| “ | One of the Mediterranean's epitomes of a melting pot, Malta was strategically and financially important, and thus most of the surrounding powers coveted it, becoming a stronghold of the Knights Hospitaller. | ” |
| —In-game section | ||
The Maltese are a playable European civilization in Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition - Knights of the Mediterranean, which is based on the Knights Hospitaller of Malta as a vassal state of the Kingdom of Sicily during 1530-1798.
Unlike the Italians, who are the other civilization added in Knights of the Mediterranean, the Maltese had colonies in the New World, as they bought several islands in the Carribeans as part of an agreement with the French before the islands were sold back to the French West India Company. Much like the Italians, the Knights Hospitaller played a crucial role in slowing the expansion of the Ottoman Empire into Europe, as they manage to hold out on their own in the Great Siege of Malta.
The Knights Hospitaller of Malta appear as a commanderie ally of the Knights Templar in Age of Empires IV: Knights of Cross and Rose.
Home City[]
- Default Grand Master names
- Adrien de Wignacourt, Alain Magnan, Alessandro Borgia, Alof de Wignacourt, Annet de Clermont-Gessant, Antoine Busca, Antoine de Paule, António Manoel de Vilhena, Carlo Candida, Claude de la Sengle, Di Giovanni Centellés, Didier de Saint-Jaille, Emery d'Amboise, Emmanuel de Rohan-Polduc, Fabrizio del Carretto, Ferdinand von Hompesch, Filippo di Colloredo-Mels, Francisco Ximénez, Giovanni Battista Orsini, Giovanni Battista Tommasi, Giovanni Lascaris, Gregorio Carafa, Guy de Blanchefort, Hugues Loubenx, Innico Guevara-Suardo, Jacques de Milly, Jean Parisot, Jean de Lastic, Jean de la Cassière, Juan de Homedes, Luís de Vasconcellos, Manuel Pinto da Fonseca, Marc'Antonio Zondadari, Martin de Redin, Martín Garzés, Mathurin Romegas, Morgan Black, Nicolás Cotoner, Nikolay Garokov, Nikolay Saltykov, Pavel Petrovich, Philippe Villiers, Piero Raimondo Zacosta, Pierre d'Aubusson, Pierre de Monte, Rafael Cotoner, Ramón Despuig, Ramón Perellós
Torchy - An entertainer who performs tricks with fire (1 point)- Juggler - A juggling performer (1 point)
- Vendor Cart - A store on wheels hawking goods of all kinds (1 point)
- Morgan Black - Morgan Black roaming around the streets of Malta (1 point)
- Old Coot - Old Coot roaming around the streents of Malta (1 point)
- New World Trading Company (original) - The original version of the New World Trading Company (Default)
- New World Trading Company (merigold) - The merigold version of the New World Trading Company (2 points)
- New World Trading Company (orange) - The orange version of the New World Trading Company with a weathered brick finish (2 points)
- New World Trading Company (blue) - The blue version of the New World Trading Company with a weathered brick finish (2 points)
- New World Trading Company (green) - The green version of the New World Trading Company with a weathered brick finish (2 points)
- Patriotic Bunting - The citizens show their national pride by decorating with patriotic banners (1 point)
- Cannons - Display Cannons in front of this building (1 point)
- Basic Street Lamps - Simple technology to make streets just a little safer at night (1 point)
- Lizzie - Lizzie roaming around the streets of Malta (1 point)
- Sahin - An Ottoman ally roaming around the streets of Malta (1 point)
- Fort St. Elmo (original) - The original version of the Fort St. Elmo (Default)
- Fort St. Elmo (alternative) - The alternate version of the Fort St. Elmo (2 points)
- Fixed Cannons - Display Fixed Cannons on this building (1 point)
- Malta Guard - Assign Malta Guards in front of the building (5 points)
- Maltese Flag - Display Maltese flags on this building (Default)
- Bone Guard Flag - Display Bone Guard flags on this building (1 point)
- Black Family Flag - Display Black Family flags on this building (1 point)
- Maltese Cross Flag - Display the alternate version of the Maltese Flag on this building (1 point)
- British Flag - Display British flags on this building (1 point)
- French Flag - Display French flags on this building (1 point)
- The Royal Coach - This coach waits upon the whims of royalty (1 point)
- Musician - A strolling entertainer (1 point)
- The Reverend - A street preacher sharing the good news (1 point)
- Alain Magnan - Alain Magnan roaming around the streets of Malta (1 point)
- Malta Crossbowmen - Assign Crossbowmen at the Cathedral building (1 point)
- Cathedral (original) - The original version of the Cathedral (Default)
- Cathedral (ashen grey) - The Cathedral with an ashen grey roofing finish (2 points)
- Cathedral (purple) - The Cathedral with an purple roofing finish (2 points)
- Cathedral (yellow) - The Cathedral with an yellow roofing finish (2 points)
- Cathedral (green) - The Cathedral with an green roofing finish (2 points)
- Patriotic Bunting - The citizens show their national pride by decorating with patriotic banners (1 point)
- Daytime Lighting - The city with the sun shining brightly (Default)
- Dusk Lighting - The city at dusk (1 point)
- Night Lighting - The city at night (1 point)
- The Artist - An artist who sets up his easel and paints (1 point)
