Bravery against invaders through the ages

1429: the siege of Mdina

In September 1429 a Hafsid fleet of about 70 ships, carrying some 15,000 to 18,000 men, landed on Malta and besieged the walled city of Mdina. The garrison of Catalan, Sicilian and Maltese soldiers, joined by about 300 local militiamen, held the city and the invaders never took it. They plundered the island instead, sacking the suburb of Rabat and carrying off between 3,000 and 4,500 people as slaves, before leaving in early October. Each side claimed a victory, but Mdina's walls had held.

1551: the loss of Gozo

In July 1551 an Ottoman force landed on Malta, briefly besieged Mdina and plundered villages, then attacked Gozo. The Castello was bombarded for two days before its garrison gave in. Between 5,000 and 7,000 people, most of the island's population, were taken into slavery. Some were later ransomed or freed, but most never returned. The loss of so many Gozitans is still remembered.

1565: the Great Siege

From 18 May to 8 September 1565 an Ottoman army attacked Malta. The defenders were about 500 Knights of St John and around 6,000 foot soldiers, among them Maltese militia, while civilians helped build and repair the defences.

Fort St Elmo held out until 23 June, at the cost of more than 1,500 defenders killed. On 15 July about 1,000 Janissaries crossed the water to attack Senglea in around 100 boats, and were beaten back. Birgu came under an estimated 130,000 cannonballs. A relief force of about 8,000 landed on 7 September and the Ottomans withdrew within days. The victory was celebrated across Europe, and the Knights went on to build Valletta.

1614: the raid on Żejtun

On 6 and 7 July 1614 an Ottoman fleet of 52 galleys, turned back at Marsaxlokk, landed 5,000 to 6,000 men at St Thomas Bay in Marsaskala. They burned Żejtun and the villages around it while the inhabitants fled to the fortified towns. The Knights, their cavalry, a militia of some 6,000 to 8,000 men and local villagers drove the raiders back to their ships, sinking one galley and capturing another. It was the last major Ottoman attack on Malta.

1798 to 1800: the Maltese rise

Anger at the French looting of church property led to a popular uprising on 2 September 1798. Within days thousands of French soldiers were driven back into Valletta. The rebels, led by Emmanuele Vitale and Canon Francesco Saverio Caruana, numbered around 10,000 irregular fighters, and with the Royal Navy blockading the harbours the siege lasted two years. Food ran short and disease spread among the civilians, with estimates of about 20,000 deaths. The French surrendered on 4 September 1800 and Britain took over the islands.

1919: Sette Giugno

On 7 June 1919 riots broke out over the cost of living. British troops suppressed them and four people were killed. The riots and the response to them strengthened feeling against colonial rule, and 7 June is now a national holiday.

1940 to 1943: the Second World War

From June 1940 to November 1942 the islands were besieged by Italian and German air and naval forces. About 3,000 bombing raids dropped some 6,700 tons of bombs on the Grand Harbour area alone, making Malta one of the most heavily bombed places of the war. About 1,300 civilians were killed and some 30,000 buildings destroyed or damaged. By May 1941 nearly 60,000 people had left the towns for the countryside.

The Royal Malta Artillery guarded the Grand Harbour, and dockyard workers and about 14,600 civilian volunteers helped with the defence. In April 1942 King George VI awarded Malta the George Cross "to bear witness to the heroism and devotion of its inhabitants". It still appears in the corner of the Maltese flag.

In August 1942 the Santa Marija convoy (Operation Pedestal) fought its way through with fuel and food. Only five of its fourteen merchant ships reached the Grand Harbour, including the tanker Ohio, and more than 500 sailors and airmen were killed.

Remembered today

Victory Day on 8 September recalls the end of three sieges: 1565, 1800 and 1943. A regatta of traditional boats is held in the Grand Harbour. Malta won independence on 21 September 1964, and on 31 March 1979, now Freedom Day, the last British forces left. The Siege Bell Memorial in Valletta honours those who died defending the islands in the Second World War.