Crivelli Redoubt ( mt, Ridott ta' Crivelli), also known as Barriera Redoubt ( mt, Ridott tal-Barriera) or Armier Redoubt ( mt, Ridott tal-Armier), is a

redoubt A redoubt (historically redout) is a fort or fort system usually consisting of an enclosed defensive emplacement outside a larger fort, usually relying on earthworks, although some are constructed of stone or brick. It is meant to protect soldi ...

in Armier Bay,

Mellieħa Mellieħa ( mt, il-Mellieħa ) is a large village in the Northern Region of Malta. It has a population of 10,087 as of March 2014. Mellieħa is also a tourist resort, popular for its sandy beaches and natural environment. Etymology The name ''M ...

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 ...

. It was built 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 ...

in 1715–1716 as part of a series of coastal fortifications around the Maltese Islands. Today, the redoubt is in good condition. In the early 19th century, Crivelli Redoubt was also known as La Canniere Redoubt.

History

Crivelli Redoubt was built in 1715–1716 as part of the first building programme of coastal fortifications in Malta. It was part of a chain of fortifications that defended the northern coast of Malta, which also included Aħrax Tower, several batteries, redoubts and entrenchments. The nearest fortifications to Crivelli Redoubt are Vendôme Battery to the west and the Louvier Entrenchment to the east. The redoubt was named after the Prior of

Capua Capua ( , ) is a city and ''comune'' in the province of Caserta, in the region of Campania, southern Italy, situated north of Naples, on the northeastern edge of the Campanian plain. History Ancient era The name of Capua comes from the Etrus ...

, Ferdinando Crivelli, who financed the money needed for its construction. It was probably designed by the French engineer Philip Maigret. The redoubt consists of a pentagonal platform with a low parapet. A rectangular blockhouse with two rooms is located at the centre of its gorge, and the main entrance has an inscription making reference to the knight Crivelli. The redoubt is surrounded by a ditch, which is partially rock hewn. It was not armed with any artillery.

Present day

By the early 21st century, the redoubt was in ruins, with the left wall and part of the roof of the blockhouse having been collapsed, with the façade being unstable. The damage has since been repaired. Crivelli Redoubt is the best preserved redoubt in Mellieħa, since the others have been demolished or are in a worse state of preservation.

References

External links

National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands
Redoubts in Malta Mellieħa Hospitaller fortifications in Malta Military installations established in 1715 Limestone buildings in Malta National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands 18th-century fortifications 1715 establishments in Malta 18th Century military history of Malta {{Malta-geo-stub