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Malta and Holy War: a new book by Prof. Carmel Cassar
A new book shedding fresh light on Malta’s central role in the great religious and political struggles of the Mediterranean was launched on Thursday 22 January at the Notarial Archives in St Paul Street, Valletta. Authored by Prof. Carmel Cassar, Malta and Holy War: Religion, Society and the Spanish–Ottoman Conflict for the Mediterranean offers a richly researched and thought-provoking exploration of one of the island’s most defining historical eras.
Published by Kite Group and funded through the National Book Council’s Book Fund 2024, the launch was made possible with the support of the Notarial Archives Foundation. The event was chaired by Dr Joan Abela, Chair of the Foundation, with contributions by Dr Mario Xuereb, Dr Karsten Xuereb and Prof. Cassar.
Drawing on extensive archival material from Malta and across Europe, the book examines the Spanish–Ottoman conflict and its profound impact on the island, culminating in the Great Siege of 1565 and resurfacing during the Ottoman incursion of 1614. Cassar vividly illustrates how Malta found itself at the crossroads of empire, faith and power, and how these tensions shaped both Maltese society and the chivalric Order of St John.
Blending detailed local history with a wider Mediterranean perspective, Malta and Holy War reveals how the idea of ‘holy war’ and civilisational rivalry continued to echo long after the cannons fell silent. The publication stands out as a major contribution to Maltese historical scholarship and an essential read for anyone interested in the history of Malta and the early modern Mediterranean.
The launch concluded with a reception featuring Ottoman-inspired food, reflecting the cultural themes of the work.
Comments about the book:
"Carmel Cassar’s volume represents a substantial and commendable contribution to the historiography not only of Malta and the Order of Malta but also of the Mediterranean as a whole." - Salvatore Bono, University of Perugia
"Carmel Cassar deploys a set of fascinating sources and raises the question of narrative memory versus eyewitness reportage in the early modern Mediterranean." - Palmira Brummett, University of Tennessee
"Carmel Cassar... explores how Malta helped shape the broader histories of the Mediterranean and, to an extent, of late-Renaissance and early modern Europe. I believe this to be the first time a project of such daunting breadth has been attempted... Cassar has succeeded in wedding mega history and micro chronicles, with apparent ease and fruitful issue – a daunting task, masterfully executed." - Giovanni Bonello, The Sunday Times of Malta, 11 January 2026
