Neolithic era

Neolithic

The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...

 (5200 BCE - 4100 BCE)

• about 5200 BCE:
  • Earliest settler
    Settler
    A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. Settlers are generally people who take up residence on land and cultivate it, as opposed to nomads...
    
    s arrive on Malta from Sicily
    Sicily
    Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
    
    , as farmers, who grew barley, wheat, and leguminous plants, and raised pigs, cattle, sheep and goats.
  • Għar Dalam phase.
  • The fauna
    Fauna
    Fauna or faunæ is all of the animal life of any particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is flora.Zoologists and paleontologists use fauna to refer to a typical collection of animals found in a specific time or place, e.g. the "Sonoran Desert fauna" or the "Burgess shale fauna"...
    
     of the Maltese Islands includes deer
    Deer
    Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
    
    , hippopotami
    Hippopotamus
    The hippopotamus , or hippo, from the ancient Greek for "river horse" , is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal in sub-Saharan Africa, and one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae After the elephant and rhinoceros, the hippopotamus is the third largest land mammal and the heaviest...
    
     and dwarf elephant
    Elephant
    Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
    
    s, believed to be remnants from an earlier age, when Malta formed part of a land-bridge that connected Europe with the African continent.
• 4850 BCE: Development of a village settlement at Skorba.
• 4400 BCE to 4100 BCE: Red Skorba phase; baked clay figurines and statuettes

The Temple Culture (4100 BCE - 3000 BCE)

• 4100 BCE: A new wave of immigration to Malta; introduction of pear-shaped ceramic artefacts.
• 4100 BCE to 3800 BCE: Construction of the Xagħra Stone Circle on the Island of Gozo
  Gozo
  Gozo is a small island of the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is part of the Southern European country of Malta; after the island of Malta itself, it is the second-largest island in the archipelago...
  
  .
• 3600 BCE: Construction of the Ġgantija
  Ggantija
  Ġgantija is a Neolithic, megalithic temple complex on the Mediterranean island of Gozo. The Ġgantija temples are the earliest of a series of megalithic temples in Malta. Their makers erected the two Ġgantija temples during the Neolithic Age , which makes these temples more than 5500 years old and...
  
   megalithic temple complex on the Island of Gozo.
• 3600 BCE to 3000 BCE: Construction of Ta' Ħaġrat, Kordin III, Skorba and Tas-Silġ megalithic temples.
• 3600 BCE to 2500 BCE: Construction of the Mnajdra
  Mnajdra
  Mnajdra is a megalithic temple complex found on the southern coast of the Mediterranean island of Malta. Mnajdra is approximately 500 metres from the Ħaġar Qim megalithic complex...
  
   and Ħaġar Qim temple complexes.
• 3250 BCE to 3000 BCE: Construction of the Tarxien Temples
  Tarxien Temples
  The Tarxien Temples are an archaeological complex in Tarxien, Malta. They date back to approximately 2800 BC. The site was accepted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980 along with the other Megalithic temples on the island of Malta.-Description:...
  
  .
• 3000 BCE: Earliest evidence of cremation
  Cremation
  Cremation is the process of reducing bodies to basic chemical compounds such as gasses and bone fragments. This is accomplished through high-temperature burning, vaporization and oxidation....
  
  ; some of the older megalithic temples are converted into necropoli
  Necropolis
  A necropolis is a large cemetery or burial ground, usually including structural tombs. The word comes from the Greek νεκρόπολις - nekropolis, literally meaning "city of the dead"...
  
  .

Bronze Age

Bronze Age

The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...

 / Iron Age

Iron Age

The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...

 (2500 BCE - 700 BCE)

• 2500 BCE: Excavation of the Hypogeum of Ħal-Saflieni, an underground sanctuary and necropolis.
• 2500 BCE: Construction of Borġ in-Nadur temple; subsequently developed into a Bronze Age village.
• about 1000 BCE:
  • The colonisation of the Maltese Islands by the Phoenicia
    Phoenicia
    Phoenicia , was an ancient civilization in Canaan which covered most of the western, coastal part of the Fertile Crescent. Several major Phoenician cities were built on the coastline of the Mediterranean. It was an enterprising maritime trading culture that spread across the Mediterranean from 1550...
    
    ns begins.
  • Earliest evidence of commerce and increased contacts with surrounding Mediterranean cultures.
• about 720 BCE: A Greek
  Ancient Greece
  Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
  
   colony is founded on Malta.

Punic / Roman period

Roman Empire

The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....

 (700 BCE - 395)

• 700 BCE to 200 BCE: A Punic temple, dedicated to the mother goddess Astarte
  Astarte
  Astarte is the Greek name of a goddess known throughout the Eastern Mediterranean from the Bronze Age to Classical times...
  
  , is built over the remains of the Tas-Silġ megalithic temples.
• 539 BCE: Cyrus the Great
  Cyrus the Great
  Cyrus II of Persia , commonly known as Cyrus the Great, also known as Cyrus the Elder, was the founder of the Achaemenid Empire. Under his rule, the empire embraced all the previous civilized states of the ancient Near East, expanded vastly and eventually conquered most of Southwest Asia and much...
  
  , founder of the Persian Empire, conquers Phoenicia
  Phoenicia
  Phoenicia , was an ancient civilization in Canaan which covered most of the western, coastal part of the Fertile Crescent. Several major Phoenician cities were built on the coastline of the Mediterranean. It was an enterprising maritime trading culture that spread across the Mediterranean from 1550...
  
  .
• 480 BCE: The islands come under the control of Carthage
  Carthage
  Carthage , implying it was a 'new Tyre') is a major urban centre that has existed for nearly 3,000 years on the Gulf of Tunis, developing from a Phoenician colony of the 1st millennium BC...
  
  , a former Phoenician colony, and rapidly develop into a Carthaginian naval base.
• 264 BCE-241 BCE: First Punic War
  First Punic War
  The First Punic War was the first of three wars fought between Ancient Carthage and the Roman Republic. For 23 years, the two powers struggled for supremacy in the western Mediterranean Sea, primarily on the Mediterranean island of Sicily and its surrounding waters but also to a lesser extent in...
  
  .
• 200 BCE to 300: A Roman
  Roman Republic
  The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
  
   temple, dedicated to the goddess Hera
  Hera
  Hera was the wife and one of three sisters of Zeus in the Olympian pantheon of Greek mythology and religion. Her chief function was as the goddess of women and marriage. Her counterpart in the religion of ancient Rome was Juno. The cow and the peacock were sacred to her...
  
  , is built over the remains of the Tas-Silġ megalithic temples.
• 221 BCE to 202 BCE: Second Punic War
  Second Punic War
  The Second Punic War, also referred to as The Hannibalic War and The War Against Hannibal, lasted from 218 to 201 BC and involved combatants in the western and eastern Mediterranean. This was the second major war between Carthage and the Roman Republic, with the participation of the Berbers on...
  
  .
• 218 BCE:
  • Invasion of Malta by Titus Sempronius Longus.
  • Malta is incorporated into the Roman Republic
    Roman Republic
    The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
    
    , within the province of Sicily.
  • Beginnings of the Maltese textile
    Textile
    A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
    
     industry.
• 150 BCE to 146 BCE: Third Punic War
  Third Punic War
  The Third Punic War was the third and last of the Punic Wars fought between the former Phoenician colony of Carthage, and the Roman Republic...
  
  .
• 41: The Maltese
  Maltese people
  The Maltese are an ethnic group indigenous to the Southern European nation of Malta, and identified with the Maltese language. Malta is an island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea...
  
   are granted municipal privileges by Rome
  Roman Republic
  The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
  
  .
• 60: Saint Paul shipwrecked on the island.
• 117 to 138: Malta becomes a municipium
  Municipium
  Municipium , the prototype of English municipality, was the Latin term for a town or city. Etymologically the municipium was a social contract between municipes, the "duty holders," or citizens of the town. The duties, or munera, were a communal obligation assumed by the municipes in exchange for...
  
   during the reign of Hadrian
  Hadrian
  Hadrian , was Roman Emperor from 117 to 138. He is best known for building Hadrian's Wall, which marked the northern limit of Roman Britain. In Rome, he re-built the Pantheon and constructed the Temple of Venus and Roma. In addition to being emperor, Hadrian was a humanist and was philhellene in...
  
