Section # 9
A Visit to the Armory
In 1530 the Knights of the Order of St. John came to Malta. The Turks, after forcing them out of the island of Rhodes, wanted to destroy the Order once and for all.
In May 1565 they came to Malta in their thousands on their galleons to accomplish their plan. Then Malta’s population was very small and all Maltese took shelter in the old city of Mdina and also in few fortified palaces on the island. The Knights along with those Maltese who lived near the Grand harbor gathered in the three cities which were surrounded by bastions which included Fort St. Angelo and Fort St. Michael. Few Knights were posted in Fort St. Elmo which is situated at the very tip of Valletta, then Mount Sciberras. These guarded the entrance to the Grand harbor.The Turks anchored their ships in Marsamxett Harbor and landed. Soon they surrounded the three cities and the attacks began.
Thus the four month long Siege of Malta took place and on the 7th September the Turks, thinking that help was arriving from Sicily, left Malta never to come back again. Many lives were lost on both sides but the Knights and the Maltese under Grand Master La Valette succeeded to resist.
In the Armory, one can see several authentic weapons and pieces of armory which was worn by the Knights during the fighting.
The photos in this section (except the last one) are published with the courtesy and permission of Pen Of Life Photography ( www.penoflife.com ). I am thankful and congratulate them for their wonderful professional work.