September 9, 1565
The Times of the Knights
Great Siege Over
The Turkish armada swarmed over the walls of Birgu and captured Malta yesterday, overwhelming the Knights of St John, despite the landing of the Gran Soccorso.
The successful take over of the Birgu fortifications meant that the Ottoman army managed to beat off the Spanish reinforcements which arrived too late for the knights.
By the evening, the Turks were in complete control of the Grand Harbour and the countryside. Mdina is expected to surrender in the coming days for lack of food.
Meanwhile, outside Birgu, cart-cadings were a common sight, with Maltese people waving the Turkish flag, making the victory sign with their fingers and shouting Allahu Akbar. From their donkey carts people could be heard shouting: “We needed a change hux!”
Ottoman Admiral Dragut, addressing a meeting Tar-Rebħa from the fortifications of St Angelo, promised peace and prosperity. He also said he had found plans – while rummaging in the Gran Master’s desk – for Mount Sceberras to be turned into another city.
“From the plans I can tell that this new city would look like one big, ugly cheese vat. We’re having none of that,” he said.
September 9, 1565
Malta Knight
Grandmaster’s Last Wish
Standing against the doorway of his prison cell, with his mouth pressed against the crack of the door, the beaten Grandmaster of the Order of St John whispered his dying wish to this newspaper: “Please remember me as La Vallette,” he pleaded with tears in his eyes. “I had this nightmare last night that someone will start calling me ‘De Vallette’. I tried my best... to win the siege... I truly did... I don’t deserve... a change of... name,” he said hoarsely.
His arch-enemy Dragut, is expected to finish him off later today.
September 9, 1565
The non-Independent Malta
“Tad-downuts haw”
People were celebrating the end of the siege by eating pieces of fried dough last night. The innovative food was the brainwave of foot soldier Ġanni Spiteri l-Lewża, who got the idea while perched on the St Angelo bastions last week, throwing buckets of boiling oil.
“I had a bit of dough in me pocket – was gonna go and bake it at the end of my shift – hadn’t had bread in weeks. But the dough fell in the bucket with boiling oil. No way was I gonna waste it, man. I fished it out and ate it... u ghidli x’inti tiekol eh!”
Aware that things were not going well for the knights, he packed up his day job and set up a stall by the Ottoman’s camp, selling fried bread which he named Għaġina tal-Lewża (dough nut).
September 9, 2015
The Times of Turkish Malta
“It’s in the national interest”
Malta yesterday celebrated its 450 years as part of Turkey by getting its own international telephone dialling code. Up till now, calls to Malta still had to be routed via Turkey.
“Malta is still part of Turkey, but this move was in the national interest,” a top government official told this newspaper yesterday.
Earlier this year, the council also tried to obtain an internet domain for the island. Malta falls under the Turkish second-level domain .mt.tr. However, this promptly fell on deaf ears as very few of the 40,000 inhabitants have internet access, with most preferring to play backgammon or selling kebabs to British tourists.
The Admin council has been working hard to modernise the island and move away from the concept that it is merely a garrison island for Turkey similar to Northern Cyprus.
“As Maltese islanders, we can only go to the mosque and pray that one day, things will improve,” said a council member.
September 9, 2015
The non-Independent Malta
Tad-downuts celebrates 450 anniversary
A record-breaking huge doughnut was yesterday fried in the pjazza of the capital city of Birgu to commemorate the 450th anniversary of the popular doughnut snack.
“My great great-great-great-great-great- great-grandfather, Giovanni Spiteri, was a man with a vision,” his descendant Yuhan Spiteri said. He described how Mr Spiteri was considered the best chef in Malta and that the minute Admiral Dragut landed on the island he engaged him in his service.
“It is a well-known fact that the Ottomans won because they were so deliciously and nutritiously well fed, it’s all thanks to my grandpa,” he said.
The shape of the doughnut represents the Turkish crescent moon, he explained. “After you’ve taken a bite of course.”
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