The Great Siege of Malta Begins, May 18 ,1565

Gloria Romanorum ^ | May 18, 2018 | Florentius

[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 May

Suleiman’s 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! It’s 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. Birgu’s 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 governor’s 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 Valette’s quarters to find the Grand Master at his desk. “Master, they’re 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 Mustapha’s arrival.

Click to order a copy.

“They certainly didn’t catch us napping,” La Valette said.

In the dockyard between Birgu and Senglea, Mathurin d’Aux 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 Suleiman’s 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.”

[Antoninus]

454 years ago, the Great Siege of Malta commenced. If not for the heroism of the few men defending the island against the Turks, all of Italy and even more of Christian Europe may have fallen to Islam.

It is sad to note that the sacrifice of these brave men is forgotten today, particularly in the very European nations that they saved from the Sultan's yoke.

If you have never read Angels in Iron you owe it to yourself to do so. Makes for outstanding summer reading!

[grey_whiskers]

+1

[Shark24]

Agree! Thanks for the reminder.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

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

[Mount Athos]

Janissaries. Learning what they are will change your world view, after you first throw up

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I just had Thai red curry chicken for lunch. Dare I read?

[AnalogReigns]

The Hospitallars, or the Knights of the Order of the Hospital of St. John the Baptist in Jerusalem, similar to the Knights Templar, were utterly incredible for their bravery and effectiveness.

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:

[Antoninus]

Yup. Nearly half the defenders were basically Maltese militia. Against, elite Turkish Janissaries—yikes.

[Antoninus]

Janissaries. Learning what they are will change your world view, after you first throw up

Here's a good place to start--will only cause mild nausea.

The Ottoman Turkish practice of Devshirme

[BobL]

They didn’t let women vote back then. The invaders today STILL do not let women vote - but the ‘invaded’ do.

[Antoninus]

Siege of Malta ping.

[karnage]

One of the great stands in history.

[Jacob Kell]

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.

[LS]

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.

[Antoninus]

Since Angels in Iron came out, there have been a raft of other historical novels on the Great Siege, all of which portray the Knights as savages and the Turks as enlightened conquerors. None of them hold a candle to Mr. Prata's work as far as I'm concerned.

Hopefully, someday, it'll become a big screen blockbuster.

[LS]

I actually see Voight as La Vallette, the Rock as the Fiddler.

[Antoninus]

Bump to the top. History Ping.