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The De Redin Towers ( mt, Torrijiet ta' De Redin) are a series of small coastal
watchtowers A watchtower or watch tower is a type of fortification used in many parts of the world. It differs from a regular tower in that its primary use is military and from a turret in that it is usually a freestanding structure. Its main purpose is to ...
built in
Malta Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...
by the
Order of Saint John The Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem ( la, Ordo Fratrum Hospitalis Sancti Ioannis Hierosolymitani), commonly known as the Knights Hospitaller (), was a medieval and early modern Catholic military order. It was headq ...
between 1658 and 1659. Thirteen towers were built around the coast of mainland Malta, eight of which still survive. The
Mġarr ix-Xini Tower Mġarr ix-Xini Tower ( mt, Torri ta' Mġarr ix-Xini) is the largest of the coastal watchtowers that the Knights of Malta erected on the island of Gozo. It watches over the entrance to the bay of Mġarr ix-Xini, limits of Għajnsielem, which lies ...
, which was built on
Gozo Gozo (, ), Maltese: ''Għawdex'' () and in antiquity known as Gaulos ( xpu, 𐤂𐤅𐤋, ; grc, Γαῦλος, Gaúlos), is an island in the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is part of the Republic of Malta. After ...
in 1661 after the death of de Redin, has a design similar to the De Redin towers.


History


Background and construction

The Spanish knight
Martin de Redin Fra' Martin de Redin (Pamplona, 1579 – Malta, 6 February 1660) was a Spanish military and political figure, and the 58th Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta. He became Grand Prior of the Order of Malta of Navarra in 1641, and Vic ...
was elected Grand Master of the Order of St. John on 17 August 1657. In March 1658, he contributed 6428 scudi for the construction of 13 new watchtowers to strengthen the existing coastal defence system, which consisted mainly of the Wignacourt and Lascaris towers. The design of the new towers was based on the
Sciuta Tower Sciuta Tower ( mt, Torri ta' Xuta), also known as Sciutu Tower ( mt, Torri ta' Xutu) or Wied iż-Żurrieq Tower ( mt, Torri ta' Wied iż-Żurrieq), is a small watchtower in Qrendi, Malta. It was completed in 1638 as the fifth of the Lascaris towe ...
, one of the Lascaris towers, which had been built in Wied iż-Żurrieq in 1638. Each tower had a square base with two floors, with a turret on the roof. The entrance was on the top floor, and was reached by a retractable ladder. The upper room was used as the living quarters for the garrison of four men, while the bottom room was used for storage. Two cannon were mounted on the roof of each tower. Each tower also had two neighbouring towers in its line of sight, so that signals could be sent from one tower to another, in order to maintain a communication link between
Gozo Gozo (, ), Maltese: ''Għawdex'' () and in antiquity known as Gaulos ( xpu, 𐤂𐤅𐤋, ; grc, Γαῦλος, Gaúlos), is an island in the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is part of the Republic of Malta. After ...
and the
Grand Harbour The Grand Harbour ( mt, il-Port il-Kbir; it, Porto Grande), also known as the Port of Valletta, is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. It has been substantially modified over the years with extensive docks ( Malta Dockyard), wharves, a ...
. The signals consisted of smoke or cannon shots by day, or fire by night. Construction of the first tower, located at Għajn Ħadid in Selmun, began in March 1658, and it was complete within two months. Twelve other towers were built within the following year, with the last tower being complete by July 1659. In 1661, shortly after the death of de Redin,
Mġarr ix-Xini Tower Mġarr ix-Xini Tower ( mt, Torri ta' Mġarr ix-Xini) is the largest of the coastal watchtowers that the Knights of Malta erected on the island of Gozo. It watches over the entrance to the bay of Mġarr ix-Xini, limits of Għajnsielem, which lies ...
was built on the island of
Gozo Gozo (, ), Maltese: ''Għawdex'' () and in antiquity known as Gaulos ( xpu, 𐤂𐤅𐤋, ; grc, Γαῦλος, Gaúlos), is an island in the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is part of the Republic of Malta. After ...
. Its design is very similar to the thirteen towers and it is sometimes considered to be one of the De Redin towers. The De Redin towers were the last series of coastal watchtowers to be built in Malta. The only tower built after them was
Isopu Tower Sopu Tower ( mt, Torri ta' Sopu), also known as Isopu Tower, San Blas Tower or ''Torre Nuova'', is a small watchtower situated on the cliff between San Blas and Daħlet Qorrot in Nadur, Gozo, Malta. Isopu Tower was the last watchtower to be bui ...
, which was completed in 1667.


