The perpetual clash of faith in the Mediterranean that reached its zenith in the mid-16th century was a deadlock of punitive expeditions carried out against coastal settlements. Inevitably, various Mediterranean Christian and Muslim communities suffered. The Ottoman and Maghrebi raid on Malta and Gozo in 1551, effectively depopulating the latter, is often seen as a black moment in Malta’s development; but it was, in fact, a retaliatory response to similar depredations effected by the Order of Saint John in North Africa. The siege of Malta in 1565 was nothing short of a resolute attempt by the Ottoman Empire to dislodge this threat, rendering safe the North African coast and exercising control over the Central Mediterranean sea lane. Defending the island was not only a necessity for the Order, which had by then become increasingly inclined to

call the island its permanent home, but also for Spain and its territories, which without Malta, would have been at the mercy of continued attacks. Thus Spain was the major contributor to the Christian defence of the island, and with its regiments followed many Italian nobles and adventurers from Italy and Sicily. These troops, together with the local militia, constituted the bulk of the Christian forces on Malta in 1565. An unintuitive source of relief came from the civilians who remained on Malta. Far from being a mere strain on the island’s limited provisions for a siege, the women and children present during the 1565 onslaught were lauded by the later histories of the Order for their direct role behind the walls and entrenchments, at times flinging rubble at the Ottoman and North African troops.