The history of Nice and its County is intimately linked to the Mediterranean Sea and the Order of Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem, better known as the Order of Malta.

The exhibition will highlight the Lascaris family and especially the Lascaris-Vintimille branch. An important focus will be on the figure of Jean-Paul de Lascaris (1560-1657) who was Grand Master of the Order of Malta (1636-1657), then at his peak. Through the history of Lascaris, the issue of the nobles in the County of Nice and their relationship with the Order of Malta in the 17th and 18th centuries will be discussed.

The exhibition will also enhance the maritime and hospital aspect of the Order of Malta in the 16th – 17th and 18th centuries. Sections such as “serving on the sea” with the Battles of Leperante and the War of Wing and “to become a Knight” will be mentioned.

The Malta-Nice relations are at this important time, especially since Nice has been a free port since 1612, which greatly increases its maritime opening, Malta serving as a port of call to merchants niçois to the ports of the south shore.

Photo:According to the original portrait of the Magistral Palace of the Valette,Copie by Godwin Cutajar, in the year 2000, with the kind authorization of His Excellency Guido DE MARCO, President of the Republic of malte to Jean-Paul Lascaris, Grandmaître of the Order of Malta, Portrait on foot, Oil on canvas, 1,84 X 1,40 m ©Nice, Palais Lascaris