Eighteenth century

In around 1715, as part of a programme to improve Malta's coastal defences,
Aħrax Tower Aħrax Tower ( mt, Torri tal-Aħrax), originally known as ''Torre di Lacras'', and also known as Armier Tower ( mt, Torri tal-Armier), Ta' Ħoslien Tower ( mt, Torri ta' Ħoslien) or the White Tower ( mt, Torri l-Abjad), is a small watchtower over ...
and
Saint Julian's Tower Saint Julian's Tower ( mt, Torri ta' San Ġiljan), originally known as ''Torre di San Giuliano'' and also known as Sliema Tower ( mt, Torri tas-Sliema), is a small watchtower in Sliema, Malta. It was completed in 1658 as the fifth of the De Redi ...
were upgraded into coastal batteries. A gun platform was built around the seaward face of the tower, which served as a blockhouse. Both batteries still survive, although they are either in a dilapidated state or extensively altered. Fougasses were dug in the ground near some of the towers in the 1740s. Today, fougasses still exist near
Madliena Tower Madliena Tower ( mt, Torri tal-Madliena), originally known as ''Torre della Paulina'', is a small watchtower in Madliena, limits of Pembroke, Malta. It was completed in 1658 as the fourth of the De Redin towers. The British built an artillery ba ...
and
Saint Mark's Tower Saint Mark's Tower ( mt, Torri ta' San Mark), originally known as ''Torre del Cortin'' and also known as Qalet Marku Tower ( mt, Torri ta' Qalet Marku), is a small watchtower in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq, limits of Naxxar, Malta. It was completed in 1 ...
. In the 1760s, entrenchments were also built close to some towers, but many of these were demolished in the early 20th century. A small mortar battery was built close to
Delimara Tower Delimara Tower ( mt, Torri ta' Delimara), originally known as ''Torre della Limara'', was a small watchtower on the Delimara Peninsula, in the limits of Marsaxlokk, Malta. It was built in 1659 as the tenth De Redin tower, and an artillery ba ...
in 1793. The De Redin towers did not play a role during the French capture of Malta in 1798, since by this time they were obsolete. However, St. Julian's Tower was involved in the subsequent Maltese uprising, when it was captured by Maltese insurgents.


British period

The upper floor of
Għajn Ħadid Tower Għajn Ħadid Tower ( mt, Torri ta' Għajn Ħadid), originally known as ''Torre di Salomone'' and known by locals as Xagħra Tower ( mt, It-Torri tax-Xagħra), is a ruined watchtower in Selmun, limits of Mellieħa, Malta. It was built in 1658 as t ...
collapsed on 12 October 1856 during an earthquake, but the ruins of its base have survived to this day. Most of the other towers were decommissioned in the 19th century. The only exception was
Madliena Tower Madliena Tower ( mt, Torri tal-Madliena), originally known as ''Torre della Paulina'', is a small watchtower in Madliena, limits of Pembroke, Malta. It was completed in 1658 as the fourth of the De Redin towers. The British built an artillery ba ...
, which was modified to have a role similar to the
Martello towers Martello towers, sometimes known simply as Martellos, are small defensive forts that were built across the British Empire during the 19th century, from the time of the French Revolutionary Wars onwards. Most were coastal forts. They stand up ...
. A battery was built nearby in 1908, and it remained in use until
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
. In the late 19th or early 20th centuries, the British demolished Bengħisa Tower,
Delimara Tower Delimara Tower ( mt, Torri ta' Delimara), originally known as ''Torre della Limara'', was a small watchtower on the Delimara Peninsula, in the limits of Marsaxlokk, Malta. It was built in 1659 as the tenth De Redin tower, and an artillery ba ...
and Żonqor Tower to clear the line of fire of new forts or batteries.


