Ottoman-Habsburg Wars (1521-1791)
Images from eight wars fought between 1570 and 1718
Siege of Malta, 1565
EL'ASSALTO GENERALE ALLA POSTA DI CASTIGLIA ADI·XXI·DI AGOSTO MDLXV
published 1582Etching and engraving; printed on paper; mounted on paper (Mount Type A); gilt edges left, bottom and right | 31.9 x 44.5 cm (image, neatline and sheet) | RCIN 721033.k
A view of the general Turkish assault on the castle of St Angelo, Birgu, on 21st August 1565.
This view shows that overwhelming forces of the Turks and the widespread destruction on the town of Birgu during the final Turkish bombardment. The Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller, de Vallette, shown here standing above his men, realising that the Turks had penetrated the fortification as far as the Post of Castille, rallied his knights with the words ‘My Knights, now is the time to demonstrate our faith and valour’. There were great losses on both sides but the Turks were eventually beaten back. At the same time, the relief cavalry came from Mdina and killed many Turks who they found at Marsa.
See RCIN 721033.a for further information and literature and further reading.
Matteo Perez d'Aleccio (1547-1616) (publisher) [bottom left, above text and neatline:] IN ROMA·APPRESSO·MATTHEO [the ‘H’ and ‘E’ are combined] PEREZ D'ALLEZIO·
Watermark: Shield with three chevrons above a wolf in circle, a crown above [see Woodward 223]
Condition: mount slightly creased; some brown discolouration; surface dirt, some offsetting, perhaps of a different print
31.9 x 44.5 cm (image, neatline and sheet)
cropped (platemark)
40.9 x 54.9 cm (mount)
Printed title:
L'ASSALTO GENERALE ALLA POSTA DI CASTIGLIA ADI·XXI·DI AGOSTO MDLXV [top]
Printed title:
Subito che il Gran Maestro intese che li Turchi gia cntrauano [sic] nella piazza di Castiglia ... [along bottom, below neatline]
Printed title:
Fo. DECIMO [bottom left]
Additional text:
[top left, in a scroll suspended by two winged putti, a key, A-I, K-T, V, X.]
Annotations:
George III heading: Malta
Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [bottom right, black pencil, erased:] II [or I]/37k.
George II catalogue entry:
Malta Ritratti della Guerra e dell’ Assedio et Assalti dati alla Isola di Malta dall’ Armata Turchesca l’anno 1565: da Matteo Perez di Allecio, 1582. 15 foglie.
Subject(s)
Malta, independent political entity (35°55ʹ00ʺN 14°26ʹ00ʺ)
Bibliographic reference(s)
M. McDonald, The Print Collection of Cassiano dal Pozzo. Part II, Architecture, Topography and Military Maps, 3 vols, London 2019, cat. no. 2675
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
