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Changes: Siege of Malta (1429)

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| caption = The city of [[Mdina]] as it is today (it has undergone many modifications since the 15th century)
  
| caption = The city of [[Mdina]] as it is today (it has undergone many modifications since the 15th century)
 
| date = September 1429
  
| date = September 1429
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| place = [[Mdina]], [[Malta]], [[Kingdom of Sicily]]
 +
| place = [[Mdina]], Malta, Kingdom of Sicily
 
| coordinates = {{coord|35.886003|N|14.403017|E|source:wikidata|display=title}}
  
| coordinates = {{coord|35.886003|N|14.403017|E|source:wikidata|display=title}}
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| map_type =
 
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| map_relief =
 
−
| latitude =
 
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| longitude =
 
−
| map_size =
 
−
| map_marksize =
 
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| map_caption =
 
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| map_label =
 
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| territory =
 
 
| result = Maltese victory
  
| result = Maltese victory
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| status =
 
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| combatants_header =
 
 
| combatant1 = {{flagicon image|Hafsid Flag - Tunisia.svg}} [[Hafsid dynasty|Hafsid Kingdom]]
  
| combatant1 = {{flagicon image|Hafsid Flag - Tunisia.svg}} [[Hafsid dynasty|Hafsid Kingdom]]
 
| combatant2 = {{flag|Kingdom of Sicily}}<br>{{flagicon image|Unofficial Flag of Malta (pre-1943).svg}} [[Maltese people|Maltese civilians]]
  
| combatant2 = {{flag|Kingdom of Sicily}}<br>{{flagicon image|Unofficial Flag of Malta (pre-1943).svg}} [[Maltese people|Maltese civilians]]
 
| commander1 = {{flagicon image|Hafsid Flag - Tunisia.svg}} Kaid Ridavan
  
| commander1 = {{flagicon image|Hafsid Flag - Tunisia.svg}} Kaid Ridavan
 
| commander2 = Unknown
  
| commander2 = Unknown
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| units1 =
 
−
| units2 =
 
 
| strength1 = 18,000 men
  
| strength1 = 18,000 men
 
| strength2 = 4,000 soldiers<br>16,000&ndash;18,000 civilians
  
| strength2 = 4,000 soldiers<br>16,000&ndash;18,000 civilians
 
| casualties1 = Unknown
  
| casualties1 = Unknown
−
| casualties2 = Many killed<ref name=maltesecross>{{cite book|last1=Castillo|first1=Dennis Angelo|title=The Maltese Cross: A Strategic History of Malta|date=2006|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=0313323291|pages=36-37|url=https://books.google.com.mt/books?id=i5ns5LNtoiUC&pg=PA37&lpg=PA37#v=onepage&q&f=false}}</ref><br>3,000 enslaved
 +
| casualties2 = Many killed<ref name=maltesecross>{{cite book|last1=Castillo|first1=Dennis Angelo|title=The Maltese Cross: A Strategic History of Malta|date=2006|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=0313323291|pages=36–37|url=https://books.google.com.mt/books?id=i5ns5LNtoiUC&pg=PA37&lpg=PA37#v=onepage&q&f=false}}</ref><br>3,000 enslaved
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| notes =
 
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| campaignbox =
 
 
}}
  
}}
   
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The '''Siege of Malta''' of 1429 was an attempt by [[Hafsid dynasty|Hafsid]] [[Saracens]] to take over the island of [[Malta]], then part of the [[Kingdom of Sicily]]. The invaders were repelled but many Maltese were killed or enslaved.
 +
The '''Siege of Malta''' of 1429 was an attempt by [[Hafsid dynasty|Hafsid]] [[Saracens]] to take over the island of Malta, then part of the Kingdom of Sicily. The invaders were repelled but many Maltese were killed or enslaved.
   
 
==Background==
  
==Background==
−
By the fifteenth century, the Maltese islands had been completely [[Christianization|Christianized]], and had just been freed from feudalism in 1426. At the time, Malta had a population of about 16,000 to 18,000 people.<ref>{{cite web|title=History of Malta - The Middle Ages|url=http://www.maltesering.com/history_the_middle_ages.asp|website=Maltese Ring|accessdate=20 February 2015}}</ref>
 +
By the fifteenth century, the Maltese islands had been completely Christianized, and had just been freed from feudalism in 1426. At the time, Malta had a population of about 16,000 to 18,000 people.<ref>{{cite web|title=History of Malta - The Middle Ages|url=http://www.maltesering.com/history_the_middle_ages.asp|website=Maltese Ring|accessdate=20 February 2015}}</ref>
   
