Posted on 05/17/2019 11:21:04 AM PDT by Antoninus
Given the current tribulations of the Knights of Malta in our own time, it is well to remember that there were magnificent heroes among them in past days--men who did not shrink from combat even in their old age.
When the Turks attacked Malta with an armada of nearly 200 ships and 40,000 soldiers in May of 1565, about 1,000 knights of St. John (later the Knights of Malta) from all over Christendom had already assembled to repel them. These men arrived at Malta with the full knowledge that many of them would never leave the island alive.
The following is taken from the excellent historical novel, Angels in Iron, and describes the happenings on May 18, 1565 when the Turkish fleet appeared off Malta:
18 MaySuleimans armada was spotted shortly after dawn. The galleys materialized on the hazy horizon fifteen miles east of Malta. A Knight in St. Elmo roused the garrison to action, crying: There they are! Within moments men crowded the east walls and squinted toward the ships.
Di Corso stared at the gigantic fleet, eyes wide. Heavenly Father! Its a wonder the sea can hold them!
Captain De Guaras and Governor Broglia scrambled up the steps and gazed toward the armada, their faces grim.
God help us, Broglia sighed, then told De Guaras: Fire a shot to warn Birgu.
A volley! De Guaras cried to the batteries on the cavalier. Three shots!
Cannon roared and iron whistled over water. White foam pillared skyward as shot plowed the lazy sea. Birgus guns echoed the alarm. Another volley thundered toward the distant Turks.
Hold! De Guaras shouted.
He and Broglia went back down the steps and disappeared into the governors chamber, flanked by three Knights Commanders.
How far off? Di Corso asked a scarred Spanish gunner.
A few hours, sir.
Time enough for the chapel, then.
Oliver Starkey burst into La Valettes quarters to find the Grand Master at his desk. Master, theyre here! he cried.
La Valette signed a document, blotted it. Oliver?
My lord?
La Valette rolled and sealed the scroll, pressed the wax with his signet ring and offered the letter. Take this.
Starkey accepted the parchment.
This is my quint, La Valette said, referring to the twenty percent of his belongings a Knight could bequeath outside the Order.
I see, my lord, Starkey said, studying the sealed will.
Keep it safe.
La Valette rose from the chair and placed a white-plumed helmet on his head, saying, Let us go to St. Angelo.
As they left the room they heard warning shots from inland Mdina, and Gozo to the north, where the respective garrisons had guessed Mustaphas arrival.
They certainly didnt catch us napping, La Valette said.
In the dockyard between Birgu and Senglea, Mathurin dAux Lescout-Romegas, General of the Galleys and the greatest Christian seaman of the age, readied four small ships. Romegas had no intention of engaging the huge Turkish force; rather, he would reconnoiter Suleimans navy.
La Valette saluted Romegas and proceeded toward St. Angelo.
Drums, trumpets and shouts rose from Birgu and St. Angelo as men sprang hastily to arms. La Valette strode confidently into the chaotic fort. A group of knights surrounded him.
The time is at hand, he told them. Let us acquit ourselves as knights of Christ.
+1
Agree! Thanks for the reminder.
The Knights Hospitaller | The Ottomans |
---|---|
500 Knights Hospitaller | 6,000 Spahis (cavalry) |
400 Spanish soldiers | 500 Spahis from Karamania |
800 Italian soldiers | 6,000 Janissaries |
500 soldiers from the galleys (Spanish Empire) | 400 adventurers from Mytiline |
200 Greek and Sicilian soldiers | 2,500 Spahis from Rumelia |
100 soldiers of the garrison of Fort St. Elmo | 3,500 adventurers from Rumelia |
100 servants of the knights | 4,000 "religious servants" |
500 galley slaves | 6,000 other volunteers |
3,000 soldiers drawn from the Maltese population | Various corsairs from Tripoli and Algiers |
Total: 6,100 | Total: 28,500 from the East, 40,000 in all |
Janissaries. Learning what they are will change your world view, after you first throw up
I just had Thai red curry chicken for lunch. Dare I read?
This same group had already defended Rhodes, against overwhelming odds (and been let survive, after being defeated, so impressed were the Muslims of their bravery.)
The Order, now a group of charity organizations (Roman Catholic and Protestant) exists to this day:
Yup. Nearly half the defenders were basically Maltese militia. Against, elite Turkish Janissaries—yikes.
They didn’t let women vote back then. The invaders today STILL do not let women vote - but the ‘invaded’ do.
Siege of Malta ping.
One of the great stands in history.
Jannisaries were children taken from subject Christian rural populations, and their families, converted to Islam and raised and trained to be soldiers for the Sultan.
For almost 7 years I had the book rights to this to turn it into a film. This year I finally could not afford them any longer.
But I do have a pretty good screenplay from “Angel in Iron” that I hope one day to turn into a movie and get Nick Prata paid for a film.
I actually see Voight as La Vallette, the Rock as the Fiddler.
Bump to the top. History Ping.
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