The Great Siege: Malta 1565
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Suleiman the Magnificent, the most powerful ruler in the world, was determined to conquer Europe. Only one thing stood in his way: a dot of an island in the Mediterranean called Malta, occupied by the Knights of St. John, the cream of the warriors of the Holy Roman Empire. A clash of civilizations was shaping up the likes of which had not been seen since Persia invaded Greece. Determined to capture Malta and use its port to launch operations against Europe, Suleiman sent an armada and an overwhelming army. A few thousand defenders in Fort St. Elmo fought to the last man, enduring cruel hardships. When they captured the fort the Turks took no prisoners and mutilated the defenders' bodies. Grand Master La Vallette of the Knights reciprocated by decapitating his Turkish prisoners and using their heads to cannonade the enemy. Then the battle for Malta began in earnest: no quarter asked; none given. The Siege of Malta is not merely a gripping tale of brutality, courage, and tenacity, but the saga of two mighty civilizations struggling for domination of the known world.
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20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
"The Great Siege" is a fascinating study of the events surrounding the attempt in 1565 by the Moslem Turks to conquer Malta ,drive out the Christian Knights of St John and establish an Islamic hegemony over the Mediterranean ,with a view to using the island as a base for further expansion into Southern Europe. The book is written almost in the style of a novel with the narrative unfolding around the central characters Jean de la Vallette, the Knight's Grandmaster and Mustapha Pasha, the Commander of the Turkish Army ."The Great Siege" is completely absorbing and it conveys successfully the fanaticism and heroism of the participants.I was amazed at the courage and defiance shown by the Knights and their Maltese allies as they refused to bow to the superior numbers and firepower of the Turkish invaders first at St Elmo, whose resistance was unbelievable ,then at Senglea and Birgu. For four months the Knights held on against the Turks who had thought it would have been all over within four weeks, eventually demoralising them and forcing them to return home defeated. The book gives a blow by blow account of the Siege and provides details of the strategies and tactics of the respective military commanders."The Great Siege" is a remarkable true story and, looking back, its outcome is one of the great "What If's" of history. If the Turks had taken Malta, would swathes of Southern Europe have fallen to the Moslems and led to a very different geo-political landscape than that of today ? Their defeat by "The Incredibles", La Vallette's Knights and the Maltese, stung the Turks and destroyed their aura of invincibility -and they did it on their own, with no relief from outside. "The Great Siege" is a tale of individual heroism and collective bravery, of an immense religious and cultural conflagration and of a lionhearted people preferring martyrdom and death to submission.
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Grand Master Jean de la Valette gave his name to the capital of Malta, built to fortify the island after the Turkish invasion was repelled.
Left to stand or fall on their own by the rest of the christian world, The Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem with the people of Malta put up a heroic resistance against massive odds. The turks were well led initially and extremely experienced in the reduction of great cities. That they failed was due to the intelligent and tenacious leadership of Jean de la Valette and the willingness of the knights to sell their lives in a sacred cause.
Ernle Bradford has written an engaging account of the siege and one can only marvel at the courage, heroism, not to mention fanaticism displayed on both sides.
Malta was to become very important in a subsequent war and displayed the same heroism again. That it was in a position to do so was partly due to the resilience of 540 knights, some mercenaries and a few thousand Maltese.
This book is very readable. A brilliant page in history, not so well known now, but worth investigation.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A marvellously readable book of a fascinating and pivotal episode in history. It made great holiday reading on a holiday to Malta.
It's astonishing that this isn't in print.
It's astonishing that this isn't in print.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Great Siege
I am travelling to Malta in the summer and have been there a number of times previously. I am a fan of military history and this book is one of the best I have read. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Steve
Great research book !
When I was researching my book - Siege of Faith - concerning the great siege of Malta in 1565, amongst the copious research materials I used, I needed to dig deeply and find an... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Pickwick
Please make a Film of this, Mel Gibson
Western values have again been under attack during the past 10 years from the same people who have tried to vanquish us before and who have failed. Read more
Published 7 months ago by E. G. Farrell
Chance recommendation
I sat next to a retired history professor on a plane. He recommended this book as 'not to be missed'. He was absolutely correct - it was unexpectedly riveting and very moving.
Published 10 months ago by Mandy
The Great Seige : Malta 1565
In beautifully crafted detail, the most inspiring tale of selfless determination, sheer guts, and military ingenuity you will ever read. Read more
Published 14 months ago by PaddyM
why hasn't hollywood bought the rights to this epic ???
simply the best military history book i have ever read (several times) and great to see it available again
absolutely gripping, educating, inspiring account of the 1565 siege... Read more
absolutely gripping, educating, inspiring account of the 1565 siege... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Huck Flynn
Rattling Good Read
And excellent book and a rattling good read too. I would recommend it to those who are not normally interested in military history. Read the book - and then go and visit Malta! Read more
Published 15 months ago by S. Hedges
A great book
It tells the story of the great siege very well and gives a great incite to events during the siege.
Published 16 months ago by A. M. Ward
Old fashioned, but fascinating
The distinguished (and magnificently named) Ernle Bradford both knew what he was talking about and, equally importantly, how to communicate it. Read more
Published on 11 Feb 2010 by Graham R. Hill
Great siege - great read
A fascinating and absorbing account of the life and times of all those engaged in the siege of Malta in 1565. Read more
Published on 17 Jun 2009 by Mr. Jb Dunsire
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