Ottoman-Habsburg Wars (1521-1791)
Images from eight wars fought between 1570 and 1718
The Siege of Malta, 1565 (Malta, independent political entity) 35°55ʹ00ʺN 14°26ʹ00ʺEPlate VIII: the siege of Birgu
published 1582Etching and engraving; printed on paper; mounted on paper (Mount Type A); gilt edges left, bottom and right | 32.3 x 44.6 cm (image, neatline and sheet) | RCIN 721033.h
A view of the Turkish assault on Birgu and the castle of St Angelo on 6th July 1565.
The text describes how when the Turks learned that a relief force had entered Birgu, many of them followed the same route as the relief force. They encountered a dozen soldiers including Commander Gravina, the Prior of Lombardy who was so weighed down by his armour that he could not follow the others. As soon as the Turkish General, Mustapha Pasha realised that the relief force had entered Birgu, not knowing how few they had been, he almost died of rage and shame, but consoled himself that he would soon be master of it all. He ordered that the largest battery, consisting of 16 cannons, two basilisks and two murlacchi, should be set up in the place where the relief force had landed.
See RCIN 721033.a for further information and literature and further reading.
Matteo Perez d'Aleccio (1547-1616) (publisher) [bottom right, above text, in a box:] IN ROMA·APPRESSO·MATTEO PEREZ D'ALLECCIO [the second ‘C’ is engraved within the first]
Subject(s)
Army-Ottoman EmpireWatermark: Three-runged ladder in shield, six-pointed star above [see Woodward nos 244-254]
Condition: mount slightly creased; some brown discolouration; surface dirt; bottom left corner of mount is cut off
32.3 x 44.6 cm (image, neatline and sheet)
cropped (platemark)
41.3 x 54.9 cm (mount)
Printed title:
ASSEDIO E BATTERIA' AL BORGO E ALLA POSTA DI CASTIGLIA ADI·VI·DI LVGLIO ·[top]
Printed title:
Come S'auiddero gli Turchi che era entrato soccorso al Borgo ... [bottom, below neatline]
Printed title:
1582 [bottom left, above text, in a box]
Printed title:
FOG.o SESTO [bottom left]
Additional text:
[top right, in a cartouche, a key, A-I, K-R, with text:] Subito chel' Bascia' Mustafa' generale di terra intese ...
Annotations:
George III heading: Malta
Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [bottom right, black pencil:] I/37h.
George III 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°26ʹ00ʺE)
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. 2673
Page revisions
4 June 2024
Current version
