Vendôme Battery, Artillery battery in Mellieħa, Malta
Vendôme Battery is an artillery fortification in Mellieħa featuring a semi-circular gun platform with nine embrasures and a central blockhouse surrounded by a protective ditch system. The structure was equipped with five 8-pounder and four 12-pounder cannons, providing substantial firepower to defend against naval threats.
Built between 1715 and 1716, the battery was named after Philippe de Vendôme, who donated 40,000 scudi to fund Malta's coastal defense construction. It formed part of an interconnected system of fortifications that extended across the island's shoreline.
The fortification reflects the military building practices of the Knights of Saint John, who created interconnected defense systems along Malta's coasts. Walking through it, you can observe how different gun positions were arranged to maximize coastal protection and command of the surrounding waters.
The site sits near Armier Bay and is best explored during daylight hours when the defensive structures and gun platforms are fully visible. Wear sturdy footwear as the ground is uneven and parts of the fortification remain exposed to the elements.
The central blockhouse served not only as a gun emplacement but also as a storage and living area for the garrison, allowing soldiers to seek shelter during naval bombardments. This combination of firepower and protective quarters was typical of smaller coastal fortifications of that era.
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