2541) The Great Siege of Malta - 1565, Republic of Malta: "Knights of the Past Silver Coin Series": Second Silver Bullion Coins in the denominations of 5 and 10 Euro brought out in a collaborative arrangement with Germania Mint on behalf of the Central Bank of Malta: Date of Coin issue: 24.10.2022:
Links:
The "Knights of the Past"Coin Series:
Knights of the Past Coin Series:
"Knights of the Past" are the second commemorative coins created through close cooperation between the Central Bank of Malta and Germania Mint.
The series of unique bullion coins in a modern way refers to the traditions of the Order of Malta and its fortunes in the history of Europe.
The Great Siege of Malta - 1565:
The Coins depict the Knights of Malta in confrontation with the invaders, during the Great Siege of Malta in 1565 – the most important battle in the island’s history and one of the key ones for Europe.
The Great Siege of Malta (Maltese: "L-Assedju l-Kbir") occurred in 1565 when the Ottoman Empire attempted to conquer the island of Malta, then held by the Knights Hospitaller. The siege lasted nearly four months, from 18.05.1565 to 13.09.1565.
The Knights Hospitaller had been headquartered in Malta since 1530, after being driven out of Rhodes, by the Ottomans, in 1522, following the Siege of Rhodes.
The Ottomans first attempted to take Malta in 1551 but failed.
In 1565, Suleiman the Magnificent, the Ottoman Sultan, made a second attempt to take Malta.
The Knights Hospitaller, who numbered around 600 together with approximately 6,100 footsoldiers, (including militia, servants, galley slaves) 900 soldiers from the Spanish Empire, 800 soldiers from the Italian states outside the empire, withstood the siege and repelled some 45,000 of the Ottoman Turkish invaders.
This victory became one of the most celebrated events of sixteenth-century Europe, to the point that Voltaire said: "Nothing is better known than the siege of Malta."
The siege was the climax of an escalating contest between the Christian alliances and the Islamic Ottoman Empire for control of the Mediterranean, a contest that included the Turkish attack on Malta in 1551, the Ottoman destruction of an allied Christian fleet at the Battle of Djerba in 1560, and the decisive Ottoman defeat at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571.
The number of casualties among the number of invaders is estimated to be some 25,000 to 35,000 casualties (including sailors).
The knights lost a third of their number, and Malta lost a third of its inhabitants. Birgu and Senglea were essentially levelled. Still, some 9,000 defenders had managed to withstand a siege of more than four months in the hot summer, despite enduring a bombardment of some 130,000 cannonballs.
Jean de Valette, Grand Master of the Knights of Malta, had a key influence in the victory against the Ottomans with his example and his ability to encourage and hold people together.
The siege contributed to the eventual erosion of the European perception of Ottoman invincibility, although the Mediterranean continued to be contested between Christian coalitions and the Muslim Turks for many years.
This example had a major impact in bringing together the kings of Europe in an alliance against the previously seemingly invincible Ottomans; the result was the vast union of forces against the Ottomans at the Battle of Lepanto six years later.
Such was the gratitude of Europe for the knights' heroic defence that money soon began pouring into the island, allowing de Valette to construct a fortified city, Valletta, on Mt. Sciberras. His intent was to deny the position to any future enemies. De Valette himself died in Buskett in a hunting accident next to the Verdala Palaces in 1568.
The Commemorative Coins:
The inscriptions are - "KNIGHTS OF THE PAST" (on the upper periphery) and the denomination "10 EURO" or "5 EURO" towards the centre right.
The 10 Euro Silver Coin has selective gold plating.
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The "Knights of the Past" Silver Bullion Coin Series:
Santosh Khanna has commented:
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DeleteVinod Khurana has commented:
ReplyDelete"Very interesting information."
Thank you so much, Vinodji.
DeleteVijaylaxmi Shukla has commented:
ReplyDelete"Really great post 🙏👌"
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