An Ottoman force of about 10,000 arrived under Sinan Pasha and Salih Reis, with Dragut presented as the expedition's dominant figure. After finding Malta difficult, the force turned on Gozo and trapped about 6,000 people in its obsolete citadel. The rapid surrender and enslavement of much of the population nearly emptied the island, which took roughly 150 years to recover its pre-1551 population. The attackers also destroyed Gozo's university archives, adding the loss of historical records to the human catastrophe. The event changed Maltese expectations: a future Ottoman return was no longer abstract, so defensive preparation became urgent and sustained.
Chapter · 1:07:40-1:21:18
Gozo in 1551: why defeat shaped later defense
The Ottoman attack on Gozo exposed weak defenses and devastated the island's population, creating a powerful reason to fortify Malta.