Great Siege of Malta
Grand Harbour, Malta
What happened
Grand Master Jean Parisot de Valette led the Knights Hospitaller in defending Malta against an Ottoman army and fleet. Sultan Suleiman wanted to defeat the Knights, whose ships raided Ottoman shipping. The Ottomans landed in May 1565, and to anchor their fleet they first had to reduce Fort St Elmo, which guarded the harbour. Afterward they attacked the Knights' towns around the Grand Harbour. The defenders held out until a relief force from Sicily arrived in September, and the Ottomans withdrew.
Why it matters
Result: Christian coalition victory. Leader: Hasan Pasha / Occhiali. Why it matters: The Knights kept Malta, and the Ottoman advance in the western Mediterranean was stopped.
What came next
Grateful European rulers helped pay for a new fortified city, and de Valette laid its foundation stone on 28 March 1566. The city was named Valletta after him and is today Malta's capital.
Did you know?
Valletta, the city built after the siege, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Timeline
- 18 May 1565 CEThe Ottoman siege of Malta begins.
- 8 September 1565 CEThe siege ends.
- 28 March 1566 CEDe Valette lays the foundation stone of Valletta.
- 1980 CEValletta becomes a UNESCO World Heritage Site.