2. Malta (1565)
In 1522 Suleiman the Magnificent ejected the Knights Hospitaller from Rhodes after a six month siege. Eight years later the Order were granted Malta. While the Order were initially disappointed with the small island, it was soon transformed into a naval base and one of the most strategically important points on the Mediterranean. The corsair Turgut Reis and Ottoman admiral Sinan led a dual assault of the island in 1551, but, after a few days, Turgut broke off and took the citizens of neighbouring island Gozo into captivity instead. The Knights were also driven out of Tripoli, which was major base for the Barbary pirates. With another Ottoman invasion expected, the Grand Master, Juan de Homedes, strengthened Fort Saint Angelo and constructed another two forts. In 1559, Philip II of Spain led the largest naval expedition in 50 years to drive the pirates from Tripoli. Despite having 14,000 men and 54 galleys, it turned into a disaster, and, at the Battle of Djerba, half of the Christian ships were sunk or captured. The Ottomans fleet consisted of 193 vessels and estimates rate them as having between 20-40,000 troops. On the other hand, only 7,000 Knights were defending the island. One mistake Suleiman had made was splitting control between Mustafa Pasha, Piyale Pasha and, when he arrived, Turgut. The Ottomans began the bombardment of St. Elmo, one of the new forts. It took a week for artillery to destroy the fort. On June 23 the Turks seized the fort and killed the 1,5000 men defending. Turgut was among the 6,000 Ottomans who died in taking the fort. The Turks had the European monarchs afraid. There are arguments that the Ottoman forces were stretched too thin and the Spaniards could have taken Malta back and others that claim they were prepared to attack through Italy. The Ottomans attempted a double attack, with the corsairs assaulting Fort St Michael and 1,000 Janissaries launching a sea attack against the promontory. The operation failed when five cannons managed to destroy the vessels transporting the Janissaries, killing over 800 of the troops, and relief forces helped stop the corsairs. The Turks bombarded Birgu and Senglea with 65 siege guns the most sustained bombardment in history up to that point and prepared for the final assault. Once the attackers were over the wall...they retreated. The cavalry commander Captain Vincenzo Anastagi had attacked the unprotected Turkish field hospital, massacring the wounded. The Ottomans, thinking relief had arrived for the Knights, broke of the siege. More and more sieges were attempted, but, each time details aren't so clear the Knights held them off. The Ottomans were prepared to leave, having lost one third of their men. Don Garcia, Viceroy of Sicily, landed with 8,000 men and charged at the retreating Turks. It was a massacre, and, on September 11, the siege was over and the Ottomans had gone home. The victory had an influence on European kings. Seven years later the Holy League defeated the Ottomans at the Battle of Lepanto one of the biggest sea battles ever.