Conservation and restoration

By the end of the 20th century, there were nine surviving De Redin towers. Most of these were intact but rather dilapidated. Triq il-Wiesgħa Tower and
Ħamrija Tower Ħamrija Tower ( mt, Torri tal-Ħamrija), originally known as ''Torre della Pietra Nigra'' ( mt, Torri tal-Ħaġra s-Sewda) and also known locally as ''Torri ta' Rsejjen'', is a small watchtower in Qrendi, Malta. It was completed in 1659 as the t ...
were in a very bad state, and were in danger of collapsing. The first restoration work was carried out by
Din l-Art Ħelwa () is a non-governmental and non-profit, voluntary organisation founded in 1965 by Maltese Judge Maurice Caruana Curran to safeguard Malta's cultural heritage and natural environment. Since its foundation, Din l-Art Ħelwa has restored numerous ...
on
Għallis Tower Għallis Tower ( mt, Torri tal-Għallis), originally known as ''Torre delle Saline'', is a small watchtower in Salina, limits of Naxxar, Malta. It was completed in 1658 as the second of the De Redin towers. Today, the tower is in fair condition. ...
and
Saint Mark's Tower Saint Mark's Tower ( mt, Torri ta' San Mark), originally known as ''Torre del Cortin'' and also known as Qalet Marku Tower ( mt, Torri ta' Qalet Marku), is a small watchtower in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq, limits of Naxxar, Malta. It was completed in 1 ...
between 1995 and 1997. Since 2008, Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna has restored Triq il-Wiesgħa Tower and
Madliena Tower Madliena Tower ( mt, Torri tal-Madliena), originally known as ''Torre della Paulina'', is a small watchtower in Madliena, limits of Pembroke, Malta. It was completed in 1658 as the fourth of the De Redin towers. The British built an artillery ba ...
.
Ħamrija Tower Ħamrija Tower ( mt, Torri tal-Ħamrija), originally known as ''Torre della Pietra Nigra'' ( mt, Torri tal-Ħaġra s-Sewda) and also known locally as ''Torri ta' Rsejjen'', is a small watchtower in Qrendi, Malta. It was completed in 1659 as the t ...
was also restored by
Heritage Malta Heritage Malta ( mt, Patrimonju Malta) is the Maltese national agency for museums, conservation practice and cultural heritage. Created by the Cultural Heritage Act, enacted in 2002, the national agency replaced the former Museums Department. Or ...
, and it now forms part of the Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra Archaeological Park. The last remaining towers to be restored were
Aħrax Tower Aħrax Tower ( mt, Torri tal-Aħrax), originally known as ''Torre di Lacras'', and also known as Armier Tower ( mt, Torri tal-Armier), Ta' Ħoslien Tower ( mt, Torri ta' Ħoslien) or the White Tower ( mt, Torri l-Abjad), is a small watchtower over ...
, restored by Din I-Art Ħelwa in 2021, and
Wardija Tower Wardija Tower ( mt, Torri tal-Wardija), originally known as ''Torre della Guardia di Giorno'' and also known as Bubaqra Tower ( mt, Torri ta' Bubaqra), is a small watchtower in the limits of Żurrieq, Malta. It was completed in June 1659 as the l ...
, restored by the Restoration Directorate in 2022. Today, Għallis Tower and Saint Mark's Tower are open by appointment, and
Saint Julian's Tower Saint Julian's Tower ( mt, Torri ta' San Ġiljan), originally known as ''Torre di San Giuliano'' and also known as Sliema Tower ( mt, Torri tas-Sliema), is a small watchtower in Sliema, Malta. It was completed in 1658 as the fifth of the De Redi ...
is open as a restaurant.


