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Senglea
"The Unconquered City"
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editorial: my-malta.com © 2002 |
Article by Joseph Victor Rizzo |
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Senglea is the smallest of the Three Cities. At less than a mile long, this fairly new peninsula is situated in the centre of Malta's famous Grand Harbour, on the Cospicua
Historically, Senglea's geographic structure is almost cut off from the mainland by two mounts known as "L-Aeolija tal-Mitiona" (which in contemporary Maltese spelling becomes: "L-Gholja tal-Mithna" and which stands for 'Mill Hill') and "L-Aeolija ta' San Iiljan" (nowadays spelt "L-Gholja ta' San Giljan", meaning 'St. Julian's Hill').
Claude de La Sengle was elected Grand Master of the Order in 1553 and died 1557, so he never lived to see his work of fortifications completed at his beloved Senglea. The story of this city, within the 'Cottonera' walls, actually started with this Grand Master who recognized the importance of having another fortified promontory along the side of Vittoriosa against any possible attack to the Island. Fort St. Michael was inaugurated in 1553 and the defences were enhanced again in 1554 under de la Sengle who decided to implement all the works proposed by the engineer of the Order of St. John for Fort St. Michael.
As a form of thanksgiving, the inhabitants of Senglea built a "Basilica" dedicated to Our Blessed Lady of Victories "Marija Bambina". Across the frieze on the front of the Parish Church runs the inscription "Monument of the Glorious Victory of 1565". This church was bombed extensively and demolished during air raids in the Second World War, but was rebuilt between 1950-1957 and, as it had done ever since the year 1565, continued to celebrate the 8th September Victory. This feast has assumed a special significance for Malta and its people and, in a particular way, for Senglea; a feast which is proudly observed by the Maltese communities abroad as it marks the raising of the Great Siege of 1565 and the Siege of 1940-43.
While Malta's involvement in this Second Great Siege was enormous - and indeed the Maltese people played an important part in holding out till the end - however, Senglea paid the ultimate price since this old city formed part of the land embracing the Dockyard Creek. Senglea's strategic position at the centre of the Grand Harbour, Malta's most heavily bombed location during the Second World War, meant that its buildings were reduced to rubble and almost all the inhabitants had to seek refuge during the war at other parts of Malta. Senglea, to date, has new blocks of buildings and new houses replacing and hiding the scars of war.
The irony here was that buildings and tunnels that were constructed by the Knights were used by the British as housing for the Dockyard personnel or naval officers; Senglea was to house most of the naval personnel. Of course some new tunnels were cut through the fortification walls and were used as bomb-shelters by some inhabitants who retained their home at their city during the war. Obviously, the British believed that the bastions still had a part to play in modern strategy of war and made good use of them. Just to mention one, it has been said that a new tunnel connected Senglea to Marsa.
Nowadays, new blocks of buildings and new houses have replaced Senglea's war scars and each year on 8th September we celebrate, together with the Universal Church, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin. But September 8th also commemorates the heroic stand in Malta's two Great Sieges of Senglea, the Unconquered City.
Joseph Victor Rizzo
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side at the French Creek and across from Vittoriosa. Grand Master Claude de La Sengle, who gave it his name and coat-of arms, founded it in 1554. However, the popular name for this city - derived from the Italian 'Isola' or the Spanish 'Isla' meaning 'island' - came to be "L-Isla".
Apparently only a few inhabitants lived in the area at this time; at some stage the Knights used Senglea as pastime for hunting and relaxation and the number of houses in 1530 was about three hundred. The first church, dedicated to St. Julian, commonly known as "San Giljan", was built in 1575. Senglea's second church of Porto Salvo (pictured here, dedicated to St. Philip) was built some years later, however, Senglea's present Parish Church was erected after the Great Siege close to the site of Fort St. Michael, where the heaviest battles of the Siege were fought in order to commemorate the historic event.
Grand Master Jean Parisot de La Vallette understood the importance and continuing to fortify Senglea. The Turkish penetration into Cospicua, together with the fall of Fort St. Elmo meant eventual disaster for Senglea. But the battle stopped suddenly giving La Vallette enough time to send more defenders. La Vallette honoured Senglea for its courage by giving her the title of "Civitas Invicta" - The Unconquered City.
