The Great Siege of Malta took place from May to September 1565, when the Ottoman Empire, led by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, attempted to capture the island of Malta. The island was defended by the Knights of St. John, a military order that had established a stronghold there. The siege involved intense battles, with the Ottomans aiming to control the strategically important Mediterranean island. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the Knights, under the leadership of Jean Parisot de la Valette, mounted a fierce defense. After months of fighting, the siege ended in victory for the Knights, marking a significant turning point in the struggle between Christian Europe and the Ottoman Empire.