Podcasts · The Story of Malta: The Fortress Island of the Mediterranean — Fexingo History
Malta's Watchtowers: The Knights' Coastal Defense Network
· 6:21 · S4 E182
Episode Malta's Watchtowers: The Knights' Coastal Defense Network
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the network of coastal watchtowers built by the Knights of St. John to defend Malta from corsair raids and Ottoman invasions. Starting with the early Wignacourt towers in the 1610s, they delve into the systematic construction of the de Redin towers under Grand Master Giovanni Paolo Lascaris and his successor, Martin de Redin. Learn about the design—square bases, two stories, spiral staircases—and the signaling system using fires and cannon shots that could alert the entire island within hours. The conversation also covers the garrisons of two to three men, their daily life, and the towers' strategic importance in the corso economy. Later, the British adapted them for signal stations and searchlights during World War II. Today, many still stand as landmarks. This episode offers a fresh perspective on Malta's military architecture beyond the famous fortifications of Valletta.
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Transcript
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