Philippe Villiers De L`Isle Adam: 1521-1534
The Grandmasters of the Order of St.John in Malta Pietro Del Ponte Didier De Saint Jaille Juan D'Omedes Claude De La Sengle Jean Parisot De La Vallette Alof De Wignacourt Martin De Redin Antonio Manoel De Vilhena Ferdinand Von Hompesch		At the time of the giving away of our islands to the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, the Grandmaster was Philippe Villiers De L`Isle Adam, a Frenchman from the "Langue" of France. Leaving Syracuse with his knights, he arrivedin Malta on the morning of the 26th October 1530 and soon set the Seat of the Convent (the headquarters of the Order) at "Birgu". His first task was to fortify "Birgu", which he enclosed within a wall and flanked by a small bastion to secure it against any attack. He also built a palace, which continued to be the residence of his successors until the time of La Vallette. He died at Rabat on the 22nd of August 1534, and was buried in the chapel of Fort St. Angelo.