Podcasts · The Story of Malta: The Fortress Island of the Mediterranean — Fexingo History

Malta's Knights: The Naval War and Barbary Rivals

15 Sep 2026 · 9:14 · S5 E232

While the Great Siege of 1565 is often cited as Malta’s defining moment, the island’s survival was equally secured by a relentless, decades-long naval war waged from the harbors of Birgu and Valletta. This episode explores the aggressive corsair campaigns led by Grand Master Jean de Valette and his successors against the Ottoman Empire and Barbary Coast states. We examine the strategic use of the 'gagliard' ships, the capture of enemy vessels, and the complex economics of prize money that fueled the Order’s treasury. Through the lens of figures like Giovanni Battista Castiglione and the notorious Raïs Uluç Ali, we uncover how Malta transformed from a vulnerable outpost into an active offensive power, challenging the myth of passive defense and revealing the brutal reality of Mediterranean maritime politics.

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