- Thug - A brutish and unpleasant fellow (1 point)
- Bone Guard - Assign Bone Guard at the Barrakka Gardens (1 point)
- British Pirate - Assign British Pirate at the Barrakka Gardens (1 point)
- Barrakka Gardens (original) - The original version of the Barrakka Gardens (Default)
- Barrakka Gardens (sand) - The Barrakka Gardens with a sand brick finish (2 points)
- Barrakka Gardens (red) - The Barrakka Gardens with a red brick finish (2 points)
- Barrakka Gardens (sienna) - The Barrakka Gardens with a sienna brick finish (2 points)
- Barrakka Gardens (copper) - The Barrakka Gardens with a copper brick finish (2 points)
- Patriotic Bunting - The citizens show their national pride by decorating with patriotic banners (1 point)
- City Vegetation - Display street vegetation along the streets of the Barrakka Gardens (1 point)
- Cannons - Display Cannons in front of this building (1 point)
- Drunk - A sailor who has overindulged in adult beverages (1 point)
- Nice Lady - A woman in a red dress (1 point)
- Fisherman - A man who would rather be fishing (1 point)
- Maltese Carnival 1 - Citizens of Malta gathering in front of the harbor to party (5 points)
- Maltese Carnival 2 - Citizens of Malta gathering in front of the harbor to party (5 points)
- Harbor (original) - The original version of the Harbor (Default)
- Harbor (Malta) - The Malta themed version of the Harbor (2 points)
- Harbor (red) - The red version of the Harbor (2 points)
- Harbor (pistachio) - The pistachio version of the Harbor (2 points)
- Harbor (green) - The green version of the Harbor (2 points)
- Patriotic Bunting - The citizens show their national pride by decorating with patriotic banners (1 point)
- Gold Clock - A golden clock. How time flies when you're having fun (1 point)
- Cannons - Display Cannons in front of this building (1 point)
- Harbor Hardware - Crates, boats, oars, nets—everything for the disorganized harbor master (1 point)
- Luzzus - Maltese Luzzu boats cruising around the harbor (5 points)
Characteristics[]
Civilization bonuses[]
- Starts with 400 food, 200 wood, 100 coin, and six Settlers
- Maltese units (except Order units) get +2% hit points (artillery and ships get +1% instead) with each Home City shipment (except infinite ones) and regenerate hit points when idle, but Home City shipments require +1% XP to be earned
- Can train Order units: multinational European soldiers with +10% hit points and attack, +10% XP bounty, and are upgraded automatically, but with increased cost and training time
- Choose Politicians to advance in Age
- Royal Guard units: Crossbowman (Arbalester), Culverin (Basilisk)
Unique units[]
- Grand Master: The hero of your civilization. Explores, fights, builds Fortifications and Trading Posts. Cannot die. If he falls unconscious, he can be rescued.
- Hospitaller: A Knight of Malta armed with a great sword. Absorbs some of the damage inflicted to nearby allies. Faster near Buildings.
- Sentinel: Defensive Musketeer that may construct Outposts. Stronger near Buildings, especially Fortifications.
- Fire Thrower: Light Infantry that attacks with incendiary weapons which inflict burning damage. Counters Heavy Infantry and Light Cavalry.
- Order Galley: Armored, but fast Galley. Good at exploring, fishing and transport. Gains an attack boost after sinking enemy Ships.
- Fire Ship: Fire Ship. Rams anything on the water and explodes (only available after sending the Greek Fire card).
Unique buildings[]
- Hospital: Trains Maltese infantry. Heals idle units.
- Commandery: Defensive Building. Units that can be garrisoned may be deployed from ANY other Commandery. Trains powerful foreign allies from around Europe who pledge their allegiance to the Knights of St John.
- Depot: Depot filled to the brim with gunpowder. Boosts attack speed of nearby Gunpowder Units, Artillery and Buildings. Will EXPLODE if destroyed, damaging ALL units.
- Fixed Gun: Powerful stationary artillery.
Politicians[]
- The Governor, The Inventor, The Logistician, The Naturalist, The Quartermaster (Commerce Age)
- The Admiral of the Ocean Sea, The Adventurer, The Bishop, The Mercenary Contractor, The Sergeant at Arms (Fortress Age)
- The Engineer, The Logistician, The Papal Guard, The War Minister, The Pope (Industrial Age)
- El Presidente, The General, The Mercenary Contractor, The Knight, The Scottish Marshal (Imperial Age)
Revolutions[]
Overview[]
Overall, the Maltese are best played defensively. Their two unique infantry units, the Hospitaller and Sentinel, receive their bonuses only when near friendly structures (for the Sentinels, it is near friendly defensive structures, such as the Outpost and Fixed Gun). Additionally, one of their unique buildings, the Depot, boosts gunpowder unit attack only within its radius, and also acts as a sort of large improvised explosive device, exploding on command or upon destruction to deal substantial damage to every unit and/or building in its radius. Furthermore, the Fixed Gun, while powerful and long-ranged, acts as both a building and a unit, taking up seven population slots and requiring wood and coin to be built by the Grand Master, and the Fixed Artillery has a minimum range where enemy units close to it cannot be targeted, necessitating that it be defended by other units.
