Puneet Varma (Editor)

Fort Saint Michael

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Type
  
Built
  
1552–1581

Materials
  
Owner
  
Government of Malta

Past commander
  
Condition
  
Part of base survives

Built by
  
Order of Saint John

Opened
  
1581

Material
  
Limestone

Fort Saint Michael httpsphotostravelblogorgPhotos110479503659

Fate
  
Partially demolished, 1921

Similar
  
Fort St Angelo, Santa Margherita Lines, Fortifications of Senglea, Fort Tigné, Cottonera Lines

Fort saint michael


Fort Saint Michael (Maltese: Forti San Mikiel) was a fort in the land front of the city of Senglea, Malta. It was built in the 1550s, and played a significant role in the Great Siege of Malta of 1565. Following the siege, it was rebuilt as Saint Michael Cavalier (Maltese: Kavallier ta' San Mikiel), and was completed in 1581. The cavalier was partially demolished in the 20th century, but part of its base still exists.

Contents

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Construction and history

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In 1551, the Ottomans attacked Malta and later invaded Gozo. This prompted the Order's Grand Master, Juan de Homedes y Coscon, to strengthen the defences of the island. Two new forts were needed, one on the Sciberras Peninsula, and one on the smaller peninsula then known as Isola di San Michele, which was formed by Dockyard Creek and French Creek in Grand Harbour.

Fort Saint Michael Ft St Michael built in 1553 by the Knights of St John on Malta

The first stone of the fort on l'Isola was laid on 8 May 1552 by de Homedes himself. The fort was built to a design by the military engineer Pedro Pardo d’Andrera. The second fort, located on the Sciberras Peninsula, was called Fort Saint Elmo.

Fort Saint Michael 18bigjpg

The fort was extended to a fortified city named Senglea by Grand Master Claude de la Sengle during the Knights' preparations for the anticipated Great Siege of Malta. The siege eventually came in 1565, and St Michael was one of three forts defending the Knights stronghold in Grand Harbour, along with Fort St Angelo and Fort St Elmo. The latter fell, but Fort St Michael and Fort St Angelo both withstood the siege. Fort St Michael was severely damaged, as it had been the scene of some of the most desperate fighting of the siege. It withstood 10 assaults from the Ottoman attackers.

Fort Saint Michael Knights of Malta Senglea Isla

The fortifications of Senglea was rebuilt after the siege, and the redevelopment continued until 1581. Fort St. Michael was converted to a cavalier, consisting of a tower with a casemated interior, which had a terrace platform with ten embrasures.

Destruction

Fort Saint Michael Fort Saint Michael Wikipedia

St. Michael Cavalier was largely dismantled in 1921 to make way for a school. A small part of the structure's lower section was retained and was used as the base of a clock tower.

Today, the bastion at Senglea Point, which is known as "the Spur", is often mistakenly referred to as Fort Saint Michael, although the fort was actually located at the opposite end of the city.

References

Fort Saint Michael Wikipedia