LO12A - The Causes and Preparations for the Great Seige

What where the 4 causes of the great siege?

1. The Order of St John existed mainly to fight the Turks (Ottomans)

2. The Knights attacked Turkish (Ottoman) ships to capture slaves and rowers for their galleys

3. Sultan Suleiman (Sultan of Ottoman Empire) wanted revenge after regretting sparing the Knights at Rhodes in 1522

4. Maltese corsairs, under the Orders flag, attacked Turkish and Barbary ships

What were the long term preparations that took place years before in case of a siege?

1. Building new forts: Fort St. Michael, Fort St. ElmoOK

2. Strengthening existing defences: Extra fortifications around Birgu and Fort St. Angelo

What were the Immediate Preparations taken by the Order when they found out about the Siege?

1. Sent spies to Constantinople to learn about the Turkish plans against Malta

2. Called back all the Knights from Europe

3. Asked foreign rulers for help

4. Trained all able bodied Maltese to fight

5. Provisioned gunpowder and weapons

6. Stored food and water provisions

7. Sent the old and sick to Sicily for the duration of the siege

8. Poisoned the wells in the countryside

9. All the villagers had to head to fortified towns for shelter when Turks were sighted

10. Asked Pope and other Catholic rulers to send money, weapons, fighting men and food provisions

Why were already existing in Bormla demolished during the siege?

So as not to serve as shelter for the Turks

Why was a cavalry force kept at Mdina during the Siege?

To harass the Ottoman camp situated at Marsa.

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