Süleyman 1565: Malta as a stepping stone for Sicily, Italy and Europe?

Süleyman the Magnificent’s decision to attack Malta was taken in October 1564. By mid-January 1565, Süleyman was busy activating his contacts with all the prospective protagonists of the Malta campaign. At the beginning of February 1565 Süleyman informed Hasan Paşa, the Governor General of Algiers (Cezayir-i Garb) on the real motives behind the attack on Malta. Basically, the Knights of the Order of St John were proving to be a big thorn in the side of the Ottoman Empire since they were disrupting the trade route between Istanbul, Egypt and consequently, the rest of the Maghreb area. The island of Malta had become the headquarters of those whom Süleyman described as “infidels”, who blocked the route utilised by Muslim pilgrims and merchants in the west Mediterranean, on their way to Egypt. It also becomes quite evident, from a decree issued to the Khan of Crimea in the third decade of March 1565, that the Malta campaign was to involve so many Ottoman troops that other areas ofthe empire were to be neglected for lack of human resources. The Khan of Crimea had written to the Sultan to report on the activi­ties of the Russians in his area and to make a heartfelt plea to the Sultan...