Historical entertainment at St Elmo

Fort St Elmo is the first landmark visitors see from aboard cruise liners entering Grand Harbour. The fort's history goes back to the early 15th century when it was a small lookout defence post at the tip of Mount Sceberras. The city of Valletta was built on this highland between Grand and Marsamxett harbours immediately after the Great Siege of 1565.

Fort St Elmo was built before the city, that is very soon after the arrival in 1530 of the Sovereign Military and Hospitaller Order of St John. Fort St Elmo has a chequered history during wars as well as in peacetime.

The Great Siege of 1565

The navy and army of janissaries of Soleyman the Magnificent invaded Malta in 1565. Their first attack was on St Elmo. It was a most bloody, fierce, albeit short siege as the garrison was very heavily outnumbered. Still their resistance was very stiff and determined. Suffice it to say that before the fort was taken, although there was not one man left able to put up a fight, not less than 8,000 men of the enemy forces were casualties.

Indeed, the commander of the Turkish invading force is reputed to have said during preparations to attack Fort St Angelo: "If the daughter (referring to St Elmo) cost us so much how much would the mother - St Angelo - cost?"

The chapel of St Ann within the fort has a special niche in the historic defence of St Elmo. It provided spiritual consolation and help to the defenders during the ferocious Turkish attack from the ground higher than the fort - that was a defect in its construction.

It houses a wood high relief sculpture of St Ann, with her daughter the Blessed Virgin Mary and the child Jesus. This unusual sculpture was brought to Malta from Rhodes, the last stronghold of the Order before settling in Malta.

Another important episode in the fort's story is the Insurrection of the Priests. The reign of Grand Master Ximenes proved to be one of great discontent among the clergy and people. Don Gaetano Mannarino, a simple unwarlike priest, duped one of the guards of Fort St Elmo. He was accompanied by a small number of priests and followers. Their occupation of the fort was short lived. They were captured and imprisoned in the dungeons at the back of the fort's Piazza d'Armi.

In Guardia

In Guardia is the historical re-enactment by a troop in period uniforms of the 17th century. It takes place every Saturday. It is a colourful display of the inspection held by the Grand Bailiff. It is a sort of trooping the colours with marching, drill and the firing of cannon at midday.

The uniforms worn by the contingent are of the early period of the Knights' rule. It is incorrect that during pageants depicting life during the rule of later grand masters they were uniforms that are anachronistic to the period. However, what sort of saves this error is that the uniforms are colourful and the marching and drill are smart and very interesting.

Allarmè

The revolt of the Maltese against the French only six months after Bonaparte conquered Malta without the Order giving a fight is represented by a battle enacted by the Historical Enactment Company.

The episode represented every fortnight under the title Allarmè is in effect a 'battle' between Napoleonic troops and I Cacciatori Maltesi, a native regular regiment of the times.

Second World War

The Battle of Valletta is a glorious page in the history of Fort St Elmo. The Italian E-Boat attack in 1942 against Grand Harbour was repulsed. The dawn attack was detected by the gunners of St Elmo and Ricasoli.

The coastal defence guns and the fighters of the Royal Air Force won an outright victory. Not one of the attacking squadron of E-Boats and man propelled torpedo boats called maiali by the Italian Navy returned to base.

Apart from this seaward attack, St Elmo also distinguished itself in the aerial bombardment of Grand Harbour and the surrounding area. The initial attacks by the bombers of the Regia Aeronatica were followed by the more violent and damaging dive bombers of the Luftwaffe's Stukas.

It might be too expensive to mount a pageant describing and narrating all the events of Upper and Lower St Elmo as hinted briefly above, besides many other such as the Police Academy at present occupying Upper St Elmo.

It is submitted that a well written, directed and produced son et lumiere will do justice to the importance and merits of the interesting history of Fort St Elmo.