Qalet Marku Battery
{{Short description|Artillery battery in Malta}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name = Qalet Marku Battery
| native_name = Batterija ta' Qalet Marku
| location = Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq, Naxxar, Malta
| image = Qalet Marku Battery.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| caption = Remains of Qalet Marku Battery
| type = Artillery battery
| coordinates = {{coord|35|56|42.2|N|14|27|14.1|E|type:landmark|display=inline}}
| ownership = Government of Malta
| controlled_by =
| open_to_public =
| built = 1715–1716
| used =
| builder = Order of Saint John
| materials = Limestone
| height =
| condition = Ruins
| battles =
| events =
}}
Qalet Marku Battery ({{langx|mt|Batterija ta' Qalet Marku}}), also known as D'Orbeau Battery ({{langx|mt|Batterija D'Orbeau}}), was an artillery battery in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq, within the limits of Naxxar, Malta. It was built in 1715–1716 by the Order of Saint John as one of a series of coastal fortifications around the Maltese Islands. The battery has been largely destroyed, but some remains can still be seen.
History
Qalet Marku Battery was built in 1715–1716 as part of the first building programme of coastal batteries in Malta. The nearest fortifications to the battery were Saint Mark's Tower to the north, Qalet Marku Redoubt to the west (now demolished) and Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq Redoubt to the east. Construction of the battery cost 1,165 scudi.{{cite news|title=Lost landmarks of Malta: Batteria D'Orbeau - Qalet Marku, Baħar iċ-Ċaghaq|url=http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-02-23/arts-and-culture/lost-landmarks-of-malta-batteria-dorbeau-qalet-marku-bahar-ic-caghaq-4033118209/|access-date=26 June 2015|work=The Malta Independent|date=23 February 2014}}
File:Qalet Marku D'Orbeau Battery.jpg in the distance]]
The battery originally consisted of a pentagonal gun platform with an embrasured parapet wall.{{cite web|last1=Spiteri|first1=Stephen C.|title=Naxxar and its fortifications|url=http://www.militaryarchitecture.com/index.php/Fortifications/naxxar-and-its-fortifications.html|website=MilitaryArchitecture.com|access-date=26 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120010200/http://www.militaryarchitecture.com/index.php/Fortifications/naxxar-and-its-fortifications.html |archive-date=20 January 2016}} A rectangular blockhouse was located in the centre of the battery, while the entire structure was surrounded by a rock-hewn ditch.
The battery was still in good condition until the first half of the 20th century. It seems to have been severely damaged before or during World War II. At this point, a concrete bunker was built on one side of the ruined battery.
Present day
Today, only the ditch and part of the scarp wall are still visible, although they are covered in vegetation.{{cite web|title=Environment Protection Directorate (MEPA) Report on EIA – Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)|url=http://www.mepa.org.mt/file.aspx?f=8600|website=MEPA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304113716/http://www.mepa.org.mt/file.aspx?f=8600|archive-date=4 March 2016|page=21|date=July 2012|access-date=26 June 2015|url-status=dead}} Despite this, the site is considered to have significant archaeological potential if properly excavated and studied.{{cite web|last1=Spiteri|first1=Stephen C.|title=Campaigning for Rihama Battery|url=http://www.militaryarchitecture.com/index.php/Conservation/campaigning-for-rihama-battery.html|website=MilitaryArchitecture.com|access-date=26 June 2015|date=28 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002070440/http://www.militaryarchitecture.com/index.php/Conservation/campaigning-for-rihama-battery.html |archive-date=2 October 2017}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Qalet Marku Battery}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20150627061143/http://www.culturalheritage.gov.mt/filebank/inventory/Knights%20Fortifications/1381.pdf National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands]
{{Batteries in Malta}}
Category:Artillery battery fortifications in Malta
Category:Hospitaller fortifications in Malta
Category:Military installations established in 1715
Category:Buildings and structures demolished in the 20th century
Category:Limestone buildings in Malta
Category:National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands
Category:18th-century fortifications