After four months of extremely savage fighting, the siege ended when [[Spanish]] forces landed in September, 1565. The Turks retreated, having suffered heavy losses. A few years later, the Turks suffered a further defeat at the naval battle of Lepanto.[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09047a.htm] The Knights held Malta until 1798 when they were forced to surrender by [[Napoleon Bonaparte]]. | After four months of extremely savage fighting, the siege ended when [[Spanish]] forces landed in September, 1565. The Turks retreated, having suffered heavy losses. A few years later, the Turks suffered a further defeat at the naval battle of Lepanto.[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09047a.htm] The Knights held Malta until 1798 when they were forced to surrender by [[Napoleon Bonaparte]]. |