Claude de la Sengle

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Claude de la Sengle (1494 – 18. August 1557) was Grand Master of the Maltese Knights (Knights Hospitaller) from 11 September 1553 until his death. His successor was Jean Parisot de la Valette.

A native Frenchman, de la Sengle, then Bailli of the French tongue of the Order, was heavily involved in the battles of the Knights against the Turkish corsair and Ottoman admiral Turgut Reis in the Mediterranean and in North Africa, and particularly in the struggles for Djerba and Tripoli.

De la Sengle had considerable impact on the military strengthening of Malta, notably by initiating in 1554 the development of the city of Senglea, which was later named after him and bears his coat of arms. He also expanded Fort St. Michael into a major bastion and completed Fort St. Elmo, which had been begun by his predecessor, Grand Master Juan de Homedes y Coscon.

De la Sengle died at Notabile on 18 August 1557 and was buried in the chapel of Fort St. Angelo. His heart was buried in the Church of the Annunciation, outside Rabat on Malta.