Nicolas Cotoner
Nicolas Cotoner y de Oleza (* 1608 ; † April 29, 1680 ) was the 61st Grand Master of the Order of Malta .
He belonged to the Aragonese tongue of the order. After the death of his brother, the Grand Master Raphael Cotoner , he was elected his successor on October 23, 1663.
During his reign, the artist Mattia Preti worked in the then main church of the order, today's St. John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta , where Nicolas Cotoner also found his final resting place.
Nicolas Cotoner was persistent, impetuous, and easily excitable. He was not only interested in Preti's work, but also in improving the Sacra Infermeria , the largest religious hospital . In 1676 he founded a medical college here , the School of Anatomy and Surgery .
Huge fortifications were also built at this time, the Cotonera Lines named after him .
Like his brother, Nicolas was a great builder and their coat of arms is carved into most of the facades of the palaces, churches and fortresses in Valletta and other parts of the island. However, the ornate embellishment of St. John's Co-Cathedral remains their greatest contribution. It was a period of prosperity in the islands, but their building mania and flamboyant tastes put a strain on the treasury.
Web links
- Nicolas Cotoner y de Oleza at cilialacorte.com
- Nicolas Cotoner at smom-za.org
- The 79 grandmasters at orderofmalta.org
| predecessor | Office | successor |
|---|---|---|
| Raphael Cotoner |
Grand Master of the Order of Malta 1663–1680 |
Gregorio Carafa |
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Cotoner, Nicolas |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Nicolas Cotoner y de Oleza |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Grand Master of the Order of Malta |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1608 |
| DATE OF DEATH | April 29, 1680 |