The Order of St John originated in the mid-eleventh century as a hospital for the succour of Christian pilgrims in Jerusalem and was not initially intended to be a military order, however, as the need for protection of pilgrim routes and holy places increased, it became evident that military activity was necessary.
During the 14th century, the Order of St John established its administration and hierarchy. In 1327, the chapter of Montpellier decided to re-organise the knights into eight Langues (France, England, Aragon, Castille, Germany, Auvergne, Provence and Italy) under a Pilier authority. Each Knight was to live with the other members of his Langue.
Each Langue was represented in Convent (the Master’s palace, the church, the Hospital and the Auberges) by a Pilier who had under his charge the Auberge, and each Pilier was known by a particular official title and had certain rights and duties.
The Pilier of Castille was the Grand Chancellor, responsible for the registration and custody of all laws and decrees promulgated by the Order or the Grand Master and all the public documents and letters-patent emanating from the Order or other authorities. The power behind the throne was the vice-chancellor, nominated for life by the Grand Chancellor and responsible for the day-to-day work of the Chancery. He also attended all the Order’s Councils.
The Auberge
The term ‘Auberge’ was introduced during the reign of Grand Master Claude de la Sengle and it referred to the knight’s hospices and houses. The Auberges then became international centres by Langue and custom.
During their first years in Malta, the Knights had to serve once a week in one of the three hospitals and lived in the Auberge of their Langue for free.
In the Auberges, the Pilier was responsible for the common table but the treasury of the Order passed to him an annual sum or the equivalent in grain for the provision of the members under his charge.
Special statutes were enacted for the observance of discipline: meals were served in common at fixed hours and knights were obliged to dine in on at least 4 days a week. The head of each Langue presided over meals in Hall at a separate table, seated on a raised platform with the privilege of a carpet and a cushion for his feet.
The Knights had two rooms for themselves in the Auberge and were assisted by a lackey who served them.
The Auberges were distributed around the city each being placed close to the fortified curtain allocated to its Langue not far from the church of St John. Some Auberges consisted of palaces in two levels with an austere façade around a courtyard. On the lower level served by a monumental staircase were the ceremonial rooms, while the bed rooms were on the upper level.
L’Auberge de Castille et Leon
The Knights used to site the convent or priory’s headquarter where they could build the conventual church, the Pilier’s Palace, the Auberge and houses for the older knights.
The priory of the langue of Castille was a whole district in the centre of Valletta defined by St.John’s Street, Zachery Street, Melita Street and Merchant’s Street. This priory’s architect is unfortunately unknown, but Cassar, who designed Valletta, is the most probable candidate.
At the beginning, the priory was made up of improvised wooden huts but on 26th August 1569, the Spanish Knights assembled in their Auberge in Birgu and decided to create a new Auberge in Valletta.
The first Auberge
The site acquired in 1569 was to host a stately structure, referred to as the Casa Grande with a frontage along St. Paul Street. The construction cost was met through a levy imposed in 1570 on the members of this Langue. This house, which could only accommodate the Pilier and a limited number of other knights, served as the Auberge between 1571 and 1573 when the Langue, still residing in Birgu decided to go ahead with a bigger building.
The second Auberge
The Knights tried to transform the austere military character of their city by replacing the original buildings with others in a new, flamboyant Baroque style. As an expression of power and prestige, it won popular approval throughout the islands, such that the affluent sought to express their opulence by facing their own houses with the trappings of this splendid style.
The new Auberge was built between 1741 and 1745.
Both the façade and the plan are the finest works of architecture in eighteenth century Valletta. The façade is rich yet has pleasing proportions and the main theme is the exaltation of Grand Master Pinto. The Grand Master’s symbol, the crescent moon, is displayed lavishly throughout the building; the Grand Master’s swaggering white marble bust is placed over the doorway and his coat of arms provides the climax to the central window. A heavy masonry pediment unifies the façade with the coat of arms of the Langue of Spain and Portugal.
The Auberge after the Knights
The French
The landing of Napoleon and his forces in 1798 catalysed change. On June 20, the Spanish knights obtained permission to evacuate Malta with their movable property and the French occupied the Auberge de Castille for the use of the Commission for National Property.
The British
In 1800, Malta was recaptured by the Maltese with the great assistance of Great Britain and thus Malta became a British colony. The British and Maltese toasted to their victory in the Auberge de Castille. The armed forces established their headquarters in the Auberge de Castille in 1805 and it was also used as lodgings for the British officers.
In 1814, the Auberge was used to accommodate a disabled contingent from the army of Egypt. Also, in 1840, one of the rooms of the first floor was converted into the first Protestant chapel. In 1860, a British regiment occupied the Auberge and installed a signalling station on the roof terrace in 1889, to communicate with warships berthed in the harbour.
The Auberge de Castille has also been used as the General Headquarters of the Army for Malta, Libya and following the expulsion of the Army from Egypt in 1954, for Cyprus too. During the Second World War in 1942, the Auberge was bombed on the right side of the entrance.
Post-Independence
Since March 4, 1972, the Auberge de Castille has been used as the seat of the Prime Minister.
It houses the office of the Prime Minister, from where he conducts the business of Government. We also find the offices of the staff who help the Prime Minister in his work. There is also a hall where the cabinet meets every Monday.
The biggest and most beautiful hall in the Auberge is the Ambassador’s Hall where the Prime Minister welcomes important guests, hosts state dinners, functions and other gatherings where a lot of people are expected to attend.
There is also a large and picturesque courtyard where press conferences are held by the Prime Minister. This courtyard is also used for different cultural activities, like concerts.
As a nation the Maltese must be proud of inheriting this beautiful and historic Auberge.
Written by Office of the Prime Minister