Podcasts · The Story of Malta: The Fortress Island of the Mediterranean — Fexingo History
The Galleys of the Knights: Money, Muscle, and the Sea
· 8:38 · S4 E190
Episode The Galleys of the Knights: Money, Muscle, and the Sea
In 1530, the Knights of St. John received Malta as a gift from Emperor Charles V—but the island was barren and poor. To survive, they turned to the sea. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how the Knights built a formidable galley fleet that raided Ottoman shipping, enslaved thousands, and turned Malta into a naval powerhouse. From the Capitano delle Gaglere to the buonavoglia, from the forzati to the corso, they uncover the economics and brutality behind the Knights' maritime empire. Learn how these sleek, oared warships—propelled by muscle and desperation—funded the Order's grand hospitals and fortifications, and how the Battle of Lepanto in 1571 reshaped their fortunes. It's a story of courage, cruelty, and cold calculation on the Mediterranean's most contested waters.
#KnightsOfStJohn #GalleyShips #MediterraneanHistory #NavalWarfare #BattleOfLepanto #OttomanEmpire #Corso #Corsairing #Slavery #16thCentury #MaltaHistory #GrandHarbour #CapitanoDelleGaglere #Buonavoglia #Forzati #UluçAli #HolyLeague #FexingoHistory
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