LA VALLETTE had always dreamt of building a city on the peninsula known as Shebb-er­ras, or Xaghret Mewwija, that rose between the two main harbours. Pope Pius V, too, liked The idea and sent to Malta his own architect and engineer, Francesco Laparelli, who soon drew up plan on parchment, and made a model for the fortifications on Mount Sceberras. The Pope promised every help, and began by giving 15,000 crowns. Other help came from most European Kings: 20,000 scudi-worth of foodstuffs and building materials were sent by the King of Spain, and that of Portugal offered 30,000 cruzados. Palermo loaned the Order 50,000 scudi, while the Maltese agreed to contribute by taxes and free work.
The most urgent and important work was that of building the fortifications. When most of these were planned, the foundation stone was laid with great solemnity on March 28, 1566, an altar was raised under a fine, large canopy, and a High Mass celebrated before all the Knights and the thousands of Maltese who had gone to see the memorable spectacle. Every­where was fully decorated, especially the spot, in a corner of St. James's Cavalier, where the foundation stone was ready to be blessed by the Prior of the Conventual's Church. After the blessing, La Vallette lowered the stone in position. The crowds cheered madly, and there was firing of petards for quite some time. A long inscription together with coins and medals made for the occasion, were placed under the stone. La Vallette wished to name the City "Humillima' but the Council named it "Humillima Civitas Vallettae" to honour the Grand Master.
Soon, Mount Sceberras was a beehive of activity; at times, 8,000 men 'mostly slaves' would be working there, for all males between 12 and 60 had to help, or be fined. Needless to say, women and children helped too. Deep moats were cut down to sea level, and strong bastions were raised. The Grand Master had ordered that the first building should be the Church of Victory, where he used to pray during his visits. But he died soon after, on August 21, 1568. His body, after being carried on a barge across the water from Birgu, was laid to rest in the Victory Church, later; it was removed to the Crypt of St. John's. Thus, Grand Master La Vallette, was the first permanent resident of his own City. Grand Master Del Monte, his successor, declared the city Capital of Malta on March 18, 1571.

The Dream had come true, even though the dreamer was dead

NEW HOUSES IN THE CITY

to encourage the quicker building of houses, Grand Master del Monte, ordered the Knights to move over to Valletta, even though they did not yet have proper houses or palaces. The Grand Master himself lived in a large wooden house, divided into several rooms. Many such wooden houses, together with tents and huts, could be seen all over Sceberras. The streets were to be straight and parallel, and at right angles where other streets crossed, modern town-planners still feel amazed how a city could be so perfect­ly planned four centuries ago.
House building was well controlled, and owners had to respect certain rules. There were to be no gardens or open spaces in front of the houses, and nothing was to jut out of the walls to block the area of the streets, houses at cross-roads were to be or­namented with statues or carving. Moreover, every house had to have a large well; the stone for the houses was to be quarried at the Marsamxett side or at the area of the proposed dock (arsenale) near St. Elmo.
Finally, every plot of land obtained had to have its building started within ten months and completed within three years. This is how the City built by gentlemen for gentle­men started growing

at first, the Order did not have a well-organised government, but, by the time it reached Malta, its rules were quite good. The head was the Grand Master, elected for life by the Knights, according to fixed rules, the next highest authority was the Chapter General, composed of all chief Officers that made, changed and added laws or rules. Next to this, there was the State Council to help the Grand Master. At first the seat of Government was at Birgu, but, later, it was transferred to Valletta.
The Knights were divided into eight Languages Provence, Auvergne, France, Italy, Aragon, Germany, Castille Portugal, and, later, Anglo-Bavarian. The head of each Group, or Language, was called Grand Prior, and its palace was called 'Auberge'. Usually, each "Langue" had special respon­sibilities, such as: Italy was in charge of the Navy, France, of the Hospitals, England, of the Cavalry, and so on.
When the Grand Master died, each Langue, after hearing Mass in its own cha­pel, chose a Deputy for a Commission of Eight that was so chosen to elect the Grand Master. This was not always easy, when he was elected, his name was announced from the balcony of St.John's Co-Cathedral

The Langues

There were different langues, but as its most glorious the Order had eight major ones, which followed again a hierarchy of seniority, depending on when they were founded

The Langue of 'Provence' was the oldest, hence senior most

The Grand Commandeer or Head, known as the Grand Preceptor was the Chief Treasurer of the Order, Knights from this nation were entrusted with anything to do with the administration of property of the far flung Hospitalises empire, known as the 'Aerarium Commune' or ' Common Treasury ' (money, minting of coins, and commemorative medals at the accession of a new Grand Master, etc.)
The Order had properties abroad in shape of priories, commanderies and bailiwicks, and various members of the Order were appointed to such titles and benefices, usually as a reward for a particular feat of valour or for being instrumental in bringing added riches, to the Order in shape of loot from sea-forays in the Mediterranean where pirate or Turkish ships were the preferred targets
The Order had a lot of wealth, also which was measured in the numbers of slaves, in which it did a thriving business. As well as 'bona voglia'(good will, volunteer) workers such as oarsmen for the many ships who were paid, sometimes

Its Head was called the Grand Marshal for this langue was entrusted with the control of the military administration which was quite involved and extensive as befitted a military order.

The Langue of France

this country among the most glorious for it fulfilled the specific role for which originally the Order was founded i.e. caring for the sick. Its Head was Chief Hospitable and he supervised the running of the Sacred Infirmary i.e. hospital, and trained the recruits that came from France in hospital work.

The Langue of Italy

It was entrusted with the care of the Order's Fleet, so the head was the Admiral and had the custody of anything related to navigation navy, convoys, flotilla-movements as well as ship-building and shipyard.

The Langue of Aragon

The Head was known as the Grand Conservator for this nation was in charge of supplies, and made sure that all possible supplies fleet as well as the military movements were available as and when needed. It took care of all the logistics for all this as well as provisions necessary in food, equipment, ammunitions and materiel for clothing down even to the cloth for sails for the fleet. It eventually split up:

The Langue of Castille and Leon (to which in time Portugal was joined)

this had as its Head the Chancellor and it was the one that supplied all the scribes of the Order. In an age when few people could read or write, most knights (including many Grand Masters) were illiterate and so the Chancery and its scribes played a very key role, it provided all the clerks, secretaries, notaries for deed-writing, aides as well dictation takers for all occasions.
The members of the Langue of Castille, Leon and Portugal were the ones who also provided the written reports of all the conciliar sessions the Grand Master held with his Councils. These have come be known as Libri Conciliorum (Books of the Councils) and which are the detailed, day-to-day hand-written journals of all that took place within the Order and in its relations with the Maltese authorities an invaluable insight into the inner workings of the Order as well as of contemporary life in Malta.
These secretaries were also responsible for the keeping of the records of the progeny of the knights no mean feat when we remember that each knight had to supply proofs of quaternary nobility from both sides of his grandparents. They also kept records of the supplies, warehousing and property of the Order in its far hog empire.

The Langue of Germany

The Head of this langue who styled himself as Grand Bailiff was responsible for the fortifications: the building and maintenance of the bastions, warehouses, chapels and Churches of the Order and all such buildings.

The Langue of England

Its head was known as the Turcopilier i.e. the Fender-off of the Turks because he commanded the Christian janissaries and undertook as well the total control of the mounted forces and the coastguard, an English knight, Oliver Starkey became famous as the Secretary of Grand Master La Vallette.