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In this episode of Anecdotally Speaking, Shawn and Mark explore a gripping historical tale from Malta, highlighting lessons in resilience and ingenuity.

In Episode 226 of Anecdotally Speaking, Shawn shares an incredible story from his recent travels, recounting the 1565 Siege of St. Elmo in Malta.

This powerful tale of persistence and innovation by a small, determined group of knights sparks a discussion on how this story can be applied in a business setting to illustrate themes of resilience, creative problem-solving, and the strength of small teams facing larger challenges.

The conversation also touches on the importance of audience context in storytelling, knowing when to adapt your story for the right setting, and why stories of persistence can inspire teams to push forward in adversity.

For your story bank

Tags: Persistence, Creativity, Teamwork, Innovation, Resilience

This story starts at 4:36

In 1565, King Philip of Spain controlled Malta, along with vast territories across Europe. He handed control of Malta over to the Knights of St. John, a group of knights who agreed to pay him an annual tribute of one Maltese Falcon. At the same time, Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, leader of the Ottoman Empire, wanted to conquer Malta for its strategic location along the Mediterranean trade routes. Suleiman sent a large force of about 100,000 soldiers and many ships to take the island.

Malta’s peninsula, with its two deep harbors, had several forts, including Fort St. Elmo, which was crucial for defending the area. The Ottoman army focused on capturing Fort St. Elmo first, expecting it to fall within three or four days. They threw 6,000 soldiers at the fort, where 1,500 defenders, including 500 knights and 1,000 soldiers, were stationed.

The Ottomans used siege warfare tactics, including digging trenches and tunnels up to and under the fort walls. They also bombarded the fort with cannon fire. But the defenders held out for 29 days, using creative methods when supplies ran low. They improvised with flaming ropes coated in tar and hurled them in circles, creating burning hoops that fell on groups of Ottoman soldiers. When they ran out of gunpowder, they resorted to old crossbows they found in storage, which were powerful enough to pierce the Ottomans’ shields and armor.

After nearly a month of holding out, a reinforcement force of 10,000 soldiers arrived, sent by King Philip, and surprised the Ottoman forces from behind, inflicting heavy losses. The defenders’ persistence and ingenuity gave them just enough time for the reinforcements to turn the tide. Eventually, the Ottomans withdrew, and Malta remained under the control of the knights.