Charles François de Mondion
Encyclopedia
Charles Francois de Mondion (1681–1733) was a French
military engineer
who first arrived in Malta
in 1715 during the principate
of Grand Master
Ramon Perellos y Roccaful
of the Knights of Malta
. His early work was as deputy to the Military Engineer Rene Jacob de Tigne. One of his early works was the second Marsalforn Tower
, which however no longer exists.
Grand Master Antonio Manoel de Vilhena’s
accession in June 1722 created a significant opportunity for Mondion, as the new Prince of Malta decided to unleash an ambitious building programme. This included extensive works in the fortified Mediaeval city of Mdina
, such as the design of the majestic City Gate, the building of Fort Manoel
and the development of Floriana
, projects for which Mondion, now a Cavaliere di Grazia, was directly responsible.
His unexpected death in 1733 cut short a promising career. Mondion was buried in the crypt
of the Fort Manoel chapel
dedicated to St. Anthony of Padova
.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
military engineer
Military engineer
In military science, engineering refers to the practice of designing, building, maintaining and dismantling military works, including offensive, defensive and logistical structures, to shape the physical operating environment in war...
who first arrived in Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
in 1715 during the principate
Principate
The Principate is the first period of the Roman Empire, extending from the beginning of the reign of Caesar Augustus to the Crisis of the Third Century, after which it was replaced with the Dominate. The Principate is characterized by a concerted effort on the part of the Emperors to preserve the...
of Grand Master
Grand Master (order)
Grand Master is the typical title of the supreme head of various orders of knighthood, including various military orders, religious orders and civil orders such as the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Orange Order...
Ramon Perellos y Roccaful
Ramon Perellos y Roccaful
Fra' Ramon Perellos de Rocaful was the 64th Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta between 1697 and 1720. He lived in Malta in 1653, as soon as he entered the order. In 1658 he joined the board of the Master and in 1697 was elected Grand Master...
of the Knights of Malta
Knights Hospitaller
The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
. His early work was as deputy to the Military Engineer Rene Jacob de Tigne. One of his early works was the second Marsalforn Tower
Marsalforn Tower
Marsalforn Tower or Ix-Xaghra Tower was built in 1616 while Fra Alof de Wignacourt was Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller of St. John, and thus is one of the Wignacourt towers. The tower's design is attributed to the military engineer Giovanni Rinaldini...
, which however no longer exists.
Grand Master Antonio Manoel de Vilhena’s
António Manoel de Vilhena
Dom Fra' António Manoel de Vilhena was the 66th Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta from 19 June 1722 to his death in 1736....
accession in June 1722 created a significant opportunity for Mondion, as the new Prince of Malta decided to unleash an ambitious building programme. This included extensive works in the fortified Mediaeval city of Mdina
Mdina
Mdina, Città Vecchia, or Città Notabile, is the old capital of Malta. Mdina is a medieval walled town situated on a hill in the centre of the island. Punic remains uncovered beyond the city’s walls suggest the importance of the general region to Malta’s Phoenician settlers. Mdina is commonly...
, such as the design of the majestic City Gate, the building of Fort Manoel
Fort Manoel
Fort Manoel is a fortification on the island of Malta. It stands on Manoel Island in Marsamxett Harbour to the north west of Valletta and commands the entrance to Marsamxett Harbour and the anchorage of Sliema Creek...
and the development of Floriana
Floriana
Floriana is a town in Malta, just outside the capital city Valletta. Floriana is the birthplace of many famous Maltese, amongst which the composer of the national anthem, 'L-Innu Malti', Robert Samut; former Bishop of Malta Dom Mauro Caruana, the poet Oliver Friggieri, and Swedish Idol winner...
, projects for which Mondion, now a Cavaliere di Grazia, was directly responsible.
His unexpected death in 1733 cut short a promising career. Mondion was buried in the crypt
Crypt
In architecture, a crypt is a stone chamber or vault beneath the floor of a burial vault possibly containing sarcophagi, coffins or relics....
of the Fort Manoel chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
dedicated to St. Anthony of Padova
Anthony of Padua
Anthony of Padua or Anthony of Lisbon, O.F.M., was a Portuguese Catholic priest and friar of the Franciscan Order. Though he died in Padua, Italy, he was born to a wealthy family in Lisbon, Portugal, which is where he was raised...
.