Mathurin Romegas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mathurin Romegas
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|---|---|
| de facto Grand Master of the Order of Saint John | |
| In office 11 July 1581 – October 1581 |
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| Monarch | King Philip I |
| Preceded by | Jean de la Cassière |
| Succeeded by | Jean de la Cassière |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1525 or 1528 |
| Died | 4 November 1581 Rome |
| Nationality | French |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Order of Saint John |
| Years of service | 1546–1581 |
| Battles/wars | Great Siege of Malta Battle of Lepanto |
Mathurin Romegas (born 1525 or 1528, died November 1581) was a famous French knight. He belonged to the Knights of Saint John, a group of warrior monks. Romegas was known as one of their best naval commanders and even became a leader, or Grand Master, of Malta for a short time.
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Becoming a Knight
Mathurin Romegas came from a noble family in Gascony, France. In 1542, when he was still young, he joined the Knights Hospitaller. Four years later, in 1546, he became a full knight after finishing his training. He quickly became known as a very strong and brave fighter.
Early Adventures at Sea
After becoming a knight, Romegas spent most of his life leading the Order's ships, called galleys. He became famous for his raids against ships and towns along the Mediterranean coast. He often attacked areas like the Barbary Coast, the Levant, and the Aegean Sea, capturing many ships. He even fought a short campaign in southern France at the Pope's request.
One amazing story about Romegas happened in 1555. His ship capsized during a big storm in a harbor in Malta. After the storm passed, people heard knocking from inside the overturned ship. They made a hole, and out came Romegas and his pet monkey! He had survived for hours by standing in an air bubble under the ship. The Grand Master at the time, Jean Parisot de Valette, saw this and became a close friend of Romegas.
Romegas continued to be a top naval commander. He fought many battles against famous admirals like Turgut Reis. In 1564, he helped capture Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera, a stronghold for pirates in North Africa. This made the Ottoman emperor, Suleiman, very angry.
Soon after, Romegas and other knights captured a large, heavily armed Ottoman ship near Kefalonia. This ship belonged to a high-ranking official of the Sultan and carried valuable goods. Many important people were captured, including governors and even the former nurse of Suleiman's daughter. This event was one of the main reasons Suleiman the Magnificent decided to launch the Great Siege of Malta in 1565.
During the Great Siege of Malta, Romegas played a key role. He led thousands of knights and soldiers in defending the Great Harbor. After the siege ended, he quickly went back to raiding ships, building his reputation as a fearless warrior.
In 1571, Romegas fought bravely in the famous Battle of Lepanto. He was on the Pope's main ship and fought with great skill. After the victory, he was invited to Rome to celebrate.
By 1575, Romegas was made the General of the Order's Galleys, meaning he was in charge of all their ships. He seemed set to become the next Grand Master. However, some older members of the Order tried to use his fame for their own plans.
A Difficult Time as Grand Master
In 1581, there was a lot of disagreement within the Order against the Grand Master, Jean de la Cassiere. This led to a rebellion, and La Cassiere was put under house arrest. Romegas then became the acting Grand Master. The Pope sent a special envoy, Gaspare Visconti, to investigate and manage the Order.
Both La Cassiere and Romegas were called to Rome to explain what happened. When La Cassiere arrived in Rome, he was treated with great respect. However, Romegas was treated very coldly. He died just a week later, on November 4, 1581, feeling defeated.
La Cassiere was cleared of all charges and returned to his position as Grand Master. But he also died soon after, in Rome, on December 21, 1581.
