FORT ST. MICHAEL - SENGLEA - MALTA

FORT ST. MICHAEL UNDER SIEGE 1565

In 1551 Grand Master Juan de Homedes begun to built Fort St. Michael. Many historians considered this Grand Master as not the right man for his position. Grand Master Juan de Homedes was extremely selfish, cruel, lacking in strategy and many times he did things at the wrong time. Both the Knights and the people did not regret this Grand Master's death in 1553. The new Grand Master Claude de la Sengle, 1553 - 1557. a frenchman, was aware, that the Turks, will not give up to capture Malta. He strengthened Fort St. Elmo and surrounded Senglea with bastions. The Grand Master Claude de la Sengle trusted The Order’s fleet, in the hands of The Knight Jean Parisot de la Valette, who was well known for his courage. Very often the Turks were seen cruising around the Mediterranean but worse was when the Turks, many times made it to our unprotected shores and stole anything which came in their reach. Aware that if Malta was lost to the Turks, Europe will suffer the consequences, soon, the Christian Princes and nobles presented The Grand Master Claude de la Sengle, with several galleys. The Grand Master Claude de la Sengle, died on the 18th August 1557. As it was expected from the Knights, his property was passed on to The Order on his death. The city of Senglea, was named so, for The Grand Master Claude de la Sengle.

The brave French Knight, Jean Parisot de la Vallete, was the new elected Grand Master 1557 - 1568. When the Turks heard the news, they were very angry and hateful for the new Grand Master. The recommendation of fortifying Mount Sciberras (Valletta ), was always on The Grand Master’s mind but the plans of The Grand Master Jean de la Vallete, to build defensive walls and place batteries had to be put away, when the news that the Turks were preparing to invade Malta, had reached him. The Grand Master, carried on with his defensive plans and constructed batteries around the city of Birgu ( Vittoriosa ), opened ditches around the Forts and an iron chain was put to block the entrance between Fort St. Angelo and Fort St. Micheal for the safety of his galleys. Also all around the fortifications, long poles were fixed to the bottom of the sea, to keep off the Turks from landing. Don Garcia, the Viceroy of Sicily, came to Malta, on the 9th April 1565, during his short visit, he promised The Grand Master Jean de la Vallete, that he would send a strong army to Malta, to help The Order, in the coming war against the Turks.

It was on 18th. May 1965, when 183 Turkish galleys with 38,000 troops on board were seen approaching the Maltese Islands. The Grand Master Jean de La Valette was desperate to see the Viceroy's promised strong army, as the Island forces were to small with only 600 Knights, 9000 troops and 8 galleys compared to the 38,000 Turkish troops. While keeping a safe distant from the Knight's guns, the Turks galleys were rowing around Malta looking for a safe place to moor. When darkness fell, the Turkish galleys disembarked 38,000 troops at Marsaxlokk. In the first few days there were a few fights between the Turks and some troops of the Order with no advantage for both sides. Dragut, the skillful pirate with great knowledge of the Mediterrranean Islands and their ports, was entrusted to lead the attacks on Malta. But when the Turkish Admiral in Chief Piali Pasha and General Mustapha Pasha saw that Dragut had not yet arrived in Malta, they decided to first attack Fort St. Elmo, so they can anchor their galleys in Marsamxett so that they can keep away any ships that try to came and help the Knights.

The Turks began their preparations and advanced to Tarxien, Corradino Hills and to Marsa, where they set-up their tents. When settled, the Turks marched on Mount Sceberras (Valletta), there they built their defensive walls and posted their guns facing Fort St. Elmo. On the 25th May 1565, the Turks began their attack on Fort St. Elmo. The Grand Master La Valette, was glad with this Turkish plan, because he thought that the Turkish troops will suffer heavy losses before they could win Fort St. Elmo and also he could gain the much needed time to strengthen the fortifications of Birgu and Senglea. The Grand Master also hoped that the promised help from Sicily would arrive to join his forces.

But it was the Turks who got more help when commander Lucciali, a famous corsair, came to Malta with more Turkish troops. To make things worst for the Grand Master La Valette, the great pirate Raies Dragut came to Malta on 30th May 1565, with 15 galleys and 1,500 troops. Dragut led his troops and marched to Sliema point (Tigne'), there he placed a strong battery.

It was on the 31st. May, when the Turks launched another attack on Fort St. Elmo. The Fort was completely surrounded by the Turks. The attacks were coming simultaneously from all four sides and with the heavy gun fire, the walls of the fort began to crumble. Sent by the Grand Master some Knights and Maltese went to help the besieged. The news spread fast when Dragut the great pirate was struck by a cannonball and was killed. Day after day, the great Turkish army kept on with their attacks on Fort St. Elmo while the brave defenders kept fighting desperately trying to save it. Finally after 31 days of massive bombardment and continuous attacks of the Turkish great army,, Fort St. Elmo fell into the hands of the Turks. The Turks tied some of the defenders death bodies to crosses and set them floating near Fort St. Angelo, Birgu. Turkish slaves heads had been fired in the Grand Master guns to repay this insult.

