The Great Siege of Malta

About The Great Siege of Malta

Marcus Bull's "The Great Siege of Malta" offers a superb new account of the legendary 1565 encounter. This Hardback edition delves into the epic struggle between the Knights Hospitaller, native Maltese, and adventurers against the formidable Ottoman armada. The book emphasizes the siege's crucial strategic importance, not just as a battle for a near waterless island, but as a pivotal moment when all eyes were on Malta, with three-quarters of the Mediterranean already under the Sultan's influence. Bull masterfully places this event within a broader, more nuanced historical context.

Far from being a simple clash of West versus East, Bull reveals the complex interests and priorities of both Süleyman the Magnificent and Philip II, who were simultaneously building vast empires elsewhere. Drawing on a wide array of eyewitness stories, Marcus Bull vividly portrays the period's brutal warfare, religious absolutism, and the grim reality of galley-slaves, alongside the era's extraordinary new discoveries and ideas. This compelling non-fiction work brings these contrasting worlds together, offering a fresh perspective on a defining moment in Maltese history.

Key Details

• Author: Marcus Bull
• Publisher: Allen Lane
• Format: Hardback, 352 pages
• Language: English
• Published: 2025
• ISBN: 9780241523650

Order from BookClub.com.mt — Malta and Gozo's online bookstore.