Determined to defend Qormi territory against the invasion of the Ottomans in1565, parish priest Dun Ġwann Cilia joined the battle but was beheaded and thrown into the Grand Harbour.

This is one of the theories behind his disappearance at the end of the Great Siege 450 years ago. His headless corpse was washed ashore at Vittoriosa and identified from a defect in his pelvic area. A document on electing a new parish priest attests to his death.

Dun Cilia is one of the protagonists of the Great Siege and will feature in one of Heritage Malta’s largest exhibitions, opening at the President’s Palace in Valletta in September. The exhibition, which follows a series of outreach activities by Heritage Malta this summer, will include at least 200 items, mainly from Malta but also Russia, Italy, Austria and the UK.

The feisty, one-eyed Ascanio della Corgna helped fight off the Ottomans as a field marshal. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

They include a book of prayers for the Maltese, published on orders from Queen Elizabeth in 1565. The exhibition will take place between September 5 and December 6 in several rooms of the palace, including the chapel and the Grand Master’s bedroom, which have never been opened to the public.

Visitors will also be hosted to a multi-sensory experience in the Throne Room, where the frescoes telling the tale of the Great Siege will come to life. The final part – the epilogue of the siege – will be displayed in the dining room.

The siege lasted three months, three weeks and three days, with help finally arriving on September 7. One of the 10,000 Christians who came to fight the Ottomans was field marshal Ascanio della Corgna, exhibition senior curator Emmanuel Magro Conti explained.

Della Corgna, who was related to Pope Julius III, was known for his feistiness, which landed him in jail. He was released to participate in the Great Siege and a portrait of this one-eyed soldier will be on display at the exhibition.

Only the best were recruited for the fight, Mr Magro Conti said, adding that Della Corgna was even singled out by name on maps depicting the siege. He is believed to have killed so many people that his sword’s handle was dripping with blood, as witnessed by Francesco Balbi.

Joseph Abela brings vessels back to life through scale models, including this Great Carrack Sant'Anna, which will also be on display at the exhibition. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

The aim of the exhibition, however, is not just to provide information about the battle of 450 years ago but to explain the after-effects of this war of religion.

Head curator Godwin Vella noted that this victory put Malta on the map and convinced the Knights to settle down here.

But September 8 also left a mark on the Maltese and to date, many refer to the Great Siege as intrinsic to the Maltese identity. In fact, one of the exhibits, loaned from the Qormi parish, will be the Malta Victory Statue (L-istatwa ta’ Malta Rebbieħa).

This allegory of a victorious Malta, common in several localities, participates in one of the band marches during the weeklong local festas.

Meanwhile, the sword and dagger of Grand Master Jean Parisot de Valette at the Louvre in France will not form part of the Great Siege exhibition.

CEO Kenneth Gambin told this newspaper that Heritage Malta had not requested to borrow these two items as it was discussing bringing the dagger over in two years’ time when Malta holds the EU presidency seat.

The sword, he said, was in a state of conservation and could not be transported. Details about the loan of the dagger will be finalised next year.

For more information about Heritage Malta’s Great Siege exhibition, please visit the web site www.heritagemalta.org.