  .

Western Roman

Western Roman Empire

The Western Roman Empire was the western half of the Roman Empire after its division by Diocletian in 285; the other half of the Roman Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire, commonly referred to today as the Byzantine Empire....

 and Byzantine period

Byzantine Empire

The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...

 (395 - 870)

• 395 to 454: Western Roman
  Western Roman Empire
  The Western Roman Empire was the western half of the Roman Empire after its division by Diocletian in 285; the other half of the Roman Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire, commonly referred to today as the Byzantine Empire....
  
   rule over Malta, following the final division of the Roman Empire.
• 400 to 600: A Western Roman church is built over the remains of the Tas-Silġ megalithic temples.
• 454: Malta is occupied by the Vandals
  Vandals
  The Vandals were an East Germanic tribe that entered the late Roman Empire during the 5th century. The Vandals under king Genseric entered Africa in 429 and by 439 established a kingdom which included the Roman Africa province, besides the islands of Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia and the Balearics....
  
  .
• 464: Malta is occupied by the Goths
  Goths
  The Goths were an East Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin whose two branches, the Visigoths and the Ostrogoths, played an important role in the fall of the Roman Empire and the emergence of Medieval Europe....
  
  .
• 533: Belisarius
  Belisarius
  Flavius Belisarius was a general of the Byzantine Empire. He was instrumental to Emperor Justinian's ambitious project of reconquering much of the Mediterranean territory of the former Western Roman Empire, which had been lost less than a century previously....
  
   restores the Maltese Islands to the Byzantine Empire.

Arab period

Aghlabid

The Aghlabids were a dynasty of emirs, members of the Arab tribe of Bani Tamim, who ruled Ifriqiya, nominally on behalf of the Abbasid Caliph, for about a century, until overthrown by the new power of the Fatimid.-History:...

 (870 - 1127)

• 870:
  • Malta is conquered by Aghlabid Arabs
    Aghlabid
    The Aghlabids were a dynasty of emirs, members of the Arab tribe of Bani Tamim, who ruled Ifriqiya, nominally on behalf of the Abbasid Caliph, for about a century, until overthrown by the new power of the Fatimid.-History:...
    
    .
  • The fortified Roman settlement of Melita, on the highlands in the centre of Malta, is reduced in size, further fortified, and renamed Medina, precursor to the Medieval city of Mdina
    Mdina
    Mdina, Città Vecchia, or Città Notabile, is the old capital of Malta. Mdina is a medieval walled town situated on a hill in the centre of the island. Punic remains uncovered beyond the city’s walls suggest the importance of the general region to Malta’s Phoenician settlers. Mdina is commonly...
    
    .
  • The Arabs construct a fort on the site of present-day Fort St Angelo
    Fort St Angelo
    Fort St Angelo is a large fortification in Birgu, Malta, right at the centre of Grand Harbour.-History:Medieval TimesThe date of its original construction is unknown. However, there are claims of prehistoric or classical buildings near the site, due to some large ashlar blocks and an Egyptian pink...
    
    .
  • Improved agriculture and irrigation systems are introduced, including the 'noria' or waterwheel; cotton and citrus fruits are introduced to Malta.
• 909: Fatimids conquered Malta.
• 1048: The Byzantine Empire attempts to recapture the Islands.
• 1091: Count Roger I of Sicily
  Roger I of Sicily
  Roger I , called Bosso and the Great Count, was the Norman Count of Sicily from 1071 to 1101. He was the last great leader of the Norman conquest of southern Italy.-Conquest of Calabria and Sicily:...
  
   establishes Norman
  Normans
  The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
  
   rule over Malta.
• 1122: Arab uprising against the Normans in Malta.

Norman rule (1127 - 1194)

• 1127:
  • Norman control over Malta is consolidated under Roger II of Sicily
    Roger II of Sicily
    Roger II was King of Sicily, son of Roger I of Sicily and successor to his brother Simon. He began his rule as Count of Sicily in 1105, later became Duke of Apulia and Calabria , then King of Sicily...
    
    .
  • A Norman governor is installed, and Norman soldiers are garrisoned in Malta's three main castles.
  • Christianity
    Christianity
    Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
    
     re-established as the Islands' dominant religion.
• 1144: Second attempt by the Byzantine Empire to recapture the Islands.
• 1154: The Catholic Church
  Archdiocese of Malta
  The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Malta is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church in Malta. The former Diocese of Malta was elevated to archdiocese on January 1, 1944...
  
   in Malta is incorporated into the See of Palermo
  Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Palermo
  The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Palermo was founded as the Diocese of Palermo in the 1st Century but was raised to the level of an archdiocese in the 11th century...
  
  .

Kingdom of Sicily: County of Malta (1194 - 1427)

• 1194-1266: Malta and Sicily are ruled by the Swabians
  Duke of Swabia
  The following is a list of Dukes of Swabia in southwest Germany.Swabia was one of the five stem duchies of the medieval German kingdom, and its dukes were thus among the most powerful magnates of Germany. The most notable family to hold Swabia were the Hohenstaufen, who held it, with a brief...
  
   (House of Hohenstaufen).
• 1224: Expulsion of all Muslims from Malta and Sicily.
• 1266-1283: Malta and Sicily are ruled by the Angevins
  Capetian House of Anjou
  The Capetian House of Anjou, also known as the House of Anjou-Sicily and House of Anjou-Naples, was a royal house and cadet branch of the direct House of Capet. Founded by Charles I of Sicily, a son of Louis VIII of France, the Capetian king first ruled the Kingdom of Sicily during the 13th century...
  
  .
• 1283-1530: Malta and Sicily are ruled by the Crown of Aragon
  Crown of Aragon
  The Crown of Aragon Corona d'Aragón Corona d'Aragó Corona Aragonum controlling a large portion of the present-day eastern Spain and southeastern France, as well as some of the major islands and mainland possessions stretching across the Mediterranean as far as Greece...
  
  .
• 1350: Grant in fief of lands 'Diar el Bniet' by Louis of Sicily
  Louis of Sicily
  Louis the Child was King of Sicily from 1342 to 1355.Born in Catania, he was the son of Peter II, whom he succeeded at the age of five, and his mother was Elisabeth of Carinthia. His reign began under the joint regency of his uncle John, Duke of Randazzo, and his mother.He lived at Randazzo...
  
   (House of Aragon) to Francesco Gatto on the 4 January 1350, by a privilegium given at Messina, the fief having reverted to the Crown after it had been held by Michele Bava.
• 1356: Giacomo Pelegrino is noted as 'Capitano della Verga' ('Hakem').
• 1350-1357: First Incorporation of the Maltese Islands into the Royal Domain
  Crown of Aragon
  The Crown of Aragon Corona d'Aragón Corona d'Aragó Corona Aragonum controlling a large portion of the present-day eastern Spain and southeastern France, as well as some of the major islands and mainland possessions stretching across the Mediterranean as far as Greece...
  
   (Kingdom of Sicily
  Kingdom of Sicily
  The Kingdom of Sicily was a state that existed in the south of Italy from its founding by Roger II in 1130 until 1816. It was a successor state of the County of Sicily, which had been founded in 1071 during the Norman conquest of southern Italy...
  
  ).
• 1397-1420: Second Incorporation of the Maltese Islands into the Royal Domain (Kingdom of Sicily
  Kingdom of Sicily
  The Kingdom of Sicily was a state that existed in the south of Italy from its founding by Roger II in 1130 until 1816. It was a successor state of the County of Sicily, which had been founded in 1071 during the Norman conquest of southern Italy...
  
