Perhaps not only Italy was saved by the heroic defence of Malta in 1565. Little commented upon and almost unknown, the Great Siege was in fact a turning point in history. By failing to take Malta and its important harbours which lie directly astride the central Mediterranean trade routes, the Turks could not invade Sicily which was a mere 2 day trip away by naval craft. As Bradford relates the rich and heavily agricultural island of Sicily would have served as a provisioning and military base for a Turk assault against Rome, which was of course the main objective. The Islamic Jihad wanted to efface the Christian capital.
Bradford, like Churchill, is a 'former naval person', active in various sea campaigns during World War II. But unlike Churchill who did not take much of an interest in history outside of what directly affected British interests, and imperial concerns, Bradford is a historian of the Great Siege of Malta, having studied the topic now for some 40 years. He knows what he is talking about, fluent with both second and first hand sources. His account is probably the best one volume depiction of one of history's most important events – at least if you believe that Western Civilisation is a worthwhile enterprise. Some might still feel that it is.
An army of at least 50.000 Turks and North Africans attacked Malta from May to early September of 1565. 600 Christian Knights from the hospitaller-military order of St. John's, along with 7000 Maltese civilian militia and 1500 foreign mercenaries defended the island and its 5 key fortifications including the inland capital of Mdina. The siege failed. In one of the most spectacular upsets in military history, the autocratic, militarized state of the Ottomans, possessing the most fearsome military in Europe and Asia, were defeated. 35.000 Ottoman dead littered the devastated island. The Knight's Grand Master La Valette, who is without question one of the greatest military leaders in history, and certainly a man who is at least as inspirational as Churchill if not more so [La Valette was almost 70 during the Great Siege and fought wearing plated armor beside his men, in the 100 F of the Maltese summer and he was just as eloquent and as clear sighted as the Englishman]; by September had only 250 Knights and 500 other men who could bear arms. A relief force of 8.000 men ensured that the Turks, who were already beaten and demoralized, had to flee the island – and what little remained of its infrastructure, farms, cities and water works.
Bradford rightly feels that the repulse of the Ottoman Turks in 1565 from Malta certainly saved Sicily which is less than 50 miles away, and most of Italy from Muslim domination. The Islamic Jihad has always targeted the investment of both 'Romes'. Constantinople fell to Mehmed [Turkish for Mohammed] II in 1453. One of the last wishes rendered by the founder of Islam 'Mohammed I' was to take Rum and Rome in a Muslim Jihad. Sultan Suleiman the so-called Magnificent, who like Valette was almost 70 at the time of the great siege, was very clear that the destruction of Malta and its troublesome Knightly Order of St. John, would presage a Turkish takeover of Italy. All of this as Suleiman declared, would fulfill the wishes of Islam's 'prophet', the military-political leader Mohammed.
Bradford's account is detailed, well laid-out, logical and impeccably sourced. There is no historical revisionism. The Knight's and Christianity are not blamed for the Turkish-Muslim Jihad as they would be in post-modern 'academia'. Islam is not painted as some wonderfully peaceful, exotic and sumptuous philosophy of happiness and dancing merriment, full of tolerance and grinning backslapping camaraderie between Muslim and Infidel. Quite the opposite is proposed by Bradford. The pincer movement by the Muslims was through Eastern Europe into Germany, and through Malta into Italy and Spain. Thankfully for the world, both ended in failure. Bradford calls the Great Siege a 'holy war' and indeed it was. As rendered by this book it is clear that the only way you defeat the Muslim Jihad, premised on Koranic scripture about dominating the world, and the deeds and the wishes of its founder to do the same, is through war. The Knights of Malta understood this. The Maltese militia knew this. Bradford documents this. Our PC academics, media and elite know nothing about this. Which is why the Great Siege is largely, tragically and greatly forgotten.