Headquarters Gozo in 1551 and repopulation of the island

based on The Resettlement of Gozo after 1551 of Stanley FIORINI

The Siege of Gozo in 1551

During the 15^th and 16^th centuries, the Maltese islands were subjected to frequent Corsair incursions. Already in 1410, Gozo had been the victim of raids.

The arrival of the Hospitallers in Malta in 1530 intensified the Turkish Corsair raids. The historian Giacomo BOSIO reported numerous Corsair incursions in 1533, 1540, 1541, 1544, 1545, 1546, 1547 and 1550.

But it was the invasion of 1551 that constituted the most significant attack. It was during this raid, led by Dragut and SinanPasha, that the island was practically depopulated. Dragut had lost a brother during an attack on Gozo in 1544 and probably wished to take revenge. The attack on Gozo lasted 3 days from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 July.

The figures vary, but practically the entire population of the island was taken aboard Turkish ships. The prisoner figures vary between two hypotheses:

1. 700 men and 5 to 6,000 women and children, except for 40 men, old and weary.
2. All except 500 men, elderly or Gozitans at sea or travelling

In all cases, between 6,000 and 7,000 slaves ended up on Turkish markets, particularly that of Constantinople. The island of Gozo was depopulated. It was therefore necessary to bring it back to life…

The repopulation of Gozo after 1551

This repopulation was achieved from several sources:

1. Gozitans who had managed to escape the raid
2. Gozitans who had returned from slavery, after buying back their freedom
3. Foreigners (Table V – mainly Sicilians)
4. Maltese from the main island (Table VI - 1/6 to 6/6)

The contribution of foreigners

The contribution of Maltese from the main island (1/6)

The contribution of Maltese from the main island (2/6)

The contribution of Maltese from the main island (3/6)

The contribution of Maltese from the main island (4/6)

The contribution of Maltese from the main island (5/6)

The contribution of Maltese from the main island (6/6)

Published with the kind permission of Stanley FIORINI.

1. Maltese surnames, Joëlle Pawelczyk
2. Aspects of maltese surnames, Mario CASSAR
3. Weddings in Malta in the eighteenth century, Aurore Verié
4. Le sultan Djem et sa prétendue descendance maltaise, de Nicolas VELIN
5. Le légendaire Eugène Matteo d'Armenia, de Loïck PORTELLI
6. Jacques et Marguerite de Pellegrino, de Loïck PORTELLI
7. Headquarters Gozo in 1551 and repopulation of the island (excerpts), Stanley Fiorini
8. Marriage in Malta in the late eighteenth century (excerpts), Frans CIAPPARA
9. The three CUMBO brothers, by Georges GANDER and Nicolas VELIN
10. Nicola SOLTANA, the founder, by Nicolas VELIN
11. Le maréchal Davout est-il Maltais ?, de Loïck Portelli
12. Qui est Marguerite d'Aragon ?, de Loïck PORTELLI
13. Les Racines Maltaises de Gérald DARMANIN