  ).
• 1397: Establishment of the Università, a form of local government, in Malta.
• 1419: The Militia List is drawn up, giving information about the population of Malta in the Middle Ages.
• 1420: The 'Consiglio Popolare' is mentioned when King Alphonsus of Aragon mortgaged the islands to Antonio Cardona.
• 1425:
  • Uprising by the Maltese
    Maltese people
    The Maltese are an ethnic group indigenous to the Southern European nation of Malta, and identified with the Maltese language. Malta is an island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea...
    
     against Don Gonsalvo Monroy during his absence from the island, Count of Malta.
  • His wife Donna Costanza is held hostage in the Castellamare (Fort St Angelo)
  • Monroy appears before the Court of Sicily demanding that the strongest possible measures be taken against the insurgents.
  • The Maltese insurgents repel an attempt by the Viceroy of Sicily to bring the island to order
  • Maltese representatives appear before the same Court, offering to "redeem" the Islands by repaying the 30,000 florins
    Italian coin florin
    The Italian florin was a coin struck from 1252 to 1533 with no significant change in its design or metal content standard. It had 54 grains of nominally pure gold worth approximately 200 modern US Dollars...
    
     originally paid by Monroy for his fiefdom over Malta, and asking King Alfonso
    Alfonso V of Aragon
    Alfonso the Magnanimous KG was the King of Aragon , Valencia , Majorca, Sardinia and Corsica , and Sicily and Count of Barcelona from 1416 and King of Naples from 1442 until his death...
    
     to incorporate the Islands into his Royal Domains
  • Monroy agrees to the terms but demands hostages to be held for as long as his wife is held in Malta. The impasse is resolved when Antonio Inguanez offers his two sons as hostages
  • Negotiations drag on for several months during which only 10,000 florins are collected and the negotiated time elapses. However Monroy dies retaining for his heirs only a third of the sum collected and ordering that another third be returned to the Maltese. The last third he left to the King to be spent on strengthening the fortifications of Malta.
  • Impressed by the loyalty of his Maltese subjects, the King declares Malta to be the most notable gem in his Crown. The old capital city of Mdina
    Mdina
    Mdina, Città Vecchia, or Città Notabile, is the old capital of Malta. Mdina is a medieval walled town situated on a hill in the centre of the island. Punic remains uncovered beyond the city’s walls suggest the importance of the general region to Malta’s Phoenician settlers. Mdina is commonly...
    
     acquires the name Città Notabile, as a result.
  • The Maltese do not submit to Aragonese rule until the Magna Charta Libertatis granting them their new rights is delivered to them

Kingdom of Aragon (1427 - 1530)

• 3 January 1427, King Alfonso
  Alfonso V of Aragon
  Alfonso the Magnanimous KG was the King of Aragon , Valencia , Majorca, Sardinia and Corsica , and Sicily and Count of Barcelona from 1416 and King of Naples from 1442 until his death...
  
   incorporates Malta to the Crown of Aragon
  Crown of Aragon
  The Crown of Aragon Corona d'Aragón Corona d'Aragó Corona Aragonum controlling a large portion of the present-day eastern Spain and southeastern France, as well as some of the major islands and mainland possessions stretching across the Mediterranean as far as Greece...
  
   (Kingdom of Sicily
  Kingdom of Sicily
  The Kingdom of Sicily was a state that existed in the south of Italy from its founding by Roger II in 1130 until 1816. It was a successor state of the County of Sicily, which had been founded in 1071 during the Norman conquest of southern Italy...
  
  ), and promises never to grant Malta as a fief to any third party.
• 1429: The Hafsid Berbers
  Hafsid dynasty
  The Hafsids were a Berber dynasty ruling Ifriqiya from 1229 to 1574. Their territories were stretched from east of modern Algeria to west of modern Libya during their zenith.-History:...
  
   attempt to capture Malta.
• 1436: In the 'Rollo' (inventory) of the benefices of the churches and chapels in Malta and Gozo
  Gozo
  Gozo is a small island of the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is part of the Southern European country of Malta; after the island of Malta itself, it is the second-largest island in the archipelago...
  
  , held by Bishop de Mello, ten established chapels are mentioned: The Cathedral of Mdina and the Church of San Lorenzo a Mare (Birgu), the 'Nativity of the Virgin' (Naxxar), 'Saint Helen' (Birkirkara), 'Saint George' (Qormi), 'Assumption of the irgin (Bir Miftuh), Saint Philip f Aggira (Zebbug), 'Saint Nicholas of Bari' (Siggiewi), 'Saint Catherine of Alexandria' (Zejtun and Zurrieq), Saint Domenica' (Dingli), and 'the Nativity of the Virgin' (Mellieha).
• 1522: Suleiman II
  Suleiman II
  Suleiman II was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1687 to 1691...
  
   drives the Military Hospitaller Knights of St. John of Jerusalem
  Knights Hospitaller
  The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
  
   out of Rhodes
  Rhodes
  Rhodes is an island in Greece, located in the eastern Aegean Sea. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands in terms of both land area and population, with a population of 117,007, and also the island group's historical capital. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within...
  
  .

Early Years on Malta

• 26 October 1530: In an effort to protect Rome from Islam
  Islam
  Islam . The most common are and .   : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
  
  ic invasion, Emperor Charles V
  Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
  Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
  
   grants the Maltese Islands to the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem
  Knights Hospitaller
  The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
  
   in perpetual fief.
• 1531: The Knights stage their first attacks from their new naval base in Malta, forming part of a Christian fleet under the command of Admiral Andrea Doria
  Andrea Doria
  Andrea Doria was an Italian condottiere and admiral from Genoa.-Early life:Doria was born at Oneglia from the ancient Genoese family, the Doria di Oneglia branch of the old Doria, de Oria or de Auria family. His parents were related: Ceva Doria, co-lord of Oneglia, and Caracosa Doria, of the...
  
   in attacks on the Turks
  Ottoman Empire
  The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
  
   at Modone
  Methoni, Messenia
  Methoni is a village and a former municipality in Messenia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pylos-Nestoras, of which it is a municipal unit. Its name may be derived from Mothona, a mythical rock. It is located 11 km south of Pylos and...
  
  , on the Ottoman fort at Coronna
  Koroni
  Koroni or Coroni is a town and a former municipality in Messenia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pylos-Nestoras, of which it is a municipal unit. Known as Corone by the Venetians and Ottomans, the town of Koroni Koroni or Coroni is a...
  
   and, in 1535, on Tunis
  Tunis
  Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
  
  .
• 1533 to 1565: Fortification and development of Fort St Elmo, on the tip of the Sciberras Peninsula (now, Valletta
  Valletta
  Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
  
  ).
• 1535: First known celebration of Carnival
  Maltese Carnival
  Carnival has had an important place on the Maltese cultural calendar for just under five centuries, having been introduced to the Islands by Grand Master Piero de Ponte in 1535...
  
   in Malta.
• 1540 to 1551: Increasingly frequent razzias
  Ghazw
  Ghazi or ghazah is an Arabic term that means "to raid/foray." From it evolved the word "Ghazwa" which specifically refers to a battle led by the Islamic prophet Muhammad.In English language literature the word often appears as razzia, deriving from French, although it probably...
  
   on Malta and Italy by Ottomans
  Ottoman Empire
  The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
  
   and Barbary pirates.
• 1547: Attempted invasion of Malta at Marsaxlokk
  Marsaxlokk
  Marsaxlokk is a traditional fishing village located in the south-eastern part of Malta, with a population of 3,277 people . The village’s name comes from marsa, which means "port" and xlokk, which is the local name for south east...
  
  , by Ottomans
  Ottoman Empire
  The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
  
   and Barbary pirates under the command of Turgut Reis
  Turgut Reis
  Turgut Reis was an Ottoman Admiral and privateer who also served as Bey of Algiers; Beylerbey of the Mediterranean; and first Bey, later Pasha, of Tripoli. Under his naval command the Ottoman Empire maritime was extended across North Africa...
  
