The Great Siege

 

"Nothing is better known than the siege of Malta" wrote Voltaire two hundred years after the event and for the Maltese people today the statement still rings true".

 

The bare bones of the narrative are as follows: On the 18th May, 1565, the Ottoman Turks and their allies pitted 48,000 of their best troops against the islands with the intention of invading them, and afterwards to make a thrust into Southern Europe by way of Sicily and Italy.

 

Against them were drawn up some 8,000 men: 540 Knights: 4,000 Maltese; and the rest made up of Spanish and Italian mercenaries.

 

Landing unopposed, the first objective of the Turks was to secure a safe anchorage for their large invasion fleet, and with that in mind, launched their attack on St. Elmo. After a heroic resistance of thirtyone days the fort succumbed to the massive bombardment and continuous attacks of the Turks. After the fort had been reduced, the Ottomans turned their attention to the two badly fortified towns overlooking the harbour. Subjected to a ceaseless bombardment, and repulsing attack after attack: behind the crumbling walls, the Christian forces. Against all odds, kept the enemy at bay until a small relief force of some 8,000 troops arrived from Sicily (a smaller relief force of 600 men had previously landed at about the time that St. Elmo had fallen).

 

Totally demoralized, as the Turks were, by losses from disease, fire and steel, added to the fact that their supplies were running low, they were in no position to offer an effective resistance, and the Turks retreated never again to attempt another invasion in that part of the Mediterranean.

 

Important Dates

 

18 May 1565 Arrival of the Turkish fleet

20 May 1565 Turkish disembarkation at Marsaxlokk

20 May 1565 First attack on Post of Castille in Birgu

27 May 1565 Siege of St Elmo started

23 Jun 1565 The capture of St Elmo

25 Jun 1565 Siege of Senglea started

05 Jul 1565 Piccolo Soccorso (small relief) of Birgu with 700 soldiers

06 Jul 1565 The siege of Birgu at the Post of Castille

15 Jul 1565 Assault on Senglea

18 Aug1565 Assault on Post of Castille

07 Sep1565 Arrival of the Gran Soccorso (large relief) with 10,000 soldiers

08 Sep1565 Flight of the Turkish fleet