The Project Gutenberg EBook of Knights of Malta, 1523-1798, by R. Cohen

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Title: Knights of Malta, 1523-1798

Author: R. Cohen

Release Date: April 15, 2004 [EBook #12034]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KNIGHTS OF MALTA, 1523-1798 ***

Produced by Julie Barkley, Bill Hershey and PG Distributed Proofreaders

KNIGHTS OF MALTA

1523-1798

BY R. COHEN LATE SCHOLAR OF WADHAM COLLEGE, OXFORD

1920

THE LOTHIAN PRIZE ESSAY FOR 1920 (UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD)

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

SETTLEMENT AT MALTA, 1523-1565

Departure from Rhodes--Residence in Italy--Settlement in
Malta, 1530--Condition of the Mediterranean--The
corsairs--Turkey--Fortification of Malta--Loss of English
"Langue"--Enterprises of the Order--Solyman decides to attack Malta

CHAPTER II

THE SIEGE OF MALTA, 1565

Preparations--Size of opposing forces--Siege of St. Elmo--Arrival of
Dragut--Capture of St. Elmo, June 23--Death of Dragut--Siege of main
fortresses--Great losses on both sides--Arrival of reinforcements from
Sicily--Turks evacuate island

CHAPTER III

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE ORDER OF ST. JOHN

Classes in the Order--Langues--Chapter-General--Councils--Grand
Master--Bishop of Malta--Finances--Justice--Criminal Council--Court of
Egard--The Hospital

CHAPTER IV

THE DECLINE, 1565-1789

Decadence of Turkey--Knights become anachronism--Valetta
built--Fortifying the island--Disturbances in the Order--Quarrels
with different Powers--Treatment of the Maltese--Buildings in
Valetta--Papal interference--Naval operations--Independence of the
Order

CHAPTER V

THE FALL, 1789-1798

Attacks on the Order during the French Revolution--French
estates confiscated--Poverty of the Order--Tsar Paul I.--French
schemes--Napoleon appears off Malta--Condition of the island--Its
capture--Dispersion of the Order

APPENDIX I.

APPENDIX II.

BOOKS CONSULTED

NOTE ON THE AUTHORITIES

KNIGHTS OF MALTA

CHAPTER I

SETTLEMENT AT MALTA 1523-1565.

On January 1, 1523, a fleet of fifty vessels put out from the harbour
at Rhodes for an unknown destination in the West. On b