Show of Force

by Ray Agius

Title

Show of Force

Artist

Ray Agius

Medium

Painting - Oil On Canvas

Description

A Show of Force

As Dragut sailed his ships along the south-eastern coast of Malta, the Ottoman troops rejoiced. The Turks had been well aware of the approaching fleet and had been expecting his arrival for a while. His appearance was not a surprise to the Knights either; spies and captured prisoners had warned them early on that Dragut would be joining the armada.

Piali Pasha went out with his galleys to welcome Dragut when the fleet came close enough to shore. The Turkish admiral, seeking to impress the eighty-year-old revered and feared warrior, had ordered a show of strength off Fort St Elmo before sailing out in formation to greet Dragut. Unfortunately the gesture fell flat when the gunnery of his fleet had almost no effect on the walls of the fort. But worse, one of his galleys was hit by return fire and would have sunk had it not been taken in tow by the other galleys and beached farther up the coast.

Dragut�s fleet, fifteen ships of his own and thirty more belonging to other corsairs, was eventually led to the Bay of St George where they dropped anchor and his men set up camp. Once ashore, Dragut went immediately to pay his respects to Mustapha Pasha, the general of the Turkish army.

His entry into the Turkish camp was met by a burst of music, shouting and celebration. And for good reason. The Turkish army had just been reinforced with some 1,500 experienced and battle-proven corsairs led by a brilliant and audacious commander.

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April 30th, 2015

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