The towers


Legacy

Over the years, several structures were built with a design similar to or inspired by the De Redin towers. One of the earliest examples is the '' Torre dello Standardo'', a tower located near
Mdina Mdina ( mt, L-Imdina ; phn, 𐤌𐤋𐤈, Maleṭ; grc, Μελίττη, Melíttē; ar, مدينة, Madīnah; ), also known by its Italian-language titles ("Old City") and ("Notable City"), is a fortified city in the Northern Region of Ma ...
's Main Gate, forming part of the city's fortifications. The tower was used for signalling purposes, to communicate with the coastal watchtowers. It was built in 1725 by the architect
Charles François de Mondion Charles François de Mondion (6 October 1681 – 25 December 1733) was a French architect and military engineer who was active in Hospitaller Malta in the early 18th century. He was also a member of the Order of Saint John. Career Mondion was bor ...
, on the site of the medieval ''Torre Mastra'' (which also had the same function), as part of a project to restore the city after the
1693 Sicily earthquake The 1693 Sicily earthquake struck parts of southern Italy near Sicily, Calabria, and Malta on January 11 at around 21:00 local time. This earthquake was preceded by a damaging foreshock on January 9. The main quake had an estimated magnitude of 7 ...
. Its design is similar to the De Redin towers, but it is of finer construction, with more importance being given to decorative elements such as escutcheons. Today, the tower is in good condition and is used as a tourist information centre. Another structure whose design was also similar to the De Redin towers was the Falkun Tower ( mt, Torri Falkun), located at the Montekristo Estates in
Ħal Farruġ Ħal Farruġ is a hamlet located in the south east of Malta, within the limits of Luqa. Within the hamlet's general area, a total number of 24 streets can be found. The hamlet was run down in 1941 due to the construction of a new airport runway ...
, limits of
Siġġiewi Siġġiewi ( mt, Is-Siġġiewi, ), also called by its title Città Ferdinand, is a city and a local council in the Southern Region of Malta. It is the third largest council in Malta by surface area, after Rabat and Mellieħa respectively. It ...
. This tower, along with other parts of Montekristo Estates, was constructed illegally without the necessary permits. It was supposed to have been demolished in November 2013, but the courts stopped the planning authority MEPA from carrying out the demolition. Since the failed attempt at demolishing the tower and the other illegal structures, new roofing works were carried out on the tower, while more illegal structures were constructed elsewhere in Montekristo Estates. The tower began to be dismantled according to MEPA orders in April 2016. Another tower was built in 2016 in Gozo as a rural structure, similar to the coastal towers but located inland.


Symbols


Armed Forces of Malta

The emblem of the
Armed Forces of Malta The Armed Forces of Malta ( mt, Forzi Armati ta' Malta) is the name given to the combined armed services of Malta. The AFM is a brigade sized organisation consisting of a headquarters and three separate battalions, with minimal air and naval ...
(AFM) consists of a gold De Redin tower on a red background. The origins of this emblem lie in the AFM's predecessor, the Malta Land Force (MLF). The MLF's emblem originally consisted of a three-dimensional De Redin tower on a French grey background, which was later changed to a red background. This emblem was designed shortly after the founding of the MLF in 1965 by Captain Claude M. Gaffiero. It was retained when the MLF changed its name to the AFM in 1973. A symbol of a De Redin tower is also featured on pennant of the Commander of the AFM, on the emblem of the Air Wing, on the National Colours, and on various badges of rank.


Malta Stock Exchange

The coat of arms of the
Malta Stock Exchange The Malta Stock Exchange ( mt, Borża ta' Malta), originally known as the Casino della Borsa, is the stock exchange of the island nation of Malta. Since being set up in 1992, the Exchange has been key to the raising of capital for the private sec ...
features two gold De Redin towers on either side of the shield, representing security and surveillance.


Pembroke

De Redin towers also feature on the flag and coat of arms of Pembroke, a town on the northern coast of Malta. The coat of arms consists of two crossed swords in the centre, with the thirteen De Redin towers around the border, all in gold on a red background. The sword and towers represent Pembroke's connection with the military, since the town developed out of a
British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurkha ...
barracks that was converted into housing estates.


References


Further reading

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External links


Youtube video about the De Redin Towers
{{Historic Watch Towers of Malta Fortified towers in Malta