Francisco Ximénez de Tejada

Francisco Ximénez de Tejada y Eslava (Aragonese: Francisco Ximénes de Texada i Eslava; 28 January 1703 − 9 November 1775) was a Spanish knight of Aragon 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 his predecessor Pinto's lavish lifestyle. Ximénes' 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
Born1703
Aragon (modern Spain)
Died9 November 1775
Malta
Resting placeSt. John's Co-Cathedral
NationalitySpanish
Military service
Allegiance Order of Saint John

During Ximénes' reign, 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

He died of a pulmonary infection on 9 November 1775 and unlike most other Grand Masters of the Order of Malta saved no 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

Further reading

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 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.


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