Vale of tears : an analysis of Piri Reis’ maps and descriptions of Malta and their relevance to the early history of hospitaller Malta

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyse some aspects of the work about the geography of the Mediterranean Sea of the famous Turkish admiral, Hadji Muhiddin Piri Ibn Hadji Mehmed, later known as Piri Reis. Piri Reis remained famous in history for two achievements. The first involves his two maps of the world. The second is the compilation of a portolan book entitled Kitab-l Bahriye. His work Kitab-l Bahriye (or 'Book of the Seas') has been the subject of a number of studies, which have raised more questions than they have answered. This is due to the conflicting information given by different authors on Piri Reis' work and his diverse endeavours. In this paper I will be analysing some of the most important and relevant information published on this admiral's work. However, this should be considered more as a work-in-progress paper than as a definitive study on the relevance of Piri Reis' maps of Malta, both in the original manuscript as well as in contemporary or later manuscript copies of the aforementioned Kitab-t Bahriye manuscript. Furthermore, this work will draw results from published works and electronic sources. Finally, it will also seek to tap new archival sources whose relevance to the study of Maltese history has never before been explored.