  .
• June to September, 1550: Andrea Doria
  Andrea Doria
  Andrea Doria was an Italian condottiere and admiral from Genoa.-Early life:Doria was born at Oneglia from the ancient Genoese family, the Doria di Oneglia branch of the old Doria, de Oria or de Auria family. His parents were related: Ceva Doria, co-lord of Oneglia, and Caracosa Doria, of the...
  
   and Claude de la Sengle
  Claude de la Sengle
  Fra' Claude de la Sengle was the 48th Grand Master of the Order of Malta, from 1553 his death. His successor was Fra' Jean Parisot de la Valette....
  
  , bailli
  Bailli
  A bailli was the king’s administrative representative during the ancien régime in northern France, where the bailli was responsible for the application of justice and control of the administration and local finances in his baillage...
  
   of the French langue of the Knights, massacre the population of Mahdia
  Mahdia
  Mahdia is a provincial centre north of Sfax. It is important for the associated fish-processing industry, as well as weaving. It is the capital of Mahdia Governorate.- History :...
  
  , in Tunisia
  Tunisia
  Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
  
  .

Ottoman retaliation

• 1551:
  • In May, Ottomans
    Ottoman Empire
    The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
    
     and Barbary pirates under the command of Turgut Reis
    Turgut Reis
    Turgut Reis was an Ottoman Admiral and privateer who also served as Bey of Algiers; Beylerbey of the Mediterranean; and first Bey, later Pasha, of Tripoli. Under his naval command the Ottoman Empire maritime was extended across North Africa...
    
     and Sinan Pasha
    Sinan Pasha
    Sinan Pasha or Sinan Pashë Kahremanliu was an Albanian Grand Vizier, Ottoman military commander and statesman.-Life:...
    
     commence a series of attacks on eastern Sicily and Malta, in revenge for the events in Mahdia
    Mahdia
    Mahdia is a provincial centre north of Sfax. It is important for the associated fish-processing industry, as well as weaving. It is the capital of Mahdia Governorate.- History :...
    
    .
  • In July, Ottomans
    Ottoman Empire
    The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
    
     and Barbary pirates attempt to capture Malta, landing some 10,000 men at Marsa Muscietto
    Marsamxett Harbour
    Marsamxett Harbour, also referred as Marsamuscetto in many ancient documents, is the northern of Valletta's two natural harbours on the island of Malta, separated from the southern one by the Valletta peninsula. To the north it is bounded by Gżira and Sliema as far as Dragut Point and extends...
    
    .
  • Birgu
    Birgu
    Birgu is an ancient city in Malta. It played a vital role in the Siege of Malta in 1565. Its population stood at 2,633 in December 2008.-History:...
    
     and Senglea
    Senglea
    Senglea is a fortified city in the east of Malta, mainly in the Grand Harbour area. It is one of the Three Cities in the east of Malta, the other two being Cospicua and Vittoriosa. The city of Senglea is also called Civitas Invicta, because it managed to resist the Ottoman invasion at the Great...
    
     are besieged
    Siege
    A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
    
    .
  • The Turkish invaders abandon the harbour area and sail north to St. Paul's Bay
    St. Paul's Bay
    Saint Paul's Bay is a town in Malta, situated in the north east of the island of Malta, sixteen kilometres from the capital city Valletta.Its name refers to the shipwreck of Saint Paul, as documented in the Acts of the Apostles, due to the tradition that Saint Paul was shipwrecked on the isles,...
    
    , and stage a short-lived siege on Mdina
    Mdina
    Mdina, Città Vecchia, or Città Notabile, is the old capital of Malta. Mdina is a medieval walled town situated on a hill in the centre of the island. Punic remains uncovered beyond the city’s walls suggest the importance of the general region to Malta’s Phoenician settlers. Mdina is commonly...
    
    .
  • Razzia
    Ghazw
    Ghazi or ghazah is an Arabic term that means "to raid/foray." From it evolved the word "Ghazwa" which specifically refers to a battle led by the Islamic prophet Muhammad.In English language literature the word often appears as razzia, deriving from French, although it probably...
    
     on the Island of Gozo by the Turkish invaders; the Knights' local governor, Galatian de Sesse, surrenders the Citadel; almost all the inhabitants of Gozo (some 5,000 to 6,000 people) are enslaved
    Slavery
    Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
    
    , and transported to Tarhuna Wa Msalata in Libya
    Libya
    Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
    
     from Mġarr ix-Xini.
  • Turgut
    Turgut Reis
    Turgut Reis was an Ottoman Admiral and privateer who also served as Bey of Algiers; Beylerbey of the Mediterranean; and first Bey, later Pasha, of Tripoli. Under his naval command the Ottoman Empire maritime was extended across North Africa...
    
     sails south to Tripoli
    Tripoli
    Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
    
    , and conquers the Knights' fortress.
  • The Knights' local governor, Gaspar de Vallier, negotiates a truce that ensures safe passage from Tunis to Malta for the Knights of the garrison
    Garrison
    Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
    
    , but excludes the Maltese
    Maltese people
    The Maltese are an ethnic group indigenous to the Southern European nation of Malta, and identified with the Maltese language. Malta is an island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea...
    
    , Calabria
    Calabria
    Calabria , in antiquity known as Bruttium, is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro....
    
    n and Rhodian soldiers, who are auctioned off into slavery
    Slavery
    Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
    
     by the Turks
    Ottoman Empire
    The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
    
    .
  • Pope Julius III
    Pope Julius III
    Pope Julius III , born Giovanni Maria Ciocchi del Monte, was Pope from 7 February 1550 to 1555....
    
     suggests that the Knights should abandon Malta, and retreat to Messina or Syracuse
    Syracuse, Italy
    Syracuse is a historic city in Sicily, the capital of the province of Syracuse. The city is notable for its rich Greek history, culture, amphitheatres, architecture, and as the birthplace of the preeminent mathematician and engineer Archimedes. This 2,700-year-old city played a key role in...
    
    .
• 1552:
  • Construction of Fort Saint Michael
    Fort Saint Michael
    Fort St Michael was a fortification on the island of Malta.A fort of that name was built by the Knights of Malta between 1551 and 1565 on the peninsula then known as Isla St Michael formed by Dockyard Creek and French Creek in Grand Harbour....
    
    , in Senglea.
  • April: Fearing further razzias
    Ghazw
    Ghazi or ghazah is an Arabic term that means "to raid/foray." From it evolved the word "Ghazwa" which specifically refers to a battle led by the Islamic prophet Muhammad.In English language literature the word often appears as razzia, deriving from French, although it probably...
    
     by Turks
    Ottoman Empire
    The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
    
     and Barbary corsairs
    Barbary corsairs
    The Barbary Corsairs, sometimes called Ottoman Corsairs or Barbary Pirates, were pirates and privateers who operated from North Africa, based primarily in the ports of Tunis, Tripoli and Algiers. This area was known in Europe as the Barbary Coast, a term derived from the name of its Berber...
    
    , one thousand Maltese flee Malta, seeking refuge in Sicily.
• 1557: Jean Parisot de la Valette
  Jean Parisot de la Valette
  Fra' Jean Parisot de Valette was a French nobleman and 49th Grand Master of the Order of Malta, from 1557 to 1568. He succeeded La Vallette as grandmaster and continued the construction of Valletta...
  
   is elected Grand Master
  Grand Master (order)
  Grand Master is the typical title of the supreme head of various orders of knighthood, including various military orders, religious orders and civil orders such as the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Orange Order...
  
   of the Knights of Malta.
• 1560 to 1565: The Knights of Malta escalate their corsair
  Corsair
  Corsairs were privateers, authorized to conduct raids on shipping of a nation at war with France, on behalf of the French Crown. Seized vessels and cargo were sold at auction, with the corsair captain entitled to a portion of the proceeds...
  
  ing activities in the western Mediterranean.
• 1561: The Holy Inquisition
  Roman Inquisition
  The Roman Inquisition was a system of tribunals developed by the Holy See during the second half of the 16th century, responsible for prosecuting individuals accused of a wide array of crimes related to heresy, including Protestantism, sorcery, immorality, blasphemy, Judaizing and witchcraft, as...
  
   is established in Malta. Domenico Cubelles i the first Inquisitor.

