Naxxar and its fortifications

Abstract

An appreciation of the fortifications in the locality of the village of Naxxar, or of any other locality in Malta and Gozo for that matter, cannot be undertaken in isolation. The smallness of the island, coupled with its limited resources, meant that the country had to be defended as one entity. Throughout most of its long history Malta could only support a sole urban centre, and although with the coming of the knights a second one developed within the Grand Harbour area, most of the land remained basically subservient to this arrangement. Outlying districts assumed their importance, and were in tum commensurably fortified, only in relation to the role each was required to play in the defence of the whole. No particular area was fortified to satisfy local needs but only because it fitted within an overall defensive strategy. Of course, some outlying settlements did seek to protect themselves from the ever-present threat of unannounced corsair incursions with the building of the occasional tower or fortified farmhouse, but these were predominantly domestic rather than military structures. In times of great danger, occasioned by serious razzie and outright invasions, it was only within the island's city walls that the rural inhabitants could find some sort of shelter.