Paulo, Antoine De

Paulo, Antoine De a grand-master of the Order of Malta, was born at Toulouse in 1551, and was descended of a family originally from Genoa. In 1590 he was received Chevalier of Malta, and became successively commander of Marseilles, of Sainte-Eulalie, Grand Cross in 1612, and shortly after prior of Saintfilles. Elected grand-master of the order March 10, 1623, three days after the death of Louis de Vasconcelios, he was in the following year called before the pontifical tribunal, accused of disorderly conduct, and with having purchased his nomination with money. Antoine fully justified himself, but was nevertheless engaged in quarrels with pope Urban VIII on the subject of the commanderies of Italy. Under his command the order experienced several reverses on the part of the Turks, and in 1631 there was a general chapter, which reformed several statutes of the preceding chapters, especially that of 1602, which gave the illegitimate sons of the dukes and peers of France, and of the grandees of Spain, admission into the order. This privilege was then limited to the illegitimate children of kings and princes only. Paulo died June 10, 1636. See De Vertot, Hist. des Cheval. de Saint Jean de Jerusalem; Biog. Toulousaine; Moreri, Dict. histor. s.v.