The Great Siege of Malta

• December 1564: The Ottoman
  Ottoman Empire
  The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
  
   war council in Constantinople
  Constantinople
  Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
  
   decrees that Malta is to be invaded and conquered.
• 1565:
  • 9 April: The Spanish Viceroy
    Viceroy
    A viceroy is a royal official who runs a country, colony, or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. A viceroy's province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty...
    
     of Sicily, Don García de Toledo y Osorio, a tours the Island's fortifications; he promises the Knights that in the coming invasion they need only hold out until June, when he would bring his armada
    Naval fleet
    A fleet, or naval fleet, is a large formation of warships, and the largest formation in any navy. A fleet at sea is the direct equivalent of an army on land....
    
     back to assist Malta.
  • 30 March: Ottoman fleet leaves Constantinople
    Constantinople
    Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
    
     for Malta; Queen Elizabeth remarks: "If the Turks should prevail against the Isle of Malta, it is uncertain what further peril might follow to the rest of Christendom."
  • 16 April to 13 May: Evacuation to Sicily of "a great number of people," from Malta, including large numbers of Maltese nobility, in anticipation of the imminent invasion.
  • 18 May: Ottoman armada sighted off the coast of Malta, signalling the start of the Great Siege of Malta
    Siege of Malta (1565)
    The Siege of Malta took place in 1565 when the Ottoman Empire invaded the island, then held by the Knights Hospitaller .The Knights, together with between 4-5,000 Maltese men,...
    
    .
  • 19 May: A storm prevents the Turkish fleet from landing at Marsaxlokk
    Marsaxlokk
    Marsaxlokk is a traditional fishing village located in the south-eastern part of Malta, with a population of 3,277 people . The village’s name comes from marsa, which means "port" and xlokk, which is the local name for south east...
    
    ; the vessels are sheltered in Ġnejna Bay
    Gnejna Bay
    Ġnejna Bay is a popular tourist destination located about 1 kilometer from the village of Mġarr on the western coast of Malta. The beach surrounding the bay is mostly sandy...
    
     and at Għajn Tuffieħa.
  • 20 May: The Turkish fleet anchors at Marsaxlokk, moved to Żejtun
    Zejtun
    Żejtun is a medium sized town in the south of Malta. Żejtun holds the title of Città Beland, which was bestowed by Ferdinand von Hompesch zu Bolheim, Grandmaster of Knights of Malta in 1797, Beland being his mother's surname....
    
     and sets up camp at Marsa.
  • 23 June:
    • Fort St. Elmo falls to the Turks.
    • Turkish commanders order all the dead Knights found in St. Elmo to be beheaded; their mutilated bodies are floated across Grand Harbour
      Grand Harbour
      Grand Harbour is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. It has been used as a harbour since at least Phoenician times...
      
       on planks towards the bastions of Senglea and Birgu
      Birgu
      Birgu is an ancient city in Malta. It played a vital role in the Siege of Malta in 1565. Its population stood at 2,633 in December 2008.-History:...
      
      .
  • 29 June: Four galleys land in the north of Malta, bringing 600 soldiers, 42 knights, 56 gunners and numerous volunteers, to reinforce the Island's defences; they walk to Mdina
    Mdina
    Mdina, Città Vecchia, or Città Notabile, is the old capital of Malta. Mdina is a medieval walled town situated on a hill in the centre of the island. Punic remains uncovered beyond the city’s walls suggest the importance of the general region to Malta’s Phoenician settlers. Mdina is commonly...
    
     by night, and then on to Birgu
    Birgu
    Birgu is an ancient city in Malta. It played a vital role in the Siege of Malta in 1565. Its population stood at 2,633 in December 2008.-History:...
    
     the following morning.
  • 3 July to 12 July: The Turkish fleet is transported on rollers, overland, from Marsamxett Harbour
    Marsamxett Harbour
    Marsamxett Harbour, also referred as Marsamuscetto in many ancient documents, is the northern of Valletta's two natural harbours on the island of Malta, separated from the southern one by the Valletta peninsula. To the north it is bounded by Gżira and Sliema as far as Dragut Point and extends...
    
     to Grand Harbour
    Grand Harbour
    Grand Harbour is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. It has been used as a harbour since at least Phoenician times...
    
    , in preparation for an assault on Senglea.
  • 8 July: The Turkish forces are reinforced with the arrival of 29 vessels and 2,500 warriors accompanied by the Bey
    Bey
    Bey is a title for chieftain, traditionally applied to the leaders of small tribal groups. Accoding to some sources, the word "Bey" is of Turkish language In historical accounts, many Turkish, other Turkic and Persian leaders are titled Bey, Beg, Bek, Bay, Baig or Beigh. They are all the same word...
    
     of Algiers
    Algiers
    ' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
    
    .
  • 9 July: Reinforcements sent by Viceroy Don García de Toledo fail to make harbour, as a result of the fall of Fort St. Elmo, and return to Sicily.
  • 12 July: Senglea is besieged
    Siege
    A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
    
    .
  • 7 September: Don Garcia's reinforcements, known as the Grande Soccorso ("great relief"), finally arrive,
  • 11 September: Turkish forces retreat from Malta.

Reconstruction

• 1566: The founding of Malta's new capital city, Valletta
  Valletta
  Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
  
  . A general strengthening of Malta's fortification
  Fortification
  Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
  
  s is undertaken.
• 1616: William Lithgow
  William Lithgow (traveller and author)
  William Lithgow , traveller, writer and alleged spy, born at Lanark, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, claimed at the end of his various peregrinations to have tramped 36,000 miles on foot....
  
   reports that on a visit to Malta he "saw a Spanish soldier and a Maltese boy burnt in ashes, for the public profession of sodomy." The following day more than one hundred young men flee to Sicily for fear of suffering a similar fate.

Age of Reason

Age of reason

Age of reason may refer to:* 17th-century philosophy, as a successor of the Renaissance and a predecessor to the Age of Enlightenment* Age of Enlightenment in its long form of 1600-1800* The Age of Reason, a book by Thomas Paine...

• 1710: First grant in favour of locals (including a woman) of a title of nobility to have been created by the Grand Masters. On 24 December 1710, Grand Master Perellos granted the title of Baron of Gomerino jointly to Paolo and Beatrice Testaferrata.
• 9 January 1732: The Manoel Theatre
  Manoel Theatre
  The Manoel Theatre is reputed to be Europe's third-oldest working theatre, and the oldest working theatre in the Commonwealth of Nations...
  
   (then known as the Teatro Pubblico) opens in Valletta
  Valletta
  Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
  
   with a performance of Scipione Maffei's classic tragedy Merope.
• 1760: After the death of the Baron Paolo Testaferrata, the office of 'Depositario' within the Inquisition was continued by his widow Vincenza Matilde. With the exception of a short period, she remained in office until 1778.
• 1797: By a Papal brief dated 3 March 1797, Bishop Vincenzo Labini and all his successors in the diocese of Malta, were given the title of 'Bishop of Malta and Archbishop of Rhodes'. This privilege was suppressed in 1928, and the title was changed to 'Archbishop, Bishop of Malta'.

Napoleonic France (1798 - 1799)

• 1798: Napoleon invades Malta. Mdina (Notbile) capitulates on the 10 June. The act of capitulation of Mdina is signed on the one part by Vincenzo Barbara representing the French Republic and the Hakem together with the jurats representing the people.
• 1798: The Order capitulates. The Act of capitulation of Malta is signed on the 12 June by on the one part by Napoleon on behalf of the French Republic, on the other six signed on behalf of the Order, the people of Malta and the King of Spain.
  • Slavery
    Slavery
    Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
    
    , the Roman Inquisition
    Roman Inquisition
    The Roman Inquisition was a system of tribunals developed by the Holy See during the second half of the 16th century, responsible for prosecuting individuals accused of a wide array of crimes related to heresy, including Protestantism, sorcery, immorality, blasphemy, Judaizing and witchcraft, as...
    