In this battle over Fort St. Elmo, the Knights lost 1,500 men while the Turkish army lost 8,000 troops. The Turkish General Mustapha Pasha, had wondered, "IF THE DAUGHTER MEANT SO MUCH LOSS TO US IN DEAD AND WOUNDED, WHAT IS THE MOTHER GOING TO COST US ?" Undoubtedly, Mustapha has experienced the braveness of the Maltese and the Knights, even though they had a much smaller army. On June 29th. 40 Knights and 700 armed men came to Malta from Sicily, to help the Grand Master La Valette against the invaders. The Grand Master needed much more troops from the Viceroy, to face the great Turkish army.

After their victory on Fort St. Elmo, The Turks, moved on to St. Salvatore and St. Margherita hills, where they posted batteries facing Fort St, Michael and Fort St. Angelo. On the 8th. July 1565, the Turks were filled with joy and courage when they saw Hasan Pasha, a great warrior, entering the harbour with a reinforcement of 2,500 Turkish troops. Both Piali Pasha the Admiral in Chief and General Mustapha Pasha, trusted the invasion of the Maltese Islands in the hands of the great warrior Hasan Pasha. The plan of Hasan, was to first attack Fort St. Michael before moving onto Fort St. Angelo.

"THE CHRISTIAN NATIONS OF EUROPE, WERE VERY WORRIED WITH THIS HOLY WAR BUT THEY CONTENTED THEMSELVES PRAYING GOD FOR A CHRISTIAN VICTORY. EVEN QUEEN ELIZABETH OF ENGLAND, THOUGH A PROTESTANT, INSTRUCTED PRAYERS TO BE SAID IN HER REALM CHURCHES. BUT NOBODY CAME TO HELP MALTA".

" IT WAS MALTA AND MALTA ALONE WHO SAVED CHRISTIANITY IN EUROPE ".

When all the preparations were ready, on the 15th. July, Hasan, led the troops on land and entrusted Candelissa, a skillful seaman, with the attacks by sea. Candelissa tried to row with a fleet of galleys against the defensive wooden poles but his efforts were useless because the poles were so well fixed to the bottom of the sea. Candelissa did not give up and tried to climb over them, but the Maltese opened fire from the guns of Fort St. Angelo. Still some Turks got through but armed with swords, some brave Maltese seamen, swam to stop the Turks advance and after a hand to hand bloody fight, the Maltese managed to save this dangerous Turkish move.

When Candelissa failed to land his troops from where he was, He directed and rowed his galleys to another part of Fort St. Michael, where it was less defended by poles. But when the Turkish galleys got close enough to the shore, the Maltese opened fire from hidden guns of the Fort St. Michael. But still Candelissa, told his troops to keep pushing forward and the determination of Candelissa to land his troops was successful and the Turks have landed. Encouraged by their success, the Turks, using ladders, managed to climb the walls of Fort St. Michael. But it took the Turks 5 long hours of desperate struggle were the slaughter was terrible, before they claimed their victory.

This second victory, has sent the Turks to great joy but not for long because when the few Knights and Maltese who survived, saw the Turkish flag flying on the bastions, they fell on the Turks even though they were wounded and bleeding. The Grand Master La Valette, quickly sent a small reinforcement to help them regain the Fort. The Knights and the Maltese fought like lions and managed to force the Turks to retreat. Soon the Turkish flag was torn down. The Turks now had no other choice then to climb down back or jump down off the bastions. Some women and children were of great help to win back Fort St. Michael, when they came to the front and showered the Turks with boiling tar and stones. Candelissa, fearing of falling into slavery, rowed his galleys to safety. On land, Hasan, was still trying to recapture Fort St. Michael. Much reduced in number and extremely tiered, the Knights and the Maltese kept on fighting Hasan.

From Fort St. Angelo, the Grand Master La Valette, was observing everything and sent some troops across the bridge of boats built for this purpose, to reinforce the brave defenders of Fort St. Michael. Encouraged by this much needed reinforcement, the Knights and Maltese kept holding on and fought the Turkish troops for six long hours until Hasan lost all hope to regain the Fort and retired. In this battle for Fort St. Michael the Christians lost 40 Knights and 200 troops and the Muslims lost 2,500 troops. It was now the Knights and the Maltese who were filled with joy with this Victory.