Francisco Ximénez de Tejada

Francisco Ximénez de Tejada y Eslava (Aragonese: Francisco Ximénes de Texada i Eslava; 13 October 1703, Funes, Kingdom of Navarre − 9 November 1775, Naples) was a Spanish knight who served as the 69th Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta from 1773 to 1775. During his reign the Order became unpopular mainly due to bankruptcy brought by the lavish lifestyle of his predecessor Manuel Pinto da Fonseca. His reign was marked by the unsuccessful Rising of the Priests.[1][2]

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Ximénez de Tejada and the second or maternal family name is Eslava.
Francisco Ximénez de Tejada
Grand Master of the Order of Saint John
In office
28 January 1773 – 9 November 1775
Preceded byManuel Pinto da Fonseca
Succeeded byEmmanuel de Rohan-Polduc
Personal details
Born13 October 1703
Aragon (modern Spain)
Died9 November 1775
Naples
Resting placeSt. John's Co-Cathedral
Military service
AllegianceSovereign Military Order of Malta Order of Saint John

During the reign of Ximénez, a warehouse was added to the Salina Right Redoubt in Salina Bay, and the redoubt became known as Ximenes Redoubt due to the large escutcheon with the Grand Master's coat of arms above the doorway.

Death

Ximénez died of a pulmonary infection on 9 November 1775 while he was in Naples. Unlike most other Grand Masters of the Order of Malta he had not set aside any money for his funeral.[3] He was buried in a lead-lined wooden coffin in the crypt at Saint John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta, but his tomb remained unmarked. His remains were discovered again in 2021 when arrangements were made for Grand Master Matthew Festing to be buried in the same crypt.[3]

Ximenes Redoubt

References
  1. Sciberras, Sandro. "Maltese History - E. The Decline of the Order of St John In the 18th Century" (PDF). St Benedict College. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 April 2015.
  2. Ciappara, Frans (2001). "A Spy of Marquis Tanucci: Inquisitor Antonio Maria Lante" (PDF). Melitensia Historica: 209–220. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 April 2016. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. Pace, Fiorella (2021-12-06). "Last burial of Grand Master Festing led to the discovery of a coffin with remains of another Grand Master - TVM News". TVM English. Retrieved 2021-12-06.

Further reading


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