Posted on 10/06/2014 11:16:24 AM PDT by Dqban22
THE SEIGE OF MALTA
History's bloodiest siege used human heads as cannonballs By JAMES JACKSON 07 July 2007
A hot and fetid June night on the small Mediterranean island of Malta, and a Christian sentry patrolling at the foot of a fort on the Grand Harbour had spotted something drifting in the water.
The alarm was raised. More of these strange objects drifted into view, and men waded into the shallows to drag them to the shore. What they found horrified even these battle-weary veterans: wooden crosses pushed out by the enemy to float in the harbour, and crucified on each was the headless body of a Christian knight.
This was psychological warfare at its most brutal, a message sent by the Turkish Muslim commander whose invading army had just vanquished the small outpost of Fort St Elmo - a thousand yards distant across the water.
Now the target was the one remaining fort on the harbour front where the beleaguered, outnumbered and overwhelmed Christians were still holding out: the Fort St Angelo. The Turkish commander wished its defenders to know that they would be next, that a horrible death was the only outcome of continued resistance.
But the commander had not counted on the mettle of his enemy - the Knights of St John. Nor on the determination of their leader Grand Master Jean Parisot de la Valette, who vowed that the fort would not be taken while one last Christian lived in Malta.
The rest of the history
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-466818/Historys-bloodiest-siege-used-human-heads-cannonballs.html
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
At the beginning, when they were a small minority, Mohammed preached respect for other religions condemning forced conversion to Islam; those are the parts of the Koran used by those who falsely proclaim that Islam is a “religion of peace”.
What they fail to disclose is that In Islamic tradition, affirmed by many scholars, there is the doctrine of “abrogation”, which states that later revelation to Mohammed supersedes prior revelations, and the Koranic verses ordering Muslims to fight and slay infidels, Christians and Jews came after those admonishing Muslims to live with non-believers in peace and without religious compulsion.
It is a well known fact the bloody history of Islam, but Obama, and a gutless media, still call it a “religion of peace”, even though that in the name of Allah more than 220 millions infidels have been slaughtered by Muslim, since the prophet of Allah beheaded in 627 AD over 700 hundred men and the pubescent boys and enslaved the women and children. In doing this, he wiped entirely the last remaining major tribe of Jews in Medina: the Qurayza.
In conclusion: You cannot separate “terror” from Islam.
“The issue of “terror” is a further aspect of this same understanding. Many outside Islam seek to separate “terror” and “Islam” as if they were, in their usage, independent or even opposed ideas. This latter view is almost impossible seriously to maintain in the light of Islamic history and the text of the Qur’an itself.”
Revisionist history at its worst!
EVERYONE knows islam is the religion of peace.
...or is that ‘pieces’ - as in “hack you to pieces”
Malta is a great place to visit and witness the history first hand.
Indeed. As is Rhodes and the Palace of The Grandmasters
The Siege of Malta is an amazing story. But it is far from being the bloodiest siege in history.
Too much competition for that title.
This filmmaker just acquired rights to a great book on the defense of Malta and the victory of the Christians. Now all I need is about $50m to make the movie!!
I’d have to say Leningrad was probably the worst.
Been to Malta twice on a mediteranean cruise. It’s beautiful, so much history. Wouldn’t mind going again.
LEPANTO - Our Lady of the Rosary: Freedom and Joy
Christopher Check (Oct.7,1571)
CRISIS Magazine Oct 6, 2014
The almost imperceptible lapping of the tide against the hull of the flagship, the stillness of the night, the breathing of the slaves slumped over their oars, and the spirited but hushed murmurs of the small assembly betrayed the fury of the battle that was just hours away. Tension and quiet. The young captain general, Don John of Austria, had mustered his admirals to his stateroom to review once more the order of battle. To the man each one had greater seafaring and war-fighting experience than he.
Among them was Spain’s greatest sea captain, Don Alvaro de Bazan, the Marquis of Santa Cruz. Also Venice’s greatest—Sebastian Veniero. At 74, Veniero had three times the years on his back as Don John of Austria.
Also among Don John’s admirals was a Genovese naval commander with an impeccable pedigree. Gianandrea Doria was the nephew of none other than Andrea Doria, who a generation before had served Emperor Charles V as imperial admiral. The elder Doria’s prowess under fire, to say nothing of his guile in politics, had made him one of the most powerful men in Italy. His nephew, heir to the Doria legacy, was, alas, more ship owner than sailor.
Gianandrea opened his palm, raised his eyebrow, and offered, “There is still time, your Grace, to avoid a pitched battle.” In the breast of the natural son of Charles V, however, beat the heart of a lion. He caught and held Doria’s gaze for a moment before looking each of his other admirals in the eye.
“Gentlemen,” said Don John in a low voice. “The time for counsel has passed. Now is the time for war.”
The outcome of the following day’s battle in the Bay of Lepanto we celebrate to this day: October 7, Feast of the Holy Rosary. The fleet of the Holy League sank or captured all but 13 of some 300 Turkish vessels, and Western Europe was saved from Islamic conquest. The sides were evenly matched and well led, but to each of his warriors Don John had issued a weapon more powerful than anything in the Turkish arsenal: a Rosary.
The men of the Holy League prepared for war by falling to their knees on the decks of their galleys and praying the Rosary. Back in Rome, and up and down the Italian peninsula, at the behest of Pius V, the churches were filled with the faithful praying their beads. In Heaven, the Blessed Mother inclined her ear toward her children and then, with her Immaculate Heart aflame brought down the full might of Heaven on the forces of darkness threatening to overshadow Christendom: “They fling great shadows foe-ward making Cross and Castle dark,” as Chesterton put it in his magnificent ballad celebrating the day.
The rest of the history
http://www.crisismagazine.com/2014/lady-rosary-freedom-joy
Valette never had to order men to St. Elmo's. When reinforcements were needed, the garrison assembled in chapel in St. Angelo's. Valette asked for volunteers. Night after night, the boats filled.
The Knights of St. John (AKA the Knights Hospitalier, or the Knights of Malta ) were one of the special religious orders formed in reaction to the Muslim invasions, and prominent in the Crusades (with the Templars and Teutonic Knights).
As a religious order, one of their commitments was a substantial daily recitation of prayers. Since the siege of Malta was long and they had little time to themselves, they were reported to have sung out their prayers together for hours on end, even while engaged in heavy combat.
The Religion?
More FreeMasonic BS
Certainly in the running.
What do you allege is BS?
From what I've read the biggest mass murderer was Ghengis Khan.
He knew that people often HID OUT and HID their valuables and daughters, so Genghis would RETURN to the site of his last attack, pillage, burn, rape and kill to FINISH the job.
He was one mean S.O.B. in a human history of mean S.O.B.s
Ditto.
I was there on a land tour. Wonderful place.
Empires of the Sea: The Siege of Malta, the Battle of Lepanto, and the Contest for the Center of the World by
Roger Crowley
The Siege of Malta, 1565
By Francesco Balbi
The Knights of Malta today: http://dioceseofvenice.org/organizations/the-order-of-malta/history-of-the-order/
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.