of his sword. The elders found him guilty and condemned him to two months jail with an injunction never to set foot again in the woman’s home. As Grand Master he founded the institute for penitent prostitutes.

Gentle and mild in character and zealously devoted to his Order, he happily succeeded in bringing about a peaceful termination to the numerous dissension’s which during the reign of his two last predecessors had been the cause of great discord among the Knights. The external relations of the Government were also greatly improved under the auspices of this Grand Master

Garzes had not long occupied his new position, when the news reached him that a strong Turkish fleet, under the command of the Pasha Cicala, had received orders to leave the harbor of Constantinople for the purpose of attempting a descent on Malta. On receipt of this intelligence preparations were at once made to resist an attack. On the 30th September 1597 the foe appeared off Gozo, where a disembarkation of 2,000 men was effected by the Turks on the following day. But the bravery and determination of the cavalry of the Order, under the gallant commandant Beauregard, inflicted such heavy slaughter among the Turkish lines that the remainder of the shattered force had to beat a hurried retreat and seek refuge on board their ships. Hastily setting sail, the fleet directed its course towards Algiers, which had been its real place of destination.

No events of importance marked the next few years of the rule of this Grand Master, who, on the 6th February 1601, closed his peaceful career to the grief of the whole fraternity. The third part of his personal estate he left to the Order with strict instructions to erect a fort at Gozo. Five years later the fort was built, and has ever since been known as Fort St. Martin

S. M. O. M., 1978, Coin of Martin Garzez

S. M. O. M., 1991, Arms of Martin Garzez

S. M. O. M., 1992, Fra' Martin Garzez