Jean de Valette's Heroic Defense at the Great Siege of Malta
In May 1565, an Ottoman fleet sought to capture Malta, under the command of Grand Master Jean de Valette, aged 70, who had previously fought at Rhodes in 1522. The defenders comprised thousands of Knights, European troops, and Maltese militia. De Valette strengthened Grand Harbor, particularly focusing on Birgu and Senglea. The Ottomans aimed to take Fort Saint Elmo, which held out for a month before succumbing on June 23. They then bombarded Birgu and Senglea throughout July and August. De Valette motivated his soldiers during the attacks, while civilians contributed to the defense. By late August, disease and attrition weakened the Ottomans, who retreated after a Sicilian relief force arrived on September 8. This victory curtailed Ottoman expansion and led to the establishment of Valletta, named in de Valette's honor, who passed away in 1568.
Key facts
- The Ottoman armada arrived off Malta in May 1565.
- Jean de Valette was the 70-year-old Grand Master of the Order of St John.
- De Valette had fought at the Siege of Rhodes in 1522 and was captured by Ottoman corsairs.
- The defenders numbered several thousand, including Knights, soldiers, and Maltese militia.
- Fort Saint Elmo resisted for about a month before falling on June 23, 1565.
- The Ottomans shifted attacks to Birgu and Senglea during July and August.
- De Valette reportedly joined his men during an August assault on Birgu.
- A relief force from Sicily arrived in September, prompting the Ottoman withdrawal.
- The siege effectively ended on September 8, 1565.
- Construction of Valletta began in 1566, named after de Valette.
- Jean de Valette died in 1568.
- The victory halted Ottoman expansion under Suleiman the Magnificent.
Entities
Artists
- Jean de Valette
- Suleiman the Magnificent
- Matteo Pérez d'Aleccio
- Marco dell'Angolo del Moro
- Antoine Favray
- Charles-Philippe Larivière
- Titian
- Matteo Perez d'Aleccio
- Charles-Philippe Lariviere
Institutions
- Knights Hospitaller
- Order of St John
- Grand Master's Palace, Valletta
- Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
- Palace of the Grand Master, Valletta
- Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
- Palace of Versailles
- Ottoman Empire
Locations
- Malta
- Mediterranean
- Rhodes
- Sicily
- North Africa
- Birgu
- Senglea
- Fort St Angelo
- Fort St Michael
- Fort Saint Elmo
- Sciberras Peninsula
- Grand Harbor
- Marsamxett Harbor
- Mdina
- Città Vecchia
- Valletta
- France
- Amsterdam
- Netherlands
- Vienna
- Austria
- Versailles
- Mediterranean Sea
- Constantinople