    , and all titles of nobility
    Nobility
    Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
    
     are abolished in Malta.
  • Tsar Paul I of Russia
    Paul I of Russia
    Paul I was the Emperor of Russia between 1796 and 1801. He also was the 72nd Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta .-Childhood:...
    
     become de facto Grand Master
    Grand Master (order)
    Grand Master is the typical title of the supreme head of various orders of knighthood, including various military orders, religious orders and civil orders such as the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Orange Order...
    
     of the Order
    Knights Hospitaller
    The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
    
    , and orders the creation of a "Throne of Malta," in the Vorontsov Palace
    Vorontsov's Palace (Saint Petersburg)
    The Vorontsov Palace is a Baroque palace compound which occupies a large parcel of land wedged between Sadovaya Street and the Fontanka River in Saint Petersburg, Russia....
    
     in St. Petersburg (now on display in the State Hermitage Museum
    Hermitage Museum
    The State Hermitage is a museum of art and culture in Saint Petersburg, Russia. One of the largest and oldest museums of the world, it was founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great and has been opened to the public since 1852. Its collections, of which only a small part is on permanent display,...
    
    ).
  • 29 October: First petition for the establishment of a separate Roman Catholic diocese
    Diocese
    A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
    
     on Gozo, led by Archpriest Saverio Cassar.
• 1798: The Commission of Government is appointed on 12 June 1798. General Claude Henri Belgrand de Vaubois is appointed Military Governor. The islands are divided into 12 municipalities.
• 1799: Maltese uprising against the French following extensive pillaging of Maltese churches and cathedrals. Britain
  Kingdom of Great Britain
  The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
  
   takes Malta under its protection, in the name of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
  Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
  The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, commonly known as the Two Sicilies even before formally coming into being, was the largest and wealthiest of the Italian states before Italian unification...
  
  . The Union Jack flies over Valletta
  Valletta
  Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
  
   for the first time, alongside the Neapolitan flag.
• 1800: The French surrender. On the 5 September 1800, General Vaubois surrendered and with Rear Admiral Villeneuve, Major General Pigot and Captain Martin, signed the articles of Capitulation. Although 20,000 Maltese lost their lives during the uprising, not one Maltese was present to sign the document.

British Malta (1799 - 1964)

• 1801: Tsar Paul I of Russia
  Paul I of Russia
  Paul I was the Emperor of Russia between 1796 and 1801. He also was the 72nd Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta .-Childhood:...
  
   demands the return of Malta to the Knights.
• 24 June 1801: Admiral Sir Alexander Ball
  Alexander Ball
  Sir Alexander John Ball, 1st Baronet was a British Admiral and the first British governor of Malta. He was born in Ebworth Park, Sheepscombe, Gloucestershire. He was the fourth son of Robert and Mary Ball....
  
   is sent to Malta as Plenipotentiary Minister of His British Majesty for the Order of Saint John, with orders to evacuate the British forces from the Islands, and to prepare for their return to the Knights of St. John
  Knights Hospitaller
  The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
  
  .
• 1802:
  • First Declaration of Rights issued in Malta: Dichiarazione dei Diritti degli Abitanti di Malta e Gozo, including the right to freedom of conscience under the rule of law.
  • Under the Peace of Amiens, Britain is ordered to return Malta to the Knights of St John
    Knights Hospitaller
    The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
    
    , but facing imminent hostilities by Napoleonic France
    French Consulate
    The Consulate was the government of France between the fall of the Directory in the coup of 18 Brumaire in 1799 until the start of the Napoleonic Empire in 1804...
    
    , Britain chooses not to comply.
• 1801: Ball was appointed Civil Commissioner in May 1803 and immediately instructed the removal of Neapolitan forces from the Island.
• 1809: Ball dies in October and is succeeded by the military commander, Major-General Hildebrand-Oakes.
• 1813: Hildebrand-Oakes is replaced by Sir Thomas Maitland, the first to be described by the British as ‘Governor’.
• 1813: Malta is granted the Bathurst Constitution.
• 1814: Under the Treaty of Paris
  Treaty of Paris (1814)
  The Treaty of Paris, signed on 30 May 1814, ended the war between France and the Sixth Coalition, part of the Napoleonic Wars, following an armistice signed on 23 May between Charles, Count of Artois, and the allies...
  
  , and subsequently ratified by the Congress of Vienna
  Congress of Vienna
  The Congress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors of European states chaired by Klemens Wenzel von Metternich, and held in Vienna from September, 1814 to June, 1815. The objective of the Congress was to settle the many issues arising from the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars,...
  
  , Malta becomes a British Crown Colony.
• 1814-1930: The Grand Harbour
  Grand Harbour
  Grand Harbour is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. It has been used as a harbour since at least Phoenician times...
  
   becomes an important shipping waystation, eventually serving as the headquarters for the Mediterranean Fleet.
• 1831: The diocese of Malta is separated from that of Palermo 20 June 1831.
• 1835: Malta was granted a Constitution providing for a Council of Government of seven members of whom three were to be nominated Maltese representatives.
• 30 December 1836: Second petition for a separate Roman Catholic diocese
  Diocese
  A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
  
   for Gozo is presented to Pope Gregory XVI
  Pope Gregory XVI
  Pope Gregory XVI , born Bartolomeo Alberto Cappellari, named Mauro as a member of the religious order of the Camaldolese, was Pope of the Catholic Church from 1831 to 1846...
  
  .
• 1849: Malta was granted a Constitution providing for a Council of Government of eighteen members of whom eight were to be elected by the people.
• 1853-1856: The Crimean War
  Crimean War
  The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
  
  ; Malta serves as a hospital base for wounded combatants, and acquires the nickname Nurse of the Mediterranean.
• 9 June 1855: Three Gozitan representatives personally petition Pope Pius IX
  Pope Pius IX
  Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
  
   for a separate Roman Catholic diocese
  Diocese
  A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
  
   for Gozo; the pontiff
  Pontiff
  A pontiff was, in Roman antiquity, a member of the principal college of priests . The term "pontiff" was later applied to any high or chief priest and, in ecclesiastical usage, to a bishop and more particularly to the Bishop of Rome, the Pope or "Roman Pontiff".-Etymology:The English term derives...
  
   promises his support.
• 25 October 1860: The Colonial Office
  Colonial Office
  Colonial Office is the government agency which serves to oversee and supervise their colony* Colonial Office - The British Government department* Office of Insular Affairs - the American government agency* Reichskolonialamt - the German Colonial Office...
  
   in London approves the establishment of a separate Roman Catholic diocese
  Diocese
  A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
  
   for Gozo.
• 16 September 1864: Pope Pius IX
  Pope Pius IX
  Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
  
   issues a papal bull
  Papal bull
  A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
  
   entitled Singulari Amore (With remarkable love), separating the islands of Gozo and Comino
  Comino
  Comino is an island of the Maltese archipelago between the islands of Malta and Gozo in the Mediterranean Sea, measuring in area. Named after the cumin seed that once flourished in the Maltese islands, Comino is noted for its tranquility and isolation. It has a permanent population of only four...
  
   from the diocese
  Diocese
  A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
  
   of Malta; seven days later, Michele Francesco Buttigieg is elected first Bishop of Gozo.
• 1869: Opening of the Suez Canal
  Suez Canal
  The Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
  
  , greatly enhancing the importance of the Grand Harbour
  Grand Harbour
  Grand Harbour is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. It has been used as a harbour since at least Phoenician times...
  
   to British merchant marine and naval shipping.
• 1870: J.S. Tucker proposes the construction of a railway from Valletta
  Valletta
  Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
  
   to Mdina
  Mdina
  Mdina, Città Vecchia, or Città Notabile, is the old capital of Malta. Mdina is a medieval walled town situated on a hill in the centre of the island. Punic remains uncovered beyond the city’s walls suggest the importance of the general region to Malta’s Phoenician settlers. Mdina is commonly...
  
