Knights vs Ottomans: The Great Siege of Malta

The Great Siege of Malta in 1565 saw the Ottoman Empire, under Suleyman the Magnificent, send a vast army to capture the island, which was held by the Knights of St. John. The siege was one of the most ferocious of the 16th century, with relentless bombardments and desperate close-quarters fighting. Heritage Malta curator Kirsty Grech joins Dan Snow at Fort St Angelo, the Knights' headquarters, to recount the story. The episode explores how the defenders held out against overwhelming odds, and why the outcome was pivotal for the balance of power in the Mediterranean.