Rafael Cotoner
Rafael Cotoner y de Oleza (Maltese: Raphael Cotoner; 1601 – 20 October 1663) was a Spanish knight of Aragon who served as 60th Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller or, as it is already known by that time, the Order of Malta, from 5 June 1660 to his death on 20 October 1663 following the brief reign of Annet de Clermont-Gessant.[1] After his death, he was succeeded as Grand Master by his brother, Nicolas Cotoner.
Rafael Cotoner | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Grand Master of the Order of Saint John | |
| In office 5 June 1660 – 20 October 1663 | |
| Monarch | King Philip III |
| Preceded by | Annet de Clermont-Gessant |
| Succeeded by | Nicolas Cotoner |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1601 Mallorca, Crown of Aragon (modern Spain) |
| Died | 20 October 1663 Valletta, Malta |
| Resting place | St. John's Co-Cathedral |
| Alma mater | House of Cotoner |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Order of Saint John |
During Cotoner's reign, the Order of Malta sent troops to Candia, besieged by the Ottomans.
Reign as Grand Master
During his 3-year reign, the Order of Malta sent reinforcements to support Venetians besieged by the Ottomans in Candia (Candia eventually fell after a siege lasting more than two decades in September 1669, almost 6 years after Cotoner's death).[2] To show their gratitude and appreciation, the Republic of Venice passed a decree allowing members of the Order to appear armed within the Republic's dominions, something which had never been granted to the Republic's subjects themselves.[3]
It was during Raphael's tenure as Grand Master that the Italian Baroque artist Mattia Preti started work in Valletta's St. John's Co-Cathedral.[3] He went on to decorate the cathedral's interior with paintings of John the Baptist.