Malta welcomes French rule, then citizens rise up against reforms

In June 1798, when Napolean landed with forces from the French Republic, also known as Revolutionary France, his primary purpose was to oust the Knights of Malta. He was on his way to Egypt in an attempt to expand French power, but he stopped first in Malta where he tricked the Knights by requesting safe harbor to resupply his ships. He then turned his guns against them once he was inside Valletta. Grand Master Hompesch of the Knights of Malta surrendered and Napoleon entered the city. After his victory he only remained on the island for six days.

The silver gate of St. John’s Co-Cathedral was painted black so French troops would not melt it down into bullion. | WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

During this time, he implemented several reforms. He created a new administration led by a government commission, rescinded all feudal rights and privileges, abolished slavery and granted freedom to all Turkish slaves. He changed judicial proceedings and established guidelines for public education for both primary and secondary schools. During this time 15 primary schools were established, and the university was changed to an ecole centrale or central school with eight disciplines which were rooted in science. He also instituted freedom of the press although only one newspaper, the Journal de Malte, was printed during the French occupation. He then sailed for Egypt leaving behind approximately 3,000 soldiers under the command of Claude-Henri Belgrand de Vaubois.

While Napolean made significant changes to benefit the populace, the French forces soon faced opposition. Citizens were upset in particular because of the occupier’s dislike of Catholicism and the plundering of local churches to fund Napolean’s wars. They were furious when the French began auctioning off church property which led to a popular uprising. Within just a few days, thousands of Maltese insurgents forced the French troops into the fortified city of Valletta and the nearby Harbor. This unofficial Maltese army was then fortified with ammunition and naval forces sent by Great Britain as well as help from the Kingdoms of Sicily and Naples.

General Claude-Henri Belgrand de Vaubois surrendered his French forces in 1800. Maltese leaders first pledged allegiance to the sovereigns of Naples and Sicily but later, in 1802, they issued a Declaration of Rights which stated the “King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland is our Sovereign Lord, and his lawful successors shall, in all times to come, be acknowledged as our lawful sovereign.”

The Declaration also stated that “his Majesty has no right to cede these islands to any power … if he chooses to withdraw his protection, and abandon his sovereignty, the right of electing another sovereign, or of the governing of these Islands, belongs to us, the inhabitants and aborigines alone, and without control.”

The British were now in control of Malta and by 1813 Malta was declared a Crown colony. However, Maltese patriots felt cheated because they wanted Malta to be administered by a Maltese elected assembly and for the British to only play the role of protector.

Next month: Easter celebrations in Malta.