  .
• 1878: 21 titles of nobility were successfully claimed by various individuals before a Royal Commission.
• 1880: In education, "Anglicization" of Maltese students becomes a matter of policy.
• 28 February 1883: The Malta Railway service is inaugurated, with service from Valletta
  Valletta
  Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
  
   to Floriana
  Floriana
  Floriana is a town in Malta, just outside the capital city Valletta. Floriana is the birthplace of many famous Maltese, amongst which the composer of the national anthem, 'L-Innu Malti', Robert Samut; former Bishop of Malta Dom Mauro Caruana, the poet Oliver Friggieri, and Swedish Idol winner...
  
  , Ħamrun, Msida
  Msida
  Msida or Imsida is a harbour town in Malta with a population of 7,623 . The town is located just west of Valletta on the northeast coast of Malta. The town enjoys a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry, sunny summers and short, cool winters.The neighbouring towns of Msida are Ta' Xbiex, Gzira, San...
  
  , Birkirkara
  Birkirkara
  Birkirkara or B'Kara is a city of 25,858 inhabitants in central Malta. It is the most populated town on the island and consists of four autonomous parishes: St Helen, St Joseph, Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St Mary. It also houses one of the most famous colleges in Malta, St Aloysius' College...
  
  , Lija
  Lija
  Lija is a small village on the island of Malta. It forms part of the Three villages of Malta, along with Attard and Balzan. Lija has a baroque parish church and seven other small chapels...
  
  , San Antonio
  San Anton Palace
  San Anton Palace is a palace located in Attard, Malta. It is the official residence of the President of Malta, and is surrounded by both private and public gardens.-History:...
  
  , Attard
  Attard
  Ħ'Attard is a village located at the centre-most point of the island of Malta. Together with Balzan and Lija it forms part of "the Three Villages" and has been inhabited since the Classical Period. Ħ'Attard's traditional Latin motto is Florigera rosis halo due to its many flower gardens and citrus...
  
  , Mosta (San Salvatore)
  Mosta
  Mosta is a town situated in the middle of the island of Malta, to the north-west of Valletta. It had a population of 19,018 people in 2010. Mosta celebrates the feast of Saint Mary the Assumption on the 15th August. This is a very popular feast among the Mostin and tourists alike...
  
  , and Mdina
  Mdina
  Mdina, Città Vecchia, or Città Notabile, is the old capital of Malta. Mdina is a medieval walled town situated on a hill in the centre of the island. Punic remains uncovered beyond the city’s walls suggest the importance of the general region to Malta’s Phoenician settlers. Mdina is commonly...
  
  .
• 1885: 8 September (Otto Settembre) is recommended as a national holiday, commemorating the victory of the Knights and the Maltese over the Ottoman Empire
  Ottoman Empire
  The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
  
   in the Siege of Malta (1565)
  Siege of Malta (1565)
  The Siege of Malta took place in 1565 when the Ottoman Empire invaded the island, then held by the Knights Hospitaller .The Knights, together with between 4-5,000 Maltese men,...
  
  .
• 1887: Constitution of 1887 provides that four members in the Council of members were to represent the clergy, the nobility and landed proprietors, university graduates and the merchants.
• 31 March 1890: Malta Railway Company Ltd. is declared bankrupt. The Malta Railway is closed.
• 25 February 1892: The Malta Railway reopens, under government management.
• 1900: The Malta Railway line is extended to Mtarfa
  Mtarfa
  Imtarfa, or Mtarfa is a small town close to Rabat and Mdina in the north of Malta, with a population of 2,430 people .-History:...
  
   Barracks.
• 23 February 1905: An electric tramway service is introduced in Malta by McCartney, McElroy & Co. Ltd., connecting Valletta
  Valletta
  Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
  
  , the Three Cities
  Three Cities
  The Three Cities is a collective description of the three fortified cities of Cospicua, Vittoriosa, and Senglea on the Island of Malta, which are enclosed by the massive line of fortification created by the Knights of St John, the Cottonera Lines....
  
  , and Żebbuġ
  Zebbug, Malta
  Ħaż-Żebbuġ or Città Rohan is one of the oldest towns in Malta. Its population is 12,892 as of 2010 making it the 12th largest town in Malta.-History and origins:...
  
   and Ħamrun.
• July 1908: Malta Tramways Limited assumes operations of the electric tramway service.
• 1912: Dr. Enrico Mizzi
  Enrico Mizzi
  Enrico "Nerik" Mizzi was a Maltese politician, leader of the Nationalist Party and Prime Minister of Malta....
  
  , a staunch supporter of the italianità of Malta, proposes in a journal article that Britain could exchange Malta for Eritrea
  Eritrea
  Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
  
   with Italy, on the understanding that Britain would be granted access to Maltese harbours and facilities. The article proposes an Italo-Maltese federation, with elected Maltese representatives in the Italian parliament.

World War I

• 1914-1918: Throughout World War I
  World War I
  World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
  
  , especially following the failed invasion of Gallipoli
  Battle of Gallipoli
  The Gallipoli Campaign, also known as the Dardanelles Campaign or the Battle of Gallipoli, took place at the peninsula of Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire between 25 April 1915 and 9 January 1916, during the First World War...
  
  , many casualties are shipped to hospitals in Malta, resuming its role as the Nurse of the Mediterranean.
• 1917: Dr. Enrico Mizzi
  Enrico Mizzi
  Enrico "Nerik" Mizzi was a Maltese politician, leader of the Nationalist Party and Prime Minister of Malta....
  
   is court-martialled for sedition
  Sedition
  In law, sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that is deemed by the legal authority to tend toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent to lawful authority. Sedition may include any...
  
  , and sentenced to one year imprisonment. His sentence is subsequently commuted, and a pardon is issued.

Interwar years

• 7 June 1919: Sette Giugno
  Sette Giugno
  Sette Giugno is a Maltese national holiday celebrated annually on 7 June. It commemorates events which occurred on that day in 1919 when, following a series of riots by the Maltese population, British troops fired into the crowd, killing four.-Historical setting:In the aftermath of World War I,...
  
   protests over increases in the price of bread. British soldiers fire on the crowd and kill four Maltese protesters, during a violent riot instigated by students. The protests lead to greater autonomy for the Maltese.
• 1921: Constitution of 1921 grants autonomy by providing for a bicameral legislature with the power to legislate on all matters not considered "reserved" for colonial interest.
• 15 December 1929: The Malta Tramway service is terminated.
• 1930: The 1921 Constitution is suspended.
• 31 March 1930: The Malta Railway service is terminated.
• 1934: English and Maltese
  Maltese language
  Maltese is the national language of Malta, and a co-official language of the country alongside English,while also serving as an official language of the European Union, the only Semitic language so distinguished. Maltese is descended from Siculo-Arabic...
  
   are declared the official languages of Malta, to the exclusion of Italian which had been the primary language of government, commerce, education and culture in Malta for more than 800 years.
• 1935-1939:
  • Mussolini's
    Benito Mussolini
    Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
    
     Abyssinian War and intervention on the side of Franco
    Francisco Franco
    Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
    
     in the Spanish Civil War
    Spanish Civil War
    The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
    
     ends any possibility of reconciliation between Italy and the United Kingdom.
  • Tension runs high in Malta due to the possibility of Italy entering the war against the allies.

World War II

• 1940-45: Throughout World War II
  World War II
  World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
  
  , Malta plays an important role due to the strategic location of the Grand Harbour
  Grand Harbour
  Grand Harbour is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. It has been used as a harbour since at least Phoenician times...
  
   at the crossroads of the Axis
  Axis Powers
  The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
  
   shipping lanes.
• 1940:
  • 30 May: Dr. Enrico Mizzi
    Enrico Mizzi
    Enrico "Nerik" Mizzi was a Maltese politician, leader of the Nationalist Party and Prime Minister of Malta....
    
