Ta' Għemmuna Battery

Ta' Għemmuna Battery
Batterija ta' Għemmuna
Part of the French blockade batteries
St. Julian's, Malta
Coordinates35°55′34.98″N 14°29′41.1″E / 35.9263833°N 14.494750°E / 35.9263833; 14.494750
TypeArtillery battery
Site history
Built1799
Built byMaltese insurgents
In use1799–1800
MaterialsLimestone
FateDemolished
Battles/warsSiege of Malta (1798–1800)

Ta' Għemmuna Battery (Maltese: Batterija ta' Għemmuna) was an artillery battery in St. Julian's, Malta, that was built by Maltese insurgents during the French blockade of 1798–1800. The battery was located at Dragonara Point, in front of the Hospitaller entrenchments at Spinola. The battery had a large parapet with nine embrasures and a magazine. It was armed with seven guns, which had been taken from St. Mary's Tower and St. Paul's Bay.

The battery was built by Vincenzo Borg in February 1799, after a French force of around 30 ships was sighted close to the Maltese coast. The battery was built to prevent a French relief force from landing at St. Julian's Bay and St. George's Bay, therefore protecting other insurgent positions from the rear.[1] The battery had a hexagonal parapet design which was designed by Francesco Sammut on payment by Borg. A rough sketch of the battery by Sammut still exists and was retrieved by the architect Andre Zammit.[2]

The Dragonara Palace, which was built on the site of the battery

The battery still existed in 1811,[3] but it was eventually demolished. Its site is now occupied by the Dragonara Palace, which was built in 1870 and is now a casino.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Spiteri, Stephen C. (May 2008). "Maltese 'siege' batteries of the blockade 1798–1800" (PDF). Arx – Online Journal of Military Architecture and Fortification (6): 43. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 November 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  2. ^ Zammit, Andre (2013). I Forgot !. Books Distributors Limited. pp. 106–107. ISBN 9789995733933.
  3. ^ The Appeals of the Nobility and People of Malta to the Justice, Public Faith, and Policy of the British Government, for the Fulfillment of the Conditions Upon which They Gave Up Their Island to the King, Namely Their Ancient Rights Under a Free Constitution. London: R. Lloyd. 1811. p. 32.
  4. ^ "Dragonara Palace". thepalace.dragonaracasino.com. Archived from the original on 21 February 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
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