The Great Siege of 1565 was a significant military conflict between the Knights Hospitaller and the Ottoman Empire. It took place on the island of Malta, where the Knights defended their stronghold against a massive Ottoman force led by Grand Vizier Sokollu Mehmed Pasha. The siege lasted from May to September 1565, with the Ottomans aiming to capture the strategically important island. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the Knights, under the leadership of Jean Parisot de la Valette, mounted a fierce defense. The siege ended in a decisive victory for the Knights, marking a turning point in the struggle between Christian Europe and the Ottoman Empire.