That was a very interesting clip. Very enlightening, historical and educational. The huge collection of armors that was used in the Great Siege of Malta in 1556 is amazing!
VERY INTERESTING & BEAUTIFUL VIDEO 🏹 ⚔️ 💣 😮 WE SHOULD BE RECLAIMING FROM THE FRENCH ALL THE TREASURES NAPOLEON "STOLE" INCLUDING LA VALETTE SWORD 🗡️ . Proset and thanks to Heritage Malta 🙏. Thanks Clare , Robert Cassar and "LT TEAM" 👏. Cheers 👍🇲🇹❤️🇪🇺™️
Hi Clare Thanks for the video - and for sharing the content. Really looking forward to a return visit to the armoury, particularly to see the edged weapons on display in the collection. Recent research on the weapons and munitions held at Dwejra Tower on Gozo (which you visited in an earlier programme in series 4) and links into the amazing collection held in Valletta. Back in the 18th century, archive records tell us that in 1770, 1785 and 1787 stock was taken of all the armament, equipment and stores held on charge by Capi Mastri of all fortifications on Gozo. In 1787, forty two such items held at 'Torri Dwejra' were listed by the then Capo Mastro, Francesco Grima. These included ; 3 Six-pounder iron guns 1 Quintale (100 kg) of Gunpowder - (Polvere di Malti) 162 Round Shot and 44 Grape Shot ammunition 3 Gun Carriages 2 Swivel Guns (Spingardi) 12 Muskets with Bayonets 550 Musket cartridges with bullet 12 Bandoliers 2 Musket Racks 3 Lanterns 1 Bronze Bell 4 sets of Rammer Rods and Sponges 2 Brass Ladles ....and finally, and somewhat curiously, 12 Spontoons The last item listed was sometimes known by the variant spelling espontoon (or as a half-pike), is a type of European pole-arm that came into being alongside the pike. The spontoon was in wide use by the mid 17th century, and it continued to be used until the mid to late 19th century. Unlike the pike, which was an extremely long weapon (typically 14 or 15 feet), the Spontoon measured only 6 or 7 feet in overall length. Generally, this weapon featured a more elaborate head than the typical pike. So why did the tower hold twelve of these edged weapons on site? where did they come from? and what did they look like? (Sources: military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Spontoon and 'The Coastal Fortifications of Gozo and Comino' by A.Samut Tagliaferro, Midsea Publications, 1983).
love it, very interesting
That was a very interesting clip. Very enlightening, historical and educational. The huge collection of armors that was used in the Great Siege of Malta in 1556 is amazing!
VERY INTERESTING & BEAUTIFUL VIDEO 🏹 ⚔️ 💣 😮
WE SHOULD BE RECLAIMING FROM THE FRENCH ALL THE TREASURES NAPOLEON "STOLE" INCLUDING LA VALETTE SWORD 🗡️ .
Proset and thanks to Heritage Malta 🙏.
Thanks Clare , Robert Cassar and "LT TEAM" 👏.
Cheers 👍🇲🇹❤️🇪🇺™️
Very nice....Language is interesting...sound known...but different, Is it Maltese language?
Hi Clare Thanks for the video - and for sharing the content. Really looking forward to a return visit to the armoury, particularly to see the edged weapons on display in the collection. Recent research on the weapons and munitions held at Dwejra Tower on Gozo (which you visited in an earlier programme in series 4) and links into the amazing collection held in Valletta.
Back in the 18th century, archive records tell us that in 1770, 1785 and 1787 stock was taken of all the armament, equipment and stores held on charge by Capi Mastri of all fortifications on Gozo.
In 1787, forty two such items held at 'Torri Dwejra' were listed by the then Capo Mastro, Francesco Grima. These included ;
3 Six-pounder iron guns
1 Quintale (100 kg) of Gunpowder - (Polvere di Malti)
162 Round Shot and 44 Grape Shot ammunition
3 Gun Carriages
2 Swivel Guns (Spingardi)
12 Muskets with Bayonets
550 Musket cartridges with bullet
12 Bandoliers
2 Musket Racks
3 Lanterns
1 Bronze Bell
4 sets of Rammer Rods and Sponges
2 Brass Ladles
....and finally, and somewhat curiously, 12 Spontoons
The last item listed was sometimes known by the variant spelling espontoon (or as a half-pike), is a type of European pole-arm that came into being alongside the pike. The spontoon was in wide use by the mid 17th century, and it continued to be used until the mid to late 19th century.
Unlike the pike, which was an extremely long weapon (typically 14 or 15 feet), the Spontoon measured only 6 or 7 feet in overall length. Generally, this weapon featured a more elaborate head than the typical pike.
So why did the tower hold twelve of these edged weapons on site? where did they come from? and what did they look like?
(Sources: military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Spontoon and 'The Coastal Fortifications of Gozo and Comino' by A.Samut
Tagliaferro, Midsea Publications, 1983).
thankyou for this detailed info! much appreciated :)