−
Malta's defence consisted of an [[Crown of Aragon|Aragonese]] army, as well as 300 Maltese ''Dejma'' soldiers. More soldiers were rallied and about 4,000 men took up arms against the Hafsid invaders.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Pirates|url=http://knowmalta.webs.com/page10.htm|website=knowmalta.webs.com|accessdate=20 February 2015}}</ref>
 +
Malta's defence consisted of an army, as well as 300 Maltese ''Dejma'' soldiers. More soldiers were rallied and about 4,000 men took up arms against the Hafsid invaders.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Pirates|url=http://knowmalta.webs.com/page10.htm|website=knowmalta.webs.com|accessdate=20 February 2015}}</ref>
   
 
==Siege==
  
==Siege==
−
In September 1429, an army of about 18,000 [[Hafsid dynasty|Hafsid]] [[Saracens]] led by Kaid Ridavan arrived in Malta from [[Tunisia]]. They wanted to capture the islands as a post for further conquests. The Hafsids first attacked the capital city of [[Mdina]]. After three days of fierce fighting, they left the city, looting the other towns on the way. At one point, the Augustinian monastery in [[Rabat, Malta|Rabat]] was captured and destroyed by the invaders.<ref name=575anniv>{{cite news|last1=Cauchi|first1=Mark|title=575th anniversary of the 1429 Siege of Malta|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20040912/letters/575th-anniversary-of-the-1429-siege-of-malta.112708|accessdate=20 February 2015|work=[[Times of Malta]]|date=12 September 2004}}</ref>
 +
In September 1429, an army of about 18,000 [[Hafsid dynasty|Hafsid]] [[Saracens]] led by Kaid Ridavan arrived in Malta from Tunisia. They wanted to capture the islands as a post for further conquests. The Hafsids first attacked the capital city of [[Mdina]]. After three days of fierce fighting, they left the city, looting the other towns on the way. At one point, the Augustinian monastery in [[Rabat, Malta|Rabat]] was captured and destroyed by the invaders.<ref name=575anniv>{{cite news|last1=Cauchi|first1=Mark|title=575th anniversary of the 1429 Siege of Malta|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20040912/letters/575th-anniversary-of-the-1429-siege-of-malta.112708|accessdate=20 February 2015|work=Times of Malta|date=12 September 2004}}</ref>
   
−
Throughout the siege, 3,000 Maltese inhabitants were captured by the Hafsids and were taken as prisoners, while many others were killed. The rulers of Sicily subsequently encouraged immigration to Malta to replace the diminished population.<ref name=maltesecross/> The siege devastated Malta, and its effects were felt for a number of years afterwards.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Laspina|first1=S.|title=Outlines of Maltese History|date=1950|publisher=A. C. Aquilina & Co.|location=[[Malta]]|page=56|edition=5}}</ref>
 +
Throughout the siege, 3,000 Maltese inhabitants were captured by the Hafsids and were taken as prisoners, while many others were killed. The rulers of Sicily subsequently encouraged immigration to Malta to replace the diminished population.<ref name=maltesecross/> The siege devastated Malta, and its effects were felt for a number of years afterwards.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Laspina|first1=S.|title=Outlines of Maltese History|date=1950|publisher=A. C. Aquilina & Co.|location=Malta|page=56|edition=5}}</ref>
   
−
According to local legends, [[Saint George]], [[Paul the Apostle|Saint Paul]] and [[Agatha of Sicily|Saint Agatha]] helped the Maltese during the siege.<ref>{{cite news|title=New stamp set features paintings of St George|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20030422/local/new-stamp-set-features-paintings-of-st-george.151722|accessdate=20 February 2015|work=[[Times of Malta]]|date=22 April 2003}}</ref> St Paul appeared on a white horse with a dagger in his hand to defend the Maltese. In 1682, [[Mattia Preti]] was commissioned to paint a painting of this event. The painting can now be found in a chapel within [[St. Paul's Cathedral, Mdina|St Paul's Cathedral]] in Mdina.
 +
According to local legends, [[Saint George]], [[Paul the Apostle|Saint Paul]] and [[Agatha of Sicily|Saint Agatha]] helped the Maltese during the siege.<ref>{{cite news|title=New stamp set features paintings of St George|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20030422/local/new-stamp-set-features-paintings-of-st-george.151722|accessdate=20 February 2015|work=Times of Malta|date=22 April 2003}}</ref> St Paul appeared on a white horse with a dagger in his hand to defend the Maltese. In 1682, [[Mattia Preti]] was commissioned to paint a painting of this event. The painting can now be found in a chapel within [[St. Paul's Cathedral, Mdina|St Paul's Cathedral]] in Mdina.
   
