If the Dark Ages in Malta were really dark, the Knights of St John lit Malta with all the fury and glory of the bloodiest siege that Europe had yet seen. Expelled from Rhodes by the Ottoman Turks in 1523, the Hospitaller Order of St John were given a new base by Emperor Charles V. Facing an Ottoman threat to Vienna in the East and the capture of Algiers by Barbarossa in the south, the Emperor needed a barrier against the invasion of Italy and Europe and thus offered Malta and Tripoli to the Order for the annual rent of a Maltese falcon
The Hospitallers took possession of the Maltese islands in November 1530 when the islands’ population was around 12,000. Expecting an attack from the Ottoman Empire, the Order of St John transferred the centre of Government from Notabile (Mdina) to Birgu in view of its strategic harbour location.
Under the guidance of Grand Masters L`Isle Adam, de Homedes, and de Valette, the Knights fortified the Grand Harbour by strengthening Fort St Elmo and the walls of the medieval Castello a Mare (later St Angelo) at Birgu, deepening and widening the ditch separating it from Birgu. The Knights purchased a large chain from Venice to protect the Order’s galleys within the creek between Birgu and L’Isola, on which was built Fort St Michael.
In 1551, Barbarossa’s successor, Dragut, launched an attack on Malta, which failed, however he carried off almost the entire population of Gozo as slaves, and also captured Tripoli.
These events led up to the much larger attack by Suleiman’s army and navy on Malta in 1565, which came to be known as the Great Siege. In April of that year, an estimated 40,000 men on 180 galleys left Constantinople and sailed for Malta, arriving on 18th May. The Order had around 540 Knights and sergeants at arms, 400 Spanish troops sent by Don Garcia de Toledo, Viceroy of Sicily and some 4000 Maltese militia. A further 500 Spanish troops came to Malta’s defence at a later stage.
The Ottoman (Turkish) army was commanded by Mustapha Pasha and the fleet by Suleiman’s son-in-law, Piali Pasha. Dragut arrived 2 weeks later with more troops and artillery. The Ottomans knew they had to conquer before the winter; they attacked Fort St Elmo on 25th May, sending the feared 6000 Janissaries to battle, expecting victory in a week. In reality it took until 23rd June, with the loss of 8000 troops, including Dragut, to overwhelm the Fort. The rest of summer was dominated by continuous attacks on Birgu and L’Isla which was on the point of falling on 7th August, when a cavalry attack from Mdina on the Ottoman camp in Marsa led to a retreat at the last moment.
As the bloodiest siege that Europe had ever seen waged through summer, Don Garcia persuaded Catholic Europe to gather reinforcements for Malta; an army of 10,000 landed on the island on 6th September, destroyed the retreating Ottoman forces on the 7th, and chased them to the sea by the 8th. The Siege was over.
In order to safeguard Malta against any future invasions, de Valette immediately began building a fortified city on the strategically important Mount Sciberras, later called Valletta. The Knights Hospitallers gained legendary status in Christian Europe following the events of 1565 and the subsequent involvement of the Order’s galleys alongside the Venetian fleet in the destruction of the Ottoman fleet at Lepanto in 1571. Enriched by donations from European admirers, the Order repaired damaged fortifications and lined the island with coastal watchtowers.
The Hospitaller Order also became renowned for the teaching and practice of medicine in Europe; the Sacra Infirmeria could accommodate 500 patients and included a medical and pharmacy school.
Although always dependent upon Europe for provisions, Malta flourished culturally and socially between the 16th and 18th centuries; St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta became an artistic jewel; palaces, University, a school of Mathematics and Nautical Sciences and a public library were established. The population grew and a bourgeoisie prospered as these projects generated employment among tradesmen, artists and sailors while Valletta’s harbour became a centre for trade and ship-building.
Militarily, the Order reached its height during the 17th century, its galleys crossing the central Mediterranean, fighting and capturing Barbary corsair galleys, but also European vessels, leading to periods of tension. By the end of the 18th century, the Order had declined in influence; lack of discipline weakened it; funding declined, as did its role in Europe.
On 9th June 1798, on his way to Egypt, Napoleon Bonaparte attacked Malta. Without the protection of the defeated King of Naples and Sicily and weakened by divided loyalties amongst the Spanish and French Knights, the Order meekly surrendered on 12th June after brief resistance by Maltese militias.
So ended the Order of Malta’s rule over the island. Grand Master Hompesch resigned, leaving a broken Order to rediscover itself gradually over the following 25 years; it settled, first in Sicily, and, subsequently in Rome, where it remains today, recognised as a sovereign government, with its Grand Magistry located in the Via Condotti. The Order has been granted a 99 year lease on Fort St Angelo and is engaged in restoration work on this historic structure.
Dr. Anton Borg
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