The Great Siege of Malta: Knights Hospitaller vs the Ottoman Empire

The mid-16th century was a rough time to be living in the Mediterranean, to say the least. Especially if you lived in a coastal city, you would have definitely seen your fair share of conquest, battles, and the usual, violent ransacking. And most of this could be traced back to a single source: The Ottoman Empire, ruled at the time by Suleiman the Magnificent, a man whose younger portrait you’re unlikely to forget thanks to his absolutely epic headwear.

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[Xelatheshep]

As a maltese man I want to thank you Simon from my heart for covering the Great Siege of Malta. It brings me a tear of joy that such an event is spoken about.

[resileaf]

This is one of those pivotal, history-changing battles. Where one who seemed invincible gets defeated and completely changes the power dynamics of the period.

[mggrech]

This siege is the one battle every Maltese person is taught about since the day we are born. It is the ultimate underdog story and it makes me so proud to see it covered. This siege was pivotal because it caused the Knights to reconsider staying on the island and to consider it home rather than a miserable temporary base whilst longing for Rhodes. It also led to a gradual turning point regarding the expansion of the Ottoman empire, although the battle of Lepanto was the definitive final nail in the coffin. Centuries later, Christian empires started trading with the Ottomans, leading to a decrease in the importance of the Knights, who were primarily concerned with being anti-Ottoman, leading to the decline of the Knights and the eventual take-over of Malta by Napoleonic forces in 1798.

[joelmicallef]

I was in the Maltese islands only a few weeks ago and saw the fortresses and the grand harbour where this carnage took place. The ottomans had no chance. Truly remarkable; I recommend everyone to go and see this fortress island - truly a unique place to see

[agateplanet]

I would LOVE to see you now cover Fortress Malta when it stood up to the Nazis against all odds and NEVER surrendered. That island is a very special place. As a British person I feel bound in love and respect for the place, it's people and it's astonishing history. Reasonable folks can learn so much from that land. If you have never visited it then you should go. It is a gateway to the ages and the future. It is beautiful. I hope it keeps alive the spirit of the Knights and is never conquered. It is a beacon and an outpost and a boundary. Go learn there and feel alive and know why.

[ignitionfrn]

0:10 - Chapter 1 - The sea on fire
3:10 - Chapter 2 - Desperate times
5:40 - Chapter 3 - The siege begins
11:55 - Chapter 4 - Fiercest fighting
17:00 - Chapter 5 - The defenders of europe

[Aurthas]

My grandparents are from Malta always happy to hear some history of that little island in the middle of the Med

[Chrisxerri]

Finally!!! Thank you Simon from the bottom of my Maltese heart!!

[grandadmiralzaarin]

The two commanders at Fort St Elmo had been so badly wounded that they couldn't stand, so they had chairs brought to the breaches in the walls and their swords placed across their laps before the final assault took the fort.
This entire siege is filled to the brim with acts of valor and depravity on both sides.

[wjrjbnjd]

If AoE 3 taught me anything it’s this epic quote during the first level “we are the knights of St.John, we do not surrender”

[leedemarco]

Thank you, Simon & team. i am Maltase, and highly appreciate this. Our little Island has a very diverse history, since we are in the centre, and the island has numerus natural ports, we have been invaded by basically everyone, thou not everyone succeeded. We even have buildings older than Stone henge.😁

[kurtcami]

Just a few correction as a maltese person. Jean de valette was actually called Grand Master jean claude de la valette. The town named after him was actually planned by him with an architect from the time. The small port town was actually a small fishing town (im from there) and the name was birgu which is one of the oldest town in the country. After the siege, they nicknamed the town victoriosa meaning victorious. But the rest of the vid is well detailed.

[sbsstorytelling]

I'd only known thr name of this battle, so thank you, Simon & team! Similar to someone else who commented, this battle greatly changed the future of Europe and the world. Had the Ottomans been able to win this, there's no telling how different things would be now.

[andyyang]

Once again covering a conflict I've never heard of!! Love all your channels, thank you Simon and team!

[zackcaruana]

Malta gets such little attention. Thank you Simon!!

[Hillbilly]

Simon, one of my "favorite" battles from the Ottoman period. Studied this from both sides. LaVallette might have been old, but that was one plucky fellow. The Ottomans were excellent brave soldiers especially the Janissaries. Fanatical for the Sultan they were, St. Elmo and bad luck doomed the expedition. Very interesting situation and forces. Course, the Knights wouldn't have such a battle if the Maltese hadn't done all the heavy lifting. ie. Building and rebuilding the defenses, not to forget pitching in on the walls. To paraphrase Churchill, never had so few owed so much to so many. Cheers.

[isaacmatthewazzopardi]

Thank you for giving a platform about a battle me and my fellow countrymen still pride ourselves on!

[jamieforsythe]

You should really do The Battle of COP Keating. The most recent Medal of Honor Recipients were in that battle and it’s really good way to look at how higher ranked soldiers can make really bad mistakes but how foot soldiers can still hold off a significantly larger force.

[georgesciriha]

What a story! What a history! What a victory! Congratulations Simon for your excellent narrative on the Great Siege of Malta. We Maltese are used to overcoming overwhelming odds, as we did in the other great siege of WWII, thanks of course to another brave nation Britain and the Allies. Excellent!

[prepimio]

thank you Simon for covering Malta. I always appreciate when one takes interest in the rich history of my small country <3