Balbani Battery (Maltese: Batterija ta' Balbani), also known as Bengħisa Battery (Maltese: Batterija ta' Bengħisa) or Saint Catherine's Battery (Maltese: Batterija ta' Santa Katarina),[1] was an artillery battery in Birżebbuġa, Malta. It was built by the Order of Saint John on commands by Grand Master Manuel Pinto da Fonseca and it was completed in 1721.[2] The battery was named for Cristoforo Balbani, who partially financed its construction.[3] It was one of a series of coastal fortifications around the Maltese Islands.[4]
Balbani Battery was part of a chain of fortifications that defended Marsaxlokk Bay, which also included six other batteries, the large Saint Lucian Tower, two smaller De Redin towers, four redoubts and three entrenchments.[3] The nearest fortifications to Balbani Battery were Bengħisa Tower to the south and Fresnoy Redoubt to the west. Construction of the battery cost 1855 scudi.[5] The mastermind of the battery was architect Burlemarch and at its completion it was armed with eight cannons.[2] It had a pentagonal platform with a blockhouse at the rear, which was also defended by a redan.[6]
The battery was demolished, and its site is now occupied by part of the Malta Freeport.[7] The land where it was is still named as Ta' Balbani for the battery.[3]
Referencesedit
^Farrugia Randon, Stanley (2015). Heritage Saved – Din l-Art Ħelwa – 1965–2015. Luqa: Miller Distributors Ltd. p. 119. ISBN9789995752132.
^ abGuillaumier, Alfie (2005). Bliet u Rħula Maltin. Vol. 2. Klabb Kotba Maltin. p. 93. ISBN99932-39-40-2.
^ abcCamilleri, Alex. "It-Toponomastika ta' Malta: Il-Port ta' Marsaxlokk u Madwaru" (PDF). L-Imnara. 1 (32): 23–24.
^de Boisgelin, Louis (1805). Ancient and Modern Malta: Containing a Full and Accurate Account of the Present State of the Islands of Malta and Goza, the History of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, Also a Narrative of the Events which Attended the Capture of These Islands by the French, and Their Conquest by the English: and an Appendix, Containing Authentic State Papers and Other Documents - Volume II. London: Richard Phillips. p. 189.
^Spiteri, Stephen C. (18 October 2010). . MilitaryArchitecture.com. Archived from the original on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
balbani, battery, maltese, batterija, balbani, also, known, bengħisa, battery, maltese, batterija, bengħisa, saint, catherine, battery, maltese, batterija, santa, katarina, artillery, battery, birżebbuġa, malta, built, order, saint, john, commands, grand, mast. Balbani Battery Maltese Batterija ta Balbani also known as Bengħisa Battery Maltese Batterija ta Bengħisa or Saint Catherine s Battery Maltese Batterija ta Santa Katarina 1 was an artillery battery in Birzebbuġa Malta It was built by the Order of Saint John on commands by Grand Master Manuel Pinto da Fonseca and it was completed in 1721 2 The battery was named for Cristoforo Balbani who partially financed its construction 3 It was one of a series of coastal fortifications around the Maltese Islands 4 Balbani BatteryBatterija ta BalbaniBirzebbuġa MaltaCoordinates35 48 58 2 N 14 32 21 4 E 35 816167 N 14 539278 E 35 816167 14 539278TypeArtillery batterySite historyBuilt1721Built byOrder of Saint JohnMaterialsLimestoneFateDemolishedBalbani Battery was part of a chain of fortifications that defended Marsaxlokk Bay which also included six other batteries the large Saint Lucian Tower two smaller De Redin towers four redoubts and three entrenchments 3 The nearest fortifications to Balbani Battery were Bengħisa Tower to the south and Fresnoy Redoubt to the west Construction of the battery cost 1855 scudi 5 The mastermind of the battery was architect Burlemarch and at its completion it was armed with eight cannons 2 It had a pentagonal platform with a blockhouse at the rear which was also defended by a redan 6 The battery was demolished and its site is now occupied by part of the Malta Freeport 7 The land where it was is still named as Ta Balbani for the battery 3 References edit Farrugia Randon Stanley 2015 Heritage Saved Din l Art Ħelwa 1965 2015 Luqa Miller Distributors Ltd p 119 ISBN 9789995752132 a b Guillaumier Alfie 2005 Bliet u Rħula Maltin Vol 2 Klabb Kotba Maltin p 93 ISBN 99932 39 40 2 a b c Camilleri Alex It Toponomastika ta Malta Il Port ta Marsaxlokk u Madwaru PDF L Imnara 1 32 23 24 de Boisgelin Louis 1805 Ancient and Modern Malta Containing a Full and Accurate Account of the Present State of the Islands of Malta and Goza the History of the Knights of St John of Jerusalem Also a Narrative of the Events which Attended the Capture of These Islands by the French and Their Conquest by the English and an Appendix Containing Authentic State Papers and Other Documents Volume II London Richard Phillips p 189 Spiteri Stephen C 18 October 2010 St Thomas Tower and Battery MilitaryArchitecture com Archived from the original on 19 June 2018 Retrieved 28 June 2015 Batterji u Ridotti 2 About Birzebbuga birzebbuga com Retrieved 28 June 2015 nbsp This Malta related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Balbani Battery amp oldid 1146021172, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
