Who built, between the 16th and the 18th century the massive fortifications in the Grand harbour of Valletta, Malta
The Spanish The French England The Knights of St. John
The knights of St. John arrived in Malta in the year 1530. In order to secure their new home against their enemies, they started to fortify the Grand Harbour. In the year 1565 the Ottoman empire attacked the knights in Malta with an estimated force of 40.000 soldiers.The knights of St. John survived the attack and succeeded in repelling the Ottomans. It was after this Great Siege that the efforts of the knights to fortify the Harbours were increased. In the year 1566 The Knights of St. John, under the leadership of their French Grandmaster Jean de Valette, started the building of the capital named after their leader "Valletta". The new fortified city dominating the two harbours,Grand Harbour of Valletta and the Marsamxetto harbour, was for a long time considered to be unconquerable. The Knights built an estimated 10.000 meters of impressive defensive walls around the two main harbours of Malta.
