Description Hero of the Ottoman Siege of Malta and Founder of Valletta Grand Master Jehan de Vallete is best known for leading the Order of St John during the Great Siege of Malta in 1565, where Malta’s defenders successfully resisted a large Ottoman invasion. Following this victory, he founded the fortified city of Valletta, which became the Order’s new administrative and military centre. His leadership helped establish Malta as a strategic Christian stronghold in the Mediterranean, influencing both Spanish and Papal policies. De Vallete remains a national hero in Malta and a symbol of Christian resistance against Ottoman expansion in the 16th century.
