Fort Manoel
Encyclopedia
Fort Manoel is a fortification
on the island of Malta
. It stands on Manoel Island in Marsamxett Harbour
to the north west of Valletta
and commands the entrance to Marsamxett Harbour and the anchorage of Sliema Creek
. Fort Manoel is a star fort
, with much of its ditches and walls formed from the native rock of Manoel Island.
between 1723 and 1755, under the patronage of Portuguese Grand Master
Manoel de Vilhena
.
The original design work for a fort on the island, then known as Isolotto, was the work of the French engineer René Jacob de Tigné. The final design also incorporated the work of Charles François de Mondion
, at that time the Knights of Malts's resident military engineer
in charge of works of fortification and defence. Mondion also supervised the construction, and was hypothetically buried in the fort's chapel
, St. Anthony’s Chapel
.
The fort was an active military establishment initially under the Knights and later under British
Military control from its construction through until 1906 when the British military finally decommissioned the forts guns.
During the Second World War, a battery of 3.7-inch heavy anti-aircraft guns was deployed in and around the fort. The guns were mounted in concrete gun emplacements and deployed in a semicircle around the fort. The fort suffered considerable damage to its ramparts
, barracks
and chapel as a result of aerial bombing during the war.
In 2010, the fort underwent major restoration work to repair the ravages of time and damage sustained during the Second World War. It served as a location for the shooting of the climactic scene of the episode Baelor
of the TV series Game of Thrones
.
Fortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
on the island of Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
. It stands on Manoel Island in Marsamxett Harbour
Marsamxett Harbour
Marsamxett Harbour, also referred as Marsamuscetto in many ancient documents, is the northern of Valletta's two natural harbours on the island of Malta, separated from the southern one by the Valletta peninsula. To the north it is bounded by Gżira and Sliema as far as Dragut Point and extends...
to the north west of Valletta
Valletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
and commands the entrance to Marsamxett Harbour and the anchorage of Sliema Creek
Sliema
Tas-Sliema is a city located on the northeast coast of Malta. It is a centre for shopping, restaurants and café life. Tas-Sliema is also a major commercial and residential area and houses several of Malta's most modern hotels. Tas-Sliema, which means 'peace, comfort', was once a quiet fishing...
. Fort Manoel is a star fort
Star fort
A star fort, or trace italienne, is a fortification in the style that evolved during the age of gunpowder, when cannon came to dominate the battlefield, and was first seen in the mid-15th century in Italy....
, with much of its ditches and walls formed from the native rock of Manoel Island.
History
The fort was built by the Knights of MaltaKnights Hospitaller
The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
between 1723 and 1755, under the patronage of Portuguese Grand Master
Grand Master (order)
Grand Master is the typical title of the supreme head of various orders of knighthood, including various military orders, religious orders and civil orders such as the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Orange Order...
Manoel de Vilhena
António Manoel de Vilhena
Dom Fra' António Manoel de Vilhena was the 66th Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta from 19 June 1722 to his death in 1736....
.
The original design work for a fort on the island, then known as Isolotto, was the work of the French engineer René Jacob de Tigné. The final design also incorporated the work of Charles François de Mondion
Charles François de Mondion
Charles Francois de Mondion was a French military engineer who first arrived in Malta in 1715 during the principate of Grand Master Ramon Perellos y Roccaful of the Knights of Malta. His early work was as deputy to the Military Engineer Rene Jacob de Tigne...
, at that time the Knights of Malts's resident military engineer
Military engineer
In military science, engineering refers to the practice of designing, building, maintaining and dismantling military works, including offensive, defensive and logistical structures, to shape the physical operating environment in war...
in charge of works of fortification and defence. Mondion also supervised the construction, and was hypothetically buried in the fort's chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
, St. Anthony’s Chapel
Anthony of Padua
Anthony of Padua or Anthony of Lisbon, O.F.M., was a Portuguese Catholic priest and friar of the Franciscan Order. Though he died in Padua, Italy, he was born to a wealthy family in Lisbon, Portugal, which is where he was raised...
.
The fort was an active military establishment initially under the Knights and later under British
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
Military control from its construction through until 1906 when the British military finally decommissioned the forts guns.
During the Second World War, a battery of 3.7-inch heavy anti-aircraft guns was deployed in and around the fort. The guns were mounted in concrete gun emplacements and deployed in a semicircle around the fort. The fort suffered considerable damage to its ramparts
Defensive wall
A defensive wall is a fortification used to protect a city or settlement from potential aggressors. In ancient to modern times, they were used to enclose settlements...
, barracks
Barracks
Barracks are specialised buildings for permanent military accommodation; the word may apply to separate housing blocks or to complete complexes. Their main object is to separate soldiers from the civilian population and reinforce discipline, training and esprit de corps. They were sometimes called...
and chapel as a result of aerial bombing during the war.
In 2010, the fort underwent major restoration work to repair the ravages of time and damage sustained during the Second World War. It served as a location for the shooting of the climactic scene of the episode Baelor
Baelor
"Baelor" is the ninth episode of the HBO medieval fantasy television series Game of Thrones, first aired on June 12, 2011. It was written by the show creators and executive producers David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, and directed by Alan Taylor....
of the TV series Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones (TV series)
Game of Thrones is an American medieval fantasy television series created for HBO by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss. Based on author George R. R. Martin's best-selling A Song of Ice and Fire series of fantasy novels, the first of which is called A Game of Thrones, the television series debuted in...
.