Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The Siege of Malta (May 18 – Sept 8, 1565) pitted the Ottoman Empire (Suleiman the Magnificent, 40,000+ troops, 150+ ships) against the Knights of St. John (Grand Master Jean Parisot de Valette) on the strategic Mediterranean island.
Background: Knights, based in Malta since 1530, harassed Ottoman shipping. Suleiman launched a massive invasion.
Siege: Ottomans landed, built siegeworks, assaulted the Knights' fortifications in Valletta. Despite being outnumbered, the Knights repelled every assault and launched counterattacks.
End: A Spanish relief fleet arrived in September; Ottomans withdrew.
Significance: Halted Ottoman expansion in the Mediterranean; celebrated as a symbol of resilience.