il-Vitorja
Saturday, 8 September 2007 by Jacob TomawToday is Victory Day in the island nation of Malta. This commemorates two events in Maltese history, neither involves falcons.
First, in 1565, Malta was under siege for nearly 4 months. The siege began 18 May and “was the climax of an escalating contest between the Spanish and Ottoman empires for control of the Mediterranean.” Although outnumbered, on 8 September the Knights Hospitaller’s forces of nine thousand forced out the 40,000 Turks.
Second, in 1943, Italy surrendered to the Allies. Malta lies just south of Sicily and one can imagine the relief of this British colony, especially after there had been another siege. Tomorrow is also a related anniversary from 1943 in Maltese and world histories because the Italian fleet surrendered to Ike on Malta.