Napoleon captured the island of Malta in 1798 without firing a single shot
In a remarkable display of military intimidation, Napoleon Bonaparte seized the strategic island of Malta in 1798 by securing a total surrender from the Knights Hospitaller without ever engaging in a battle.
As Napoleon sailed toward Egypt in June 1798, he requested permission to water his fleet in Malta's neutral harbor. When the ruling Knights Hospitaller refused, Napoleon launched a swift invasion that prompted an immediate surrender. The Grand Master realized his knights were forbidden from fighting fellow Christians, rendering their massive fortifications useless.
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