The Great Siege of Malta was an important battle between the Ottoman Empire and the Knights of St. John, also called the Knights Hospitaller. It took place on the island of Malta in 1565.
The siege began on 18 May 1565 when a large Ottoman fleet arrived near Malta. The Ottoman Empire was one of the most powerful empires in the world at that time. Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent wanted to capture Malta because the island was an important base in the Mediterranean Sea. The Knights of St. John often attacked Ottoman ships.
The Knights were led by Grand Master Jean Parisot de Valette. They had only a few thousand soldiers, while the Ottoman army had tens of thousands of men. Despite being outnumbered, the defenders were determined to protect the island.
One of the first battles was for Fort St. Elmo. The fort resisted for several weeks. The defenders fought bravely, but the Ottomans finally captured it on 23 June 1565. Both sides suffered heavy losses.
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After the fall of Fort St. Elmo, the Ottomans attacked Fort St. Angelo and Fort St. Michael. The fighting was fierce during July and August. The people of Malta helped the Knights defend the island. Food became scarce, and many people were injured or killed.
In early September 1565, a relief force from Sicily arrived to help the defenders. When the Ottomans learned that fresh troops had arrived, they decided to retreat.
The soldiers who helped Malta came from Sicily. They were mostly Spanish and Italian soldiers. Their leader was Don García de Toledo, the Viceroy of Sicily. The soldiers arrived on 7 September 1565. They brought new weapons, supplies, and fresh troops. The Ottoman army was tired after many months of fighting. When the relief force arrived, the Ottomans decided to retreat.
The siege ended on 8 September 1565. The defenders had won. The victory was celebrated across Europe because it stopped the Ottoman advance in the western Mediterranean.
After the siege, stronger fortifications were built. A new city, Valletta, was founded in 1566 and named after Jean de Valette. Today, the Great Siege of Malta is remembered as one of the most famous sieges in European history.
Timeline
18 May 1565 – The Ottoman fleet arrives in Malta.
23 June 1565 – Fort St. Elmo falls to the Ottomans.
July–August 1565 – Heavy fighting around Fort St. Angelo and Fort St. Michael.
Early September 1565 – Reinforcements arrive from Sicily.
8 September 1565 – The Ottomans retreat and the siege ends.
1566 – Construction of the city of Valletta begins.
Vocabulary
Siege – A military operation in which an army surrounds a city or fort.
Fort – A strong defensive building.
Fleet – A group of ships.
Reinforcements – Extra soldiers sent to help an army.
Retreat – To move back from a battle.
The siege lasted from 18 May to 8 September 1565, almost four months.
A Brief History of the Knights Hospitaller
The Knights Hospitaller, also called the Knights of St. John, were a religious and military order. They began around 1070 in the city of Jerusalem. At first, their job was to care for sick and injured Christian pilgrims who traveled to the Holy Land.
In 1113, the Pope officially recognized the order. During the time of the Crusades, the Knights became both monks and soldiers. They protected pilgrims and fought in battles.
When Muslim armies captured more territory in the Middle East, the Knights had to leave the Holy Land. In 1291, the city of Acre fell, and the Knights moved to the island of Cyprus.
In 1309, they conquered the island of Rhodes. From Rhodes, they built a strong navy and defended Christian trade routes in the Mediterranean Sea. For more than 200 years, Rhodes was their home.
In 1522, the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent attacked Rhodes. After a long siege, the Knights surrendered and left the island.
In 1530, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V gave the islands of Malta and Gozo to the Knights. They made Malta their new base and became known as the Knights of Malta.
The Knights ruled Malta for more than 250 years. Their greatest victory was during the Great Siege of Malta in 1565, when they successfully defended the island against the Ottoman Empire.
In 1798, the French leader Napoleon Bonaparte captured Malta while traveling to Egypt. The Knights left the island and lost their territory.
Timeline
- 1070 – A hospital is founded in Jerusalem.
- 1113 – The Pope recognizes the Knights Hospitaller.
- 1291 – The Knights leave the Holy Land and move to Cyprus.
- 1309 – The Knights take control of Rhodes.
- 1522 – The Ottomans capture Rhodes.
- 1530 – The Knights receive Malta from Charles V.
- 1565 – The Knights defend Malta during the Great Siege.
- 1798 – Napoleon captures Malta.