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Knights of Malta

Type Object Region Malta Time 1530–1798

The Knights of Malta (Order of Saint John of Jerusalem) received the Maltese Islands from Charles V in 1530 and used Mediterranean fortresses and sea…

Timeline

  1. 1565–1566Birgu (Vittoriosa) · Grand Harbour areaAfter the Ottoman army besieged Malta for nearly four months in 1565 and withdrew, the Order under Grand Master Valette urgently repaired Fort St. Elmo, Fort St. Angelo, and other fortresses, tallied casualties, and reorganized knight and militia units in preparation for long-term defense.
  2. 1566Sciberras Peninsula · VallettaGrand Master Valette presided over the founding of the city of Valletta on the Sciberras Peninsula to commemorate the Great Siege victory and build a more secure capital; Pope Pius IV and Spain's Philip II provided funding, and the Italian military engineer Francesco Laparelli was responsible for the city's defensive planning.
  3. 1568–1570Maltese Islands · MaltaConstruction of Valletta's walls and harbor works continued, while the Order's fleet patrolled the Malta Channel to intercept Ottoman merchant ships and pirates; on the eve of the Ottoman invasion of Cyprus in 1570, Malta became a key node for the Holy League to assemble reinforcements and gather intelligence.

Sources