Saint James Cavalier

Saint James Cavalier
Kavallier ta' San Ġakbu
Part of the fortifications of Valletta
Valletta, Malta
Saint James Cavalier
Logo of Spazju Kreattiv, St James Cavalier
Map of St. James Bastion with its cavalier and counterguard
Coordinates	35°53′44.83″N 14°30′37.09″E / 35.8957861°N 14.5103028°E / 35.8957861; 14.5103028
Type	Cavalier
Site information
Owner	Government of Malta
Controlled by	Fondazzjoni Kreattività
Open to the public	Yes
Condition	Intact
Website	www.kreattivita.org
Site history
Built	1560s
Built by	Order of Saint John
Materials	Limestone
Events	Rising of the Priests

Saint James Cavalier (Maltese: Kavallier ta' San Ġakbu) is a 16th-century cavalier in Valletta, Malta, which was built by the Order of St. John. It overlooks St. James' Bastion, a large obtuse-angled bastion forming part of the Valletta Land Front. St. James was one of nine planned cavaliers in the city, although eventually only two were built, the other one being the identical Saint John's Cavalier. It was designed by the Italian military engineer Francesco Laparelli, while its construction was overseen by his Maltese assistant Girolamo Cassar. St. James Cavalier never saw use in any military conflict, but it played a role during the Rising of the Priests in 1775.

The building was often known as the Tower of the Cavallier, Cavallier Tower or the variants.

The cavalier is located in Castille Square, close to Auberge de Castille, the Central Bank of Malta, the Parliament House, the and the post office at Dar Annona. The cavalier was restored as part of Malta's Millennium Project, and it is now a cultural centre known as Spazju Kreattiv (Maltese for Creative Space).

Following the Great Siege of Malta of 1565, in which the Ottoman Empire attempted to take over Malta but failed to do so, the Order of St. John decided to settle permanently on the island. The Order decided to build a new fortified city as their new capital, and it was called Valletta after Grand Master Jean Parisot de Valette. In order to do this, De Valette asked for financial aid from various European rulers. Pope Pius V not only helped out financially, but he also sent the Italian military engineer Francesco Laparelli to Malta in order to design the new capital's fortifications. Construction of the city began in March 1566, and work continued throughout the 1570s. Following Laparelli's departure from Malta and his subsequent death, construction of the city was entrusted to his Maltese assistant, the architect and military engineer Girolamo Cassar.