title: The great siege of Malta (1565) and the Istanbul State Archives
author:  Arnold Cassola 
description: In this work the author reproduces and comments on sixteen Turkish decrees connected with the 1565 Siege. The author then goes on to reproduce a short western account of the major events that happened during the Great Siege. The final part of this publication is devoted to the description of and commentary on The Malta Campaign Register, the manuscript recovered by Arnold Cassola in Istanbul.
zlib_text:   
  Produced by Julie Barkley, Bill Hershey and PG Distributed Proofreaders
  
   **KNIGHTS OF MALTA**
  
   **1523-1798**
  
   **BY R. COHEN LATE SCHOLAR OF WADHAM COLLEGE, OXFORD**
  
   **1920**
  
   **THE LOTHIAN PRIZE ESSAY FOR 1920 (UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD)**
  
   **CONTENTS**
  
   **CHAPTER I**
  
   **SETTLEMENT AT MALTA, 1523-1565**
  
  Departure from Rhodes--Residence in Italy--Settlement in Malta, 1530--
  Condition of the Mediterranean--The corsairs--Turkey--Fortification of Malta--
  Loss of English "Langue"--Enterprises of the Order--Solyman decides to attack
  Malta
  
   **CHAPTER II**
  
   **THE SIEGE OF MALTA, 1565**
  
  Preparations--Size of opposing forces--Siege of St. Elmo--Arrival of Dragut--
  Capture of St. Elmo, June 23--Death of Dragut--Siege of main fortresses--Great
  losses on both sides--Arrival of reinforcements from Sicily--Turks evacuate
  island
  
   **CHAPTER III**
  
   **THE CONSTITUTION OF THE ORDER OF ST. JOHN**
  
  Classes in the Order--Langues--Chapter-General--Councils--Grand Master--Bishop
  of Malta--Finances