On this day in 1551, a significant event unfolded as a Turkish fleet, led by Sinan Pasha and the renowned corsair Turgut Reis, made its way into Marsamxett Harbour. Their objective was to capture Malta and Tripoli from the Knights of St. John.

Turgut Reis, also known as Dragut, had assumed leadership of the Barbary corsairs after the death of Hayreddin Barbarossa. Backed by a formidable Turkish fleet provided by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, they set sail in the summer of 1551.

Their initial attacks on Birgu and Mdina were thwarted by the unexpectedly strong defences, prompting them to focus their attention on the more vulnerable island of Gozo.

Following a brief siege, the Gozo Citadel fell on July 26th, leading to the enslavement of nearly the entire population of around 6,000 people. Tripoli was also captured by Dragut by August 15th, where he was subsequently appointed governor. Although some captives managed to secure their freedom, the majority faced a harsh fate as slaves.

The Knights of St. John made efforts to repopulate Gozo, but it took approximately 150 years to restore the population to its pre-1551 levels. Furthermore, until 1637, Gozitans were legally required to seek refuge within the Citadel during the night due to the persistent threat of pirate attacks.

This event marked a significant chapter in the history of the Mediterranean, reflecting the power struggles and consequences faced by the Maltese and its neighbouring islands.