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Tigné Point has witnessed some of the fiercest episodes in the island's long and often turbulent history. In 1565, Suleiman the Magnificent of Turkey despatched 40,000 men in a bid to rid himself once and for all of his sworn enemies, the Knights of St John. During the ensuing Siege of Malta, Tigné Point itself quickly fell to Dragut Ar-Rais, one of the most feared Mohammedan corsairs of his time. From Tigné, Dragut laid siege to and eventually took Fort St Elmo, although he lost his life in the attempt. Today, the extremity of the peninsula still bears his name.
In later centuries, Fort Tigné offered resistance to the forces of Napoleon when they took possession of the island in 1798; later still, the presence of British military barracks on the promontory attracted the attention of Axis bombers in World War Two, when Malta became "the most bombed place of earth."
Although sadly neglected in the last 20 years, Fort Tigné's place in Maltese history is assured on the strength of its brief attempt to repel French invaders in 1798 - a mere six years after its completion. The development project foresees the revitalisation of Fort Tigné to create an attractive urban space aimed at re-utilising the historic fort in its new peace-time context. Proposals for the use of the building itself include a military museum, fine dining facilities, language school and art gallery. |
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