 
==Legacy==
  
==Legacy==
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==References==
  
==References==
 
{{Reflist}}
  
{{Reflist}}
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{{Wikipedia|Siege of Malta (1429)}}
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{{Malta topics}}
  
   
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Malta, Siege}}
  
{{DEFAULTSORT:Malta, Siege}}

Revision as of 21:44, 12 March 2016

Siege of Malta
Aerial view Mdina, Malta
The city of Mdina as it is today (it has undergone many modifications since the 15th century)
DateSeptember 1429
LocationMdina, Malta, Kingdom of Sicily
Coordinates: 35°53′10″N 14°24′11″E / 35.886003°N 14.403017°E / 35.886003; 14.403017
Result Maltese victory
Belligerents
Hafsid Flag - Tunisia Hafsid Kingdom Bandiera del Regno di Sicilia 4 Kingdom of Sicily
Unofficial Flag of Malta (pre-1943) Maltese civilians
Commanders and leaders
Hafsid Flag - Tunisia Kaid Ridavan Unknown
Strength
18,000 men 4,000 soldiers
16,000–18,000 civilians
Casualties and losses
Unknown Many killed[1]
3,000 enslaved

The Siege of Malta of 1429 was an attempt by Hafsid Saracens to take over the island of Malta, then part of the Kingdom of Sicily. The invaders were repelled but many Maltese were killed or enslaved.

Background

By the fifteenth century, the Maltese islands had been completely Christianized, and had just been freed from feudalism in 1426. At the time, Malta had a population of about 16,000 to 18,000 people.[2]

Malta's defence consisted of an army, as well as 300 Maltese Dejma soldiers. More soldiers were rallied and about 4,000 men took up arms against the Hafsid invaders.[3]

Siege

In September 1429, an army of about 18,000 Hafsid Saracens led by Kaid Ridavan arrived in Malta from Tunisia. They wanted to capture the islands as a post for further conquests. The Hafsids first attacked the capital city of Mdina. After three days of fierce fighting, they left the city, looting the other towns on the way. At one point, the Augustinian monastery in Rabat was captured and destroyed by the invaders.[4]

Throughout the siege, 3,000 Maltese inhabitants were captured by the Hafsids and were taken as prisoners, while many others were killed. The rulers of Sicily subsequently encouraged immigration to Malta to replace the diminished population.[1] The siege devastated Malta, and its effects were felt for a number of years afterwards.[5]

According to local legends, Saint George, Saint Paul and Saint Agatha helped the Maltese during the siege.[6] St Paul appeared on a white horse with a dagger in his hand to defend the Maltese. In 1682, Mattia Preti was commissioned to paint a painting of this event. The painting can now be found in a chapel within St Paul's Cathedral in Mdina.

Legacy

Unlike the later Great Siege of Malta of 1565, the 1429 siege is not very well known, and has been called a "forgotten siege".[7] However, according to some historians, this siege was worse than the one of 1565 because the Maltese fought the invaders alone, without any foreign help.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Castillo, Dennis Angelo (2006). The Maltese Cross: A Strategic History of Malta. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 36–37. ISBN 0313323291. https://books.google.com.mt/books?id=i5ns5LNtoiUC&pg=PA37&lpg=PA37#v=onepage&q&f=false. 
  2. ↑ "History of Malta - The Middle Ages". http://www.maltesering.com/history_the_middle_ages.asp. Retrieved 20 February 2015. 
  3. ↑ "The Pirates". http://knowmalta.webs.com/page10.htm. Retrieved 20 February 2015. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Cauchi, Mark (12 September 2004). "575th anniversary of the 1429 Siege of Malta". Times of Malta. http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20040912/letters/575th-anniversary-of-the-1429-siege-of-malta.112708. Retrieved 20 February 2015. 
  5. ↑ Laspina, S. (1950). Outlines of Maltese History (5 ed.). Malta: A. C. Aquilina & Co.. p. 56. 
  6. ↑ "New stamp set features paintings of St George". Times of Malta. 22 April 2003. http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20030422/local/new-stamp-set-features-paintings-of-st-george.151722. Retrieved 20 February 2015. 
  7. ↑ "1492 - Malta's Forgotten Saracen Siege - Victory for Malta! - Victory for Europe!". https://www.stormfront.org/forum/t156472/. Retrieved 20 February 2015. 
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