In 1551, an entire island's population was captured and sold into slavery
The entire population of the island of Gozo was wiped out in 1551 when Ottoman forces captured the territory, leading to the tragic enslavement of thousands of civilians in a single week.
In July 1551, the island of Gozo suffered a catastrophic blow when Ottoman Admiral Sinan Pasha successfully besieged the Citadel. After the Knights Hospitaller surrendered, nearly the entire population of approximately 5,000 people was captured and sold into slavery. The invaders spared only a few elderly citizens, leaving the island a silent, empty ghost of its former self.
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