When the Order of St John arrived in Malta in 1530, the Maltese Islands found themselves facing a new reality. Although the population had long lived under the threat of pirate raids, these were usually occasional and mainly aimed at stealing goods. However, the presence of the Knights attracted more attention from the Ottoman rulers.
The Order acted as attacking force against Muslim powers, who reacted strongly to them. Malta began to beseen as a strategic target, and attacks that had once been rare became more frequent and dangerous.
This situation reached its peak in 1551, when a major expedition led by Dragut descended upon the Maltese Islands. After failing to capture Mdina, they turned their attention to the Citadel of Gozo. Within 48 hours, the defenders surrendered, and most of the people of Gozo was taken into slavery. On their way back, the Ottoman fleet attacked Tripoli and took it from the Knights.
These events made the Order realise that they urgently need to strengthen the islands’ defences. The existing system was no longer enough. So, in 1552, the military engineer Pietro Prato was sent to Malta to design a new system of fortifications.
Among his ideas was the building of two important forts: Fort St Elmo at the tip of Xebb-er-ras peninsula, and Fort St Michael at Isola di San Giuliani. Work moved quickly, because people feared another attack was coming. There were not enough workers, so labourers were brought from from Sicily, while repairs were being carried out on the fortifications of Birgu and Fort St Angelo.
Construction of Fort St Michael began in February 1552, and was completed by the end of the same year. It was then placed under the responsibility of Fra Giacomo des Roches. At first, the fort was built as a large, square-shaped tower, with a battery on its roof. In 1553, Grand Master Claude de la Sengle decided to strengthen the defences of the Senglea peninsula.
The work was given to the Italian engineer Niccolò Bellavanti. Within three years, the the walls across the narrow part of the peninsula were well advanced, It was decided toinclude Fort St Michael into the new defensive system being built around Senglea, also known as the Isola. As a result, the fort was changed into a cavalier and became an important part of the fortifications of Senglea.
The site of the fort was carefully chosen. It stood on a high ground overlooking Birgu and Fort St Angelo, in an area that was still undeveloped at the time. From this position, it could effectively control access to the area and help stop attacks coming from the heights of Santa Margherita, a strategic position that could directly threaten the Order’s main defences.
Fort St Michael played an important role in defending the Grand Harbour during the Great Siege of 1565. Todaywe can better understand what it looked like through the frescoes of Matteo Perez d’Aleccio in the Hall of the Grand Council at the Grand Master’s Palace.
Despite its historical importance, the fort did not survive into modern times. In the early twentieth century, it was demolished to make space for a school. This meant that one of the earliest defensivestructures of Senglea was lost. Today, the only reminder of it is the site upon which the Dockyard Clock Tower was later built.
