[wagglebee]

The Siege of Malta in 1565 was a clash of unimaginable brutality, one of the bloodiest - yet most overlooked - battles ever fought. It was also an event that determined the course of history, for at stake was the very survival of Christianity.

And we are still continuing the struggle against the barbarian Islamofascists today.

[Sherman Logan]

These knights lived by raiding and disrupting his Ottoman shipping routes.

IOW, the Christian equivalent of the Barbary pirates.

Except that the real Barbary pirates were less motivated by religion than by desire for riches. Most of them were Christian renegades.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Wow! What a gripping story. I think I’ll have to get this book to read more.

But it is no wonder that this battle is forgotten. It is pretty hard for today’s warriors and politicians to take pride in the tactics of warfare used on either side.

I believe that this is the FIRST battle that I’ve ever heard of that was saved by the Sicilians. I’ll have to show this account to my husband and send this article to all my friends of Sicilian descent.

I’d like to visit Malta some day. I’ve known a couple of priests from there. Fine men.

[NonValueAdded]

Guess we showed them! Don't mess with me!

[NonValueAdded]

James Jackson’s Blood Rock, ISBN: 0-7195-6914-1 / 978-0-7195-6914-2 (UK edition) Appears to only be available in UK & Canada.

[dennisw]

If only George Bush would read this and get a flippin clue about our enemy

[in the Arena]

Another view...

http://www.storialibera.it/epoca_moderna/turchi_ed_europa/assedio_di_malta_1565/malta_of_the_knights.html

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Lest we forget...

[gcruse]

An octogenarian with a harem of 300? Pass the Viagra, I feel faint.

[Tzimisce]

This is lie, Islam is a religion of peace.

(/sarcasm)

[mamelukesabre]

I’d never read this story before. Thanks for posting it. I would like to add something that I do know.

Just a few short years after this battle, in 1569, the turkish navy was utterly destroyed for all time by a combined christian fleet in the “battle of Lepanto”. Don Juan organized this fleet. A new warship was used in this battle and they were called galleasses. The Christians were greatly outnumbered but they had their secret weapons...the galleasses. Up untill the galleasses, warships were rowing vessels with cannons positioned in the front that fired forward. Galleasses were the first warships with cannons positioned on the sides that fired laterally. Putting the guns on the sides enabled one ship to carry many more guns than otherwise possible. So the christians, although greatly outnumbered, had more guns. In order to defeat the turks, they had to use their brains and superior naval tactics against a larger fleet. In order to use galleasses to their full potential, the ship would have to be turned sideways at the moment of battle to bring all guns to bear on the enemy. Cannoners marksmanship abilities were much more important, as were the skills of the ship captains and his crew to precisely maneuver the ship with sails alone. The turks’ strategy was much more simple...encircle the smaller enemy fleet and charge straight into them by use of oars with forward guns blazing...little skill required.

Well, the turks failed and never recovered from their maritime defeat. From then on, turks threatened christians from the land only. Thus this is the battle that sealed the fate of the turks and the ottoman empire as well.

[B.O. Plenty]

enemy of islam bump

[stylin19a]

There would be no negotiation, no compromise, no surrender, no retreat.<>/i>

sounds like a good plan...even today.

[kalee]

ping

[ChessExpert]

Thanks for the post. The story reminds me of the movie the 300.

[MacDorcha]

Age of Empires III starts with this very campaign.

[TASMANIANRED]

Same struggle, different day.

[sheik yerbouty]

Their valor and ingenuity are still an inspiration today.

[Sherman Logan]

Suleiman) was the most powerful figure on the planet

Arguably both the Ming Emperor and the King of Spain were contenders for this title.

Ottoman military power was based on essentially pre-modern organization of men and animals. It was largely funded by loot.

Modern military power, based on chemically-powered weapons and fiscally sound governments, was just developing. Although it was not obvious to many at the time, on either side, the Turks could just not compete on this level.

[dirtbiker]

Then he returned a communiquè of his own: the heads of his Turkish captives were fired from his most powerful cannon direct into the Muslim lines. There would be no negotiation, no compromise, no surrender, no retreat.

Nor should there be....Evil can only be defeated by KILLING IT!

[wardaddy]

lessons to be learned

Martel knew them

Coeur de Lion knew them