Editing History of Malta (section)

==Hospitaller rule (1530–1798) ==
[[File:Deed of Donation, 1530.jpg|thumb|Deed of Donation of the islands of Malta, Gozo and Tripoli to the Order of St.&nbsp;John by Emperor Charles&nbsp;V in 1530.]]
{{Main|Hospitaller Malta}}

Malta was ruled by the [[Knights Hospitaller|Order of Saint John]] as a vassal state of the [[Kingdom of Sicily]] from 1530 to 1798.

===Early years===
[[File:Prise de Malte en 1530.jpg|thumb|''[[Philippe Villiers de L'Isle-Adam]] takes possession of the island of Malta, 26&nbsp;October 1530'' by [[René Théodore Berthon]]]]

In the early 16th&nbsp;century, the [[Ottoman Empire]] started spreading over the region, reaching South East Europe. The Spanish king [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles&nbsp;V]] feared that if Rome fell to the Turks, it would be the end of Christian Europe. In 1522, [[Suleiman the Magnificent|Suleiman&nbsp;I]] drove the [[Knights Hospitaller]] of St.&nbsp;John out of [[Rhodes]]. They dispersed to their commanderies in Europe. Wanting to protect Rome from invasion from the south, in 1530, [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles&nbsp;V]] handed over the island to these knights.

For the next 275&nbsp;years, the "Knights of Malta" made the island their domain and made the [[Italian language]] official. They built towns, palaces, churches, gardens, and fortifications, they embellished the island with numerous works of art, and enhanced cultural heritage.

The order of the Knights of St.&nbsp;John was originally established to set up outposts along the route to the Holy Land, to assist pilgrims going in either direction. Owing to the many confrontations that took place, one of their main tasks was to provide medical assistance, and even today the eight-pointed cross is still in wide use in ambulances and first aid organisations. In return for the many lives they saved, the Order received many newly conquered territories that had to be defended. Together with the need to defend the pilgrims in their care, this gave rise to the strong military wing of the knights. Over time, the Order became strong and rich. From hospitallers first and military second, these priorities reversed. Since much of the territory they covered was around the Mediterranean region, they became notable seamen.

From Malta the knights resumed their seaborne attacks of Ottoman shipping, and before long the [[Suleiman the Magnificent|Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent]] ordered a final attack on the Order. By this time the Knights had occupied the city of [[Birgu]], which had excellent harbours to house their fleet. Birgu was one of the two major urban places at that time, the other most urban place being [[Mdina]] the old capital city of Malta. The defences around Birgu were enhanced and new fortifications built on the other point where now there is [[Senglea]]. A small fort was built at the tip of the peninsula where the city of [[Valletta]] now stands and was named [[Fort Saint Elmo]].

===Great Siege===
{{main|Great Siege of Malta}}
[[File:Siege of malta 2.jpg|thumb|Capture of St.&nbsp;Elmo, 1565]]
On 18&nbsp;May 1565, [[Suleiman the Magnificent]] laid siege to Malta. By the time the Ottoman fleet arrived the Knights were as ready as they could be. First, the Ottomans attacked the newly built fort of St.&nbsp;Elmo and after a whole month of fighting the fort was in rubble and the soldiers kept fighting until they were wiped out. After this the Turks started attacking Birgu and the fortifications at Senglea but to no gain.

After a protracted siege ended on 8&nbsp;September of the same year, which became known in history as [[Great Siege of Malta]], the [[Ottoman Empire]] conceded defeat as the approaching winter storms threatened to prevent them from leaving. The Ottoman Empire had expected an easy victory within weeks. They had 40,000&nbsp;men arrayed against the Knights' 9,000, most of them Maltese soldiers and simple citizens bearing arms. Their loss of thousands of men was very demoralising. The Ottomans made no further attempts to conquer Malta and the Sultan died in the next year.

===After the siege===
[[File:Malta 250915 de Valletta 01.jpg|thumb|left|Memorial for [[Jean Parisot de Valette]] in [[Valletta]]]]
The year after, the Order started work on a new city with fortifications like no other, on the Sciberras Peninsula which the Ottomans had used as a base during the siege. It was named [[Valletta]] after [[Jean Parisot de Valette]], the Grand Master who had seen the Order through its victory. Since the Ottoman Empire never attacked again, the fortifications were never put to the test, and today remain one of the best-preserved fortifications of this period.

Unlike other rulers of the island, the Order of St.&nbsp;John did not have a "home country" outside the island. The island became their home, so they invested in it more heavily than any other power. Besides, its members came from noble families, and the Order had amassed considerable fortunes due to its services to those en route to the Holy Land. The architectural and artistic remains of this period remain among the greatest of Malta's history, especially in their "prize jewel" — the city of Valletta.

However, as their main ''[[wikt:raison d'être|raison d'être]]'' had ceased to exist, the Order's glory days were over. In the last three decades of the eighteenth century, the Order experienced a steady decline. This was a result of a number of factors, including the bankruptcy that was a result of some lavish rule of the last Grand Masters, which drained the finances of the Order. Due to this, the Order also became unpopular with the Maltese.

Indeed, in 1775, a revolt known as the [[Rising of the Priests]] occurred. Rebels managed to capture Fort St Elmo and [[Saint James Cavalier]], but the revolt was suppressed and some of the leaders were executed while others were imprisoned or exiled.<ref>{{cite web |title=Maltese Rebellion 1775 |website=World History at KMLA |url=http://www.zum.de/whkmla/military/18cen/malta1775.html |access-date=1 March 2015}}</ref>