The Order of St. John and the defence of Gozo : 1530-1798

Abstract

The main objective of this thesis is to shed some light on how the Order of St. John, throughout its stay (1530-1798) in the Maltese islands tackled the problem of defending the small island of Gozo, at a time when the surrounding sea was infested by corsairs The Hospitallers, who accepted authority over Malta in 1530, also assumed the defence of Gozo as part of a greater defence strategy. Realizing, since the conquest of Rhodes, that survival depended on naval power, the Order was attracted to Malta because of its fine, deep harbour. The strategic position of the Maltese Islands between Italy and Africa was important for the Order, especially during the sixteenth century, when Spain and the Ottoman Empire intensified their warfare for control over North Africa. As these islands threatened the lines of communications between Constantinople and North Africa, they provided the Hospitallers with a raison d'etre. The Knights continued their struggle against their deadly enemy, the Turk, as they fought to protect their subjects, their homeland and Christian Europe. This often meant harassing Muslim fleets, fortresses and towns. In retaliation, Muslims often raided the coastal areas of the Maltese Islands. When the Hospitallers came to Malta, they found a local structure of defensive features, such as the militia, coastal watch-posts and a central point of refuge (the Gran Castello) These had originated in medieval times but the Knights continued to rely upon this system for most of the sixteenth century. The fortifications in the Maltese islands were in sharp contrast with those they had erected during their sojourn in the Dodecanese Islands. Mdina, the fortified medieval capital town, the Castrum Maris, inside the Grand Harbour and the Castello in Gozo were the sole defences behind whose walls the inhabitants could rush for refuge in times of danger.