The fate of the Mediterranean hung in the balance during this bloody battle between the Knights of St John and the armies of Suleyman the Magnificent in the summer of 1565. The Ottoman Empire had carved its way across three continents and now turned its sights to the tiny island of Malta. Tens of thousands of Ottoman troops descended. What followed was one of the most ferocious sieges of the 16th century: relentless bombardments, desperate hand-to-hand fighting and assaults on seemingly impregnable forts. Both the attackers and defenders were pushed close to breaking point.
Dan is joined by Heritage Malta curator Kirsty Grech at Fort St Angelo - the Knight's headquarters during the siege - to tell the extraordinary story of bloodshed, resistance and survival.
Made in collaboration with VisitMalta and Heritage Malta. If you'd like to visit Malta and see the history discussed in this episode, you can find out more at
https://www.visitmalta.com
Produced by Mariana Des Forges and edited by Matthew Wilson. With thanks to Jeffrey Powell, Liam Gauci, Patricia Ebejer, Priscilla Civelli, Jeremy Nikolai Amaira, Annie Woodman and Giles Jagger.
0:00 Introduction
2:27 Strategic geographic importance of Malta
3:33 Origins of the Knights of St. John
4:23 Arriving in Malta and building defences
7:01 Military architecture and bastions explained
10:05 Grandmaster Jean de Valette and Ottoman leaders
11:18 The arrival of the Ottoman fleet
12:42 The bombardment of Fort St. Elmo
14:41 Brutal fighting and the fall of St. Elmo
16:41 Ottoman naval attacks and defence tactics
18:06 Scorched earth tactics and summer heat
20:32 The August assaults on Birgu and Senglea
21:48 Arrival of Spanish relief forces
23:25 Legacy, Valetta, and modern remembrance
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