Here are a couple of perhaps little known facts about the main protagonists of the Siege of Malta thatreaders might find interesting.

Grandmaster de Valette and Dragut knew each other long before the siege. In fact Dragut had met de Valette when the latter was a galley slave after being captured by Turkish captain Kurst Aly. Dragut managed to obtain some small privileges for himself.

Some years later, de Valette escaped his captors and was on board the vessel that picked Dragut up when the Turks were defeated by Admiral Giannettino Doria during a naval battle. Dragut was forced to man the oars until he was ransomed in 1543 by Barbarossa, who paid 3,000 crowns for his release.

Also, contrary to popular belief, Dragut was not killed by a bullet but was struck in the head by flying debris from the impact of a cannon ball shot from fort St Angelo. He died on June 23, 1565.

Admiral Piali was not of Turkish origin but born a Christian. He was found as a small boy wandering in a field outside Belgrade in 1530 by the besieging Turkish army. Turkish leader Suleiman took a liking to the boy and took him into his own court. When Piali came of age he started his military career within the Turkish military where he soon progressed to higher offices.