Suleiman the Magnificent, sultan of the Ottoman Empire andthe most powerful ruler in the world, was determined to conquer Europe. Only one thing stood in his way: the island of Malta, occupied by the Knights of Saint John, the Holy Roman Empire's finest warriors. Determined to capture Malta and use its port to launch operations against Europe, Suleiman sent overwhelming forces. A few thousand defenders in Fort Saint Elmo fought to the last man. When the Turks captured the fort, they took no prisoners, mutilating the ...
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Suleiman the Magnificent, sultan of the Ottoman Empire andthe most powerful ruler in the world, was determined to conquer Europe. Only one thing stood in his way: the island of Malta, occupied by the Knights of Saint John, the Holy Roman Empire's finest warriors. Determined to capture Malta and use its port to launch operations against Europe, Suleiman sent overwhelming forces. A few thousand defenders in Fort Saint Elmo fought to the last man. When the Turks captured the fort, they took no prisoners, mutilating the defenders' bodies. The Knights' leader reciprocated by decapitating his Turkish prisoners and using their heads to cannonade the enemy. Then the battle for Malta began in earnest.
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This is a great history of a now almost forgotten incident which was, nevertheless, one of the turning points of early modern history. With unequaled bravery a handful of Catholic Knights Hospitalers of St John (now called Knights of Malta), and the courageous inhabitants of Malta held off the mighty Turkish fleet and the militant jihadists and Jannisaries of the Ottoman Empire, and thereby inflicted the first major defeat upon the great Emperor Suleiman the Magnificent. Ernle Bradford brings to life the great leaders on both sides of the conflict and his portrait of the leader of the beseiged knights and citizens, Jean de La Vallete, is extraordinary. The book is out of print but is now more relevant than ever considering the current world situation. If you can obtain a copy by all means buy it.
