Podcasts · The Story of Malta: The Fortress Island of the Mediterranean — Fexingo History
The Great Siege of Malta: The Knights' Last Stand
· 12 min · S4 E199
Episode The Great Siege of Malta: The Knights' Last Stand
In 1565, the Ottoman Empire launched a massive invasion of Malta, seeking to crush the Knights of St. John and gain a strategic foothold in the central Mediterranean. This episode of The Story of Malta takes you to the heart of the siege: the brutal defense of Fort Saint Elmo, the leadership of Grand Master Jean de Valette, and the desperate battles at Birgu and Senglea that turned the tide. Drawing on eyewitness accounts and recent scholarship, we separate the legend from the reality: how a small force of knights and Maltese civilians held out against overwhelming odds, the role of the Spanish relief force, and the siege's profound consequences for Europe. We also explore the stories of the corsairs, the enslaved rowers, and the ordinary people caught in the crossfire, and how the siege reshaped the island's identity for centuries. If you thought you knew the story of 1565, this episode will make you think again.
#GreatSiegeOfMalta #JeanDeValette #FortSaintElmo #OttomanEmpire #KnightsOfStJohn #Birgu #Senglea #Dragut #MustafaPasha #SuleimanTheMagnificent #MilitaryHistory #MediterraneanHistory #16thCenturyWarfare #MaltaHistory #FortressIsland #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast
Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
Links in the notes 1
Transcript
Shows are listed from Apple Podcasts' charts and directory, and Podcast Index where it is used. Every show and episode belongs to its publisher and plays from the publisher's own feed; this site hosts none of them. Explicit shows are for adult profiles only, and children’s profiles hear only children’s shows. More about this list.