Hurricane Rescue 1565: Legend of Malta

For the Muslim world in the Middle Ages and early modern times, the Crusaders from Europe were like a group of abominable flood beasts. But even more annoying are the illegally reinforced structures of these crusaders and knights.

For the Muslim world in the Middle Ages and early modern times, the Crusaders from Europe were like a group of abominable flood beasts. But even more annoying are the illegally reinforced structures of these crusaders and knights.

 

In the 13th century, these crusaders were forced to demolish many of their illegal buildings along the coasts of Palestine and Lebanon, and in turn guerrillad to Rhode Island, across the sea from Turkey. 

When the illegal buildings of Rhode Island were torn down by the newly emerging Ottoman Empire, the members of the hospital knights on the island were transferred to Malta, an important island in the middle of the Mediterranean.

 

This is how the story of this article started.

Nail households that retaliate against society

 

Since the headquarters of the Knights of the Hospital moved to the island of Malta in 1530, they began their own revenge against the society. 

Every year, paddle sailing ships are dispatched to attack merchant ships across the Mediterranean. The vast sea area from Maghreb on the coast of North Africa to the magnificent Levant was their crime area. 

The targets of the Knights are not only Muslims but also Christians, especially the Venetians who made a fortune by trading with Muslims.

 

Because of this, it is not only the Ottoman Empire, who protects itself as a protector of the Muslim world, but also dislikes them. 

Even some Christian countries that can also form alliances do not wait to see them. But these gossips and white eyes can't stop their non-mainstream life.

 

Familiar with the Western set, they have long been accustomed to the motto of life with both hands. 

While thinking about the big news on the opposite side, I have to criticize the other party. And because the ministry is small, they often run faster than anyone after committing the crime.

 

On June 4, 1564, the gang of pirates of revenge society finally made a big news along the coast of Greece belonging to the Ottoman Empire. 

The commander of the Knights Fleet, Romgar, took his little brothers and captured the Ottoman sultan Sultana. The ship was loaded with goods worth 80,000 Ducat, and there were two noble passengers on board. 

The Cairo Region Manager of the Ottoman Empire and a 107-year-old woman, who was the nanny of a Sudanese daughter. 

The Knights naturally packed up the boat and ran away. They also tied up the Cairo regional manager and the 100-year-old woman.

At this time, Suleyman the Great, the master of the Ottoman Empire, finally couldn't sit still. He immediately took out the Koran, the basic law of the Muslim world, and announced that he would forcibly demolish the knights of the Knights on the island of Malta.

 

Suleyman the Great with a gorgeous crown

Of course, the more important reason is that the island of Malta has a very high price in the Mediterranean region. 

What's more, Sulaiman himself commanded the Ottoman Empire Rhode Island Dismantling Office in 1521, and achieved remarkable achievements. Now he wants to be brilliant again.

 

 

 

Ottoman territory in the heyday

In 1564, Suleiman, who was already in his 70s, was obviously unable to continue to command the front line. 

He has enough manpower and equipment for the new demolition office:

 

6000 Ottoman Guards

 

More than 300,000 soldiers from all over the empire

 

8000 temporary workers responsible for support

 

They can use 62 artillery pieces including mega cannons, 100,000 rounds of ammunition, 2,000 tons of gunpowder, a large number of muskets and ammunition, helmets and armor, and countless bows and arrows.

 

The head of the demolition team is Mustapha Pasha, and the deputy captain Pia Lipasa. There is also a technical advisor, the pirate Turgut from Maghreb.

 

The illegal buildings they need to demolish are almost all over the island of Malta. The biggest fortress of Birgu is the headquarters of the village knight of the hospital knights, surrounded by walls with bastions and deep trenches. Across the sea, there is a fortress called Senge. 

On the island there is also the small castle of Sant’Angelo, the head office of the Knights.

 

General map of Malta

The Ottoman Demolition Office needs to come here not far away to shovel out all these illegal buildings that are horns.

 

Love between rubble

 

Seizure of Malta

On May 18, 1565, the Ottoman demolition team landed in Malta. As soon as the demolition team leader Mustafa set foot on the beach, he set out to smash the demolition shovel towards Fort St. Elmo. 

But after several unsuccessful offenses, the Ottomans could only continue to siege the fortress. 

During the siege, the Turkish sharpshooter showed great power. These elite guards, who could hide for five or six hours in a row, could kill 30 defenders in one day, and even the relative nephew of the general manager of the Knights killed them.

 

Time is life. The progress originally planned by the Ottoman engineering team within 4 days was finally delayed for a month. Missing the combat season means defeat. 

Tens of thousands of Ottoman soldiers attacked Fort St. Elmo in turn, and the Ottoman gunners used artillery to bombard the city defense overnight despite the danger of bombing. Finally, on June 23, the fort of St. Elmo was demolished.

 

General layout of the Battle of Malta

Then the Ottomans launched an attack on Bilgu and Sengl. The garrison supplies are scarce. In addition to the supply of dark bread and wine, other foods such as cheese and fruit have disappeared from the recipe. 

The Ottomans are even more pitiful, and although they seem to be more prepared for supplies, they are at great risk of crawling out of the trench attack every day, and dysentery and fever plague the Ottomans like flies. 

The continuous autumn rain made the nail households and the demolition team frown, and the military camp was already equivalent to a large dormitory of migrant workers.

 

Where there is suffering, there is a passion. At this time of pain, a rare humanity flashes in this barren land of Malta, where the seeds of love take root. The soldiers on both sides of an embankment developed special emotions for the suffering side. 

On August 31, a Turkish imperial guard took the risk of being sniped and climbed out of the trench to deliver a cucumber wrapped in handkerchief to his pagan friends.

 

By the end of August, the Ottoman demolition team had lost one-third of their employees due to the equatorial heat.

 

 

Spaniard paddle sailing warships and Phalanx infantry

In September, the Ottoman demolition team had lost almost half of its people. The remaining half of the people had been suffering under the wall for several months, and their exhaustion was low. Nail households on the island of Malta had also reached their limit, with little gunpowder and food left. 

At this time, the Knights finally hoped for the stars and the moon, and the Spanish King who came to the rescue.

 

One of the most famous rich second generations in Europe, King Philip II of Spain sent a large wave and sent 60 Christian paddle sailboats carrying 10,000 Christian soldiers.

 

On September 11, 10,000 Christian soldiers landed on the island of Malta under the command of the Sicilian region and the commander of Alvaro. Captain Mustafa, who was afraid of President Suleyman’s punishment, did not take the time to evacuate his soldiers. 

Instead, he wanted to take advantage of Christian reinforcements to come from afar and annihilate them before he had recovered his strength. As a result, the Ottoman Demolition Brigade collapsed in front of the famous Spanish phalanx. 

The victory of the Battle of Nadim allowed the Spaniards to complete this 16th century hurricane rescue.

 

Maltese nail households for the rest of their lives

With its courage and perseverance, the Knights of Malta insisted on the rescue of the Spaniards and finally won the war. They defeated a much larger number of people than them, and their resources and firepower were far superior to their Ottoman Empire. Their illegal buildings were able to develop in this village in the city for another three centuries.