How did the Knights of Malta defend the islands during the Ottoman siege of 1565?

During the 1565 Siege of Malta, the Knights Hospitaller successfully defended the island through strategic preparation and resilient combat tactics. Anticipating an attack, Grand Master Jean Parisot de Valette strengthened fortifications and positioned heavy artillery in key locations, most notably at Fort Saint Elmo.1

The defense relied on several critical maneuvers:
* Strategic Baiting: De Valette gambled that the Ottomans would target Fort Saint Elmo first, allowing the Knights to inflict heavy losses on the invaders while stalling their progress.1
* Defensive Fortification: The Knights utilized the heavy artillery of Fort Saint Angelo and Fort Saint Michael to repel repeated land and sea assaults.1
* Audacious Counter-attacks: When the Ottomans neared success in August, a small force of knights launched a surprise raid on the Ottoman camp. This maneuver misled the Ottoman commander, Mustafa Pasha, into believing reinforcements had arrived, causing him to retreat and lose his tactical advantage.1
* Siege Warfare: The defenders successfully destroyed Ottoman siege towers, preventing a breakthrough until a Christian relief force arrived, forcing an Ottoman withdrawal.1