Sovereign Military Order of Malta - Grandmaster Pietrino del Ponte

Pietrino del Ponte (1534-1535)

Last modified: 2013-06-29 by rob raeside
Keywords: sovereign and military order of malta | pietrino del ponte | grandmaster |
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3:5 image by António Martins, 1 March 2000

• Description of the flag

See also:

• Sovereign Military Order of Malta
• Historical standards of the Grand Masters
• City of Sanglea

Description of flag

The flag of Luqa is identical to the arms of Grand Master Pietrino del Ponte (reigned 1534-1535), "Argent a saltire Gules": http://www.smom-za.org/smom/grandmasters/45.htm

According to that webpage:
"Due to the brief Grandmastership, Pietro del Ponte did not introduce any major administrative changes to the island. "During this period, Charles V undertook an expedition against Tunis to restore to power the dethroned Muley Hassan and the Order was urged to help by supplying galleys and soldiers. The victory of the Christians was complete and the Order showed that it had not lost the military valour for which it had previously been renowned. The possessions of the Order in Barbary were again secured to them and commerce increased. "In 1535 there was a shortage of grain, due to the increase in the population, which compelled the Grand Master and the Universita to import a greater quantity of corn from Sicily. The island's requirements still were not met, and Pietro del Ponte forced the Sicilian vessels in Maltese ports to sell their stocks of grain, and thus a serious dispute arose between the Universita of Malta and that of Messina. "Grand Master Pietro del Ponte died on the 18 November 1535 and was buried close to L'Isle Adam in the chapel dedicated to St. Anne at fort St. Angelo."
Santiago Dotor, 15 March 2006