Unique Maltese infantry units are slightly more expensive than common infantry, and take up two population slots. As such, a Maltese player will find it challenging to attempt to raise large armies based on these unique units. However, various Home City Cards will enhance the effectiveness of Maltese unique units, granting them access to powerful charged abilities - though some also add to their build cost. Other cards will automatically send a number of Hospitallers based on the amount of defensive/military structures a player has, possibly greatly strengthening the Maltese in the late game.
Other Home City Cards send numbers of units from other European civilizations, such as the British or the French, and subsequently allows their recruitment in the Commandery, which acts as a Stable/fortification for the Maltese, along with adding to their flexibility in army composition. These cards also send a wagon to build one Commandery for free. Maltese artillery largely share the roster of most other European civilizations, with one notable difference - the Fire Thrower, which replaces the Grenadier in the Artillery Foundry. Additionally, like other European nations, the Maltese have access to a Factory via a Home City Card, but only one, thus slightly limiting the Maltese economy in the late game.
History[]
| “ | One of the Mediterranean's epitomes of a melting pot, early modern Malta, though initially under the rule of the Aragonese crown, was home to a diverse population of Muslims, Christians, and Jews of Maltese, North African, mainland European, and eastern Mediterranean heritages. Enjoying a prime position at a crossroads of Mediterranean trade, Malta was strategically and financially important, and thus most of the surrounding powers coveted it. Sensing its importance, the Holy Roman Empire leased the island in 1530 to the Knights Hospitaller, which had been rapidly losing its eastern Mediterranean territories and needed a new stronghold. The Knights wasted no time in making use of their new possession. Perpetually at war with the Ottoman Empire, they used Malta as a base to raid Ottoman trade routes and turned it into a formidable fortified bastion. These renovations were to prove crucial, as the Ottomans launched a campaign in 1565 to conquer the island and expel the Knights. This battle, known to posterity as the Siege of Malta, became one of the most storied in early modern history. Vastly outnumbered and outgunned, the Knights, under the steadfast leadership of Grand Master Jean Parisot de la Valette, repelled the Ottomans. The battle saw the use of innovative tactics on the part of the defense: on one occasion, the Knights hid artillery in their walls and then used it to blast apart a siege tower that Ottoman Janissaries were using to take potshots at defenders; on others, the Knights hurled incendiary wooden hoops at advancing Janissaries, starting wildfires that halted their advance. The rushing Ottoman tide, formerly deemed nigh-invincible, had been halted. Six years later, in 1571, a coalition of European states known as the Holy League annihilated the Ottoman navy at Lepanto, ending Ottoman thrusts into the western Mediterranean for a time. The Knights, redubbed the Knights of Malta, had reached the apex of their power, and went into swift decline as the rise of powerful modernizing nation-states rendered archaic military orders obsolete. Although the Knights retained control of Malta, its strategic and economic importance waned during the age of exploration and settlement abroad. By 1798, when Napoleon Bonaparte, driven by Alexandrian delusions of grandeur, had embarked on a campaign east towards Egypt, it took a mere ruse to topple the once-mighty Knights and seize Malta. Seized soon thereafter by the British navy, it remained in British hands well into the 20th century. |
” |
Trivia[]
- The Maltese flag is the Flag of the Order's Works of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (1530–1798). This flag represents its humanitarian and medical activities, which is referenced in the feature of Maltese units healing over time when idle.
- The cross on this flag is also present in the unique Castle and building of the Sicilians civilization in Age of Empires II.
- Three of their unique buildings are based on unconstructable buildings from the campaign: the Depot, based on the Weapon Cache; the Fixed Gun, based on a larger weapon; and the Commandery, based on the Command Post.
- The Cathedral in the Maltese Home City is inaccurately based on the Lisbon Cathedral due to being reused from the Portuguese Home City.
- They can be seen as a Skirmish counterpart of the Knights of St. John from Act I: Blood. The Knights of St. John portray all Maltese factions in the campaigns.
- Malta had colonies in the Caribbean between 1651 and 1665, before selling them to the new French West India Company, bringing their colonial project to an end.
- The Maltese are the only European civilization other than the Italians that can only send one Factory Wagon from the Home City. They also do not have access to the Surgeon.
Gallery[]
Valletta, the Maltese Home City
Official preview of the Maltese
Showcase of a coastal Maltese settlement containing a House of Phanar
Map of the Order's territories in the Caribbean
