The Great Siege

Malta 1565

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The Great Siege

By: Ernle Bradford

Narrated by: Simon Vance

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About this listen

Suleiman the Magnificent, sultan of the Ottoman Empire and the most powerful ruler in the world, was determined to conquer Europe. Only one thing stood in his way: the island of Malta, occupied by the Knights of Saint John, the Holy Roman Empire’s finest warriors. Determined to capture Malta and use its port to launch operations against Europe, Suleiman sent overwhelming forces. A few thousand defenders in Fort Saint Elmo fought to the last man.

When the Turks captured the fort, they took no prisoners, mutilating the defenders’ bodies. The Knights’ leader reciprocated by decapitating his Turkish prisoners and using their heads to cannonade the enemy. Then the battle for Malta began in earnest.

Military

Ottoman Empire

Imperialism

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Maltese heroism at its best. As the excellent narrator says unfortunately the names have been forgotten and unrecorded.

No single Maltese fighter ever defected to the other side, Bradford says, unlike Italian, French, Greek, Spanish and Turks who switched sides on several occasions. Another commentator, seeing the bravery and fearlessness with which the Maltese attacked their invaders, says, that no one of any other nation or creed could have been more courageous.

We must give credit to these Maltese heroes and try to identify and find information about these warriors who saved the island five centuries ago!