Poet

Born in Ħaż-Żebbuġ, Vassallo joined the Dominican Order and was affiliated to the Rabat convent and was ordained priest c. 1583.

Vassallo was censured many times by his superiors. Towards the end of 1587, the inquisitor ordered him to perform penance, forbidding him to say Mass and exiled him from Malta. He was among the very first Maltese to write poetry in Italian and Maltese. These poems are referred to as cantilene, canzoni in lingua maltese, and canzoni moresche in his trial. None of his poems seem to have survived.

Vassallo returned to Malta in 1596. In 1602 the provincial Fr Bernardino Talavera, went to the Rabat convent to collect evidence against Vassallo.

This biography is part of the collection created by Michael Schiavone over a 30-year period. Read more about Schiavone and his initiative here.