ABSTRACT

This chapter discusses the acquisition, administration and subsequent sale of a number of islands in the West Indies, by the Order of St John. De Poincy died on 11 April 1660, and the Order of St John began to consider the fate of its Caribbean possessions. The Order's Caribbean venture was referred to in the correspondence between the inquisitor in Malta and the papal secretary of state, particularly between 1657 and 1667. In his letter, Girolamo Casanate stated that he had acquired the three plans from sources in Malta and that, given that the Order was actively considering the future of its Caribbean holdings, he thought it best to send the material to the papal secretary of state. The Order of St John's acquisition of possessions in the Caribbean, albeit short-lived and resulting more by accident than design, constitutes what is probably a unique example of a European military Order involving itself well beyond Europe.