    , co-leader of the Partito Nazionalista, is arrested and imprisoned in Fort San Salvatore, to secure "the public safety and the Defence of the [Maltese Islands]...in view of the hostile origin or association of Dr. Enrico Mizzi."
  • 10 June: Italy declares war on France and the United Kingdom.
  • 11 June: First air raids
    Airstrike
    An air strike is an attack on a specific objective by military aircraft during an offensive mission. Air strikes are commonly delivered from aircraft such as fighters, bombers, ground attack aircraft, attack helicopters, and others...
    
     on Malta. Malta would go on to endure the heaviest, sustained bombing attack of the War: some 154 days and nights and 6,700 tons of bombs.
• 1942:
  • February to 8 March: Governor Dobbie
    William Dobbie
    Lieutenant-General Sir William George Shedden Dobbie GCMG, KCB, DSO was a British Army veteran of the Second Boer War, and First and Second World Wars.-Early life:...
    
     issues a warrant for the deportation, exile and internment in Uganda
    Uganda
    Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
    
     of 47 Maltese (including Dr. Enrico Mizzi
    Enrico Mizzi
    Enrico "Nerik" Mizzi was a Maltese politician, leader of the Nationalist Party and Prime Minister of Malta....
    
    ) who were suspected of pro-Italian sentiments.
  • 9 February: In the Council of Government, Nationalist Party member Sir Ugo Mifsud
    Ugo Pasquale Mifsud
    Ugo Pasquale Mifsud son of Judge Gio Batta Mifsud and Philomena Marianna Muscat was the third and fifth Prime Minister of Malta. He held office from 1924 to 1927 and from 1932 to 1933. He was a member of the Nationalist Party and the Maltese Italians community.During the Second World War, Sir Ugo...
    
     gives a spirited, juridical rebuttal of Britain’s policy of deporting "italo-phile" Maltese subjects; he collapses in the Chamber of Deputies, and dies two days later.
  • April: The Court of Appeal declares that the deportation to Uganda of "pro-Italian" Maltese subjects was illegal, null, and without effect. The deportees remain in Uganda nonetheless.
  • 7 April: The Royal Opera House
    Royal Opera House, Valletta
    The Valletta Royal Opera House was an opera house and performing arts venue in Valletta, Malta. It was designed by English architect Edward Middleton Barry and was erected in 1866. In 1873 its interior was extensively damaged by fire but was eventually restored by 1877...
    
    , Valletta
    Valletta
    Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
    
    , is destroyed by Luftwaffe
    Luftwaffe
    Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
    
     bombers.
  • 9 April: A 200 kg bomb pierces the dome of the Rotunda of Sta. Marija Assunta
    Rotunda of Mosta
    The Church of the Assumption of Our Lady, commonly known as the Rotunda of Mosta or Rotunda of St Marija Assunta is a Roman Catholic church in Mosta, Malta...
    
    , Mosta
    Mosta
    Mosta is a town situated in the middle of the island of Malta, to the north-west of Valletta. It had a population of 19,018 people in 2010. Mosta celebrates the feast of Saint Mary the Assumption on the 15th August. This is a very popular feast among the Mostin and tourists alike...
    
    , but skids across the floor without exploding; two other bombs bounce off the roof and fail to explode; 300 people were hearing Mass inside the church at the time.
  • 15 April: The George Cross is awarded to Malta by King George VI, so as to "bear witness to the heroism and devotion of its people".
  • 15 August: With the people of Malta near starvation after two years of virtually constant bombardment, Operation Pedestal
    Operation Pedestal
    Operation Pedestal was a British operation to get desperately needed supplies to the island of Malta in August 1942, during the Second World War. Malta was the base from which surface ships, submarines and aircraft attacked Axis convoys carrying essential supplies to the Italian and German armies...
    
     brings the "Santa Marija Convoy" to Malta, saving the Islands from a planned surrender to the Axis powers.
• 1943:
  • 6 June: The 21st Engineer Aviation Regiment of the USAAF arrives on Gozo to construct a landing strip at Xewkija
    Xewkija
    Xewkija is a village on Gozo Island, Malta. The population of Xewkija is 3,115 , that is the fourth largest in Gozo, after Victoria , Nadur and Xagħra .-History:...
    
     in preparation for the Allied invasion of Italy
    Allied invasion of Italy
    The Allied invasion of Italy was the Allied landing on mainland Italy on September 3, 1943, by General Harold Alexander's 15th Army Group during the Second World War. The operation followed the successful invasion of Sicily during the Italian Campaign...
    
    ; the airfield is constructed in 18 days.
  • 9 July: (Operation Husky); 2,760 ships and major landing craft converge in a rendezvous near Malta in preparation for the Allied invasion of Sicily, under the command of U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was stationed in the Lascaris War Rooms, in Valletta
    Valletta
    Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
    
    .
  • 8 September: On the national holiday that commemorates the lifting of the Siege of Malta (1565)
    Siege of Malta (1565)
    The Siege of Malta took place in 1565 when the Ottoman Empire invaded the island, then held by the Knights Hospitaller .The Knights, together with between 4-5,000 Maltese men,...
    
    , Italy announces its unconditional surrender to the Allied forces, thus ending the second Siege of Malta (1940)
    Siege of Malta (1940)
    The Siege of Malta was a military campaign in the Mediterranean Theatre of the Second World War. From 1940-1942, the fight for the control of the strategically important island of Malta pitted the air forces and navies of Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany against the Royal Air Force and the Royal...
    
    .
  • 11 September: Admiral Andrew Browne Cunningham
    Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope
    Admiral of the Fleet Andrew Browne Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope KT, GCB, OM, DSO and two Bars , was a British admiral of the Second World War. Cunningham was widely known by his nickname, "ABC"....
    
     signals to the British Admiralty: "Be pleased to inform Their Lordships that the Italian battle fleet now lies at anchor under the guns of the fortress of Malta."
  • 29 September: The Italian fleet’s surrender in Malta is signed by U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Italian Marshal Pietro Badoglio
    Pietro Badoglio
    Pietro Badoglio, 1st Duke of Addis Abeba, 1st Marquess of Sabotino was an Italian soldier and politician...
    
    .
• 1944: The diocese of Malta is elevated to a Metropolitan See by Pope Piu XII.
• 1945:
  • 30 January to 3 February: Malta Conference (1945)
    Malta Conference (1945)
    The Malta Conference was held from January 30 to February 3, 1945 between President Franklin D. Roosevelt of the United States and Prime Minister Winston Churchill of the United Kingdom on the island of Malta...
    
    ; President Franklin D. Roosevelt
    Franklin D. Roosevelt
    Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
    
     of the United States and Prime Minister Winston Churchill
    Winston Churchill
    Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
    
     of the United Kingdom meet on Malta to plan the final campaign against the Germans with the combined Chiefs of Staff, and to prepare for the Yalta Conference
    Yalta Conference
    The Yalta Conference, sometimes called the Crimea Conference and codenamed the Argonaut Conference, held February 4–11, 1945, was the wartime meeting of the heads of government of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union, represented by President Franklin D...
    
    .
  • 8 March: The Maltese exiles are repatriated from Uganda.

Post-War reconstruction

• 1946: A National Assembly is created.
• 1947:
  • Restoration of Self-Government.
  • Malta receives £30 million to assist with post-War reconstruction.

The integration question

• December 1955: A Round Table Conference is held in London, on the future of Malta.
• 14 February 1956: A referendum
  Referendum
  A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
  
   is held on the integration of Malta into the United Kingdom: 75% vote 'Yes'; however, the result is deemed to be questionable due to a boycott by 40% of the electorate in response to concerns raised by opposition parties and by the Catholic Church.
• 1957: Closure of the British naval docks in Grand Harbour
  Grand Harbour
  Grand Harbour is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. It has been used as a harbour since at least Phoenician times...
  
   has a devastating effect on the Maltese economy, leading to high unemployment at a time when a quarter of the workforce was employed in defence related activities.
• 1958:
  • Talks between Valletta
    Valletta
    Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
    
     and Whitehall
    Whitehall
    Whitehall is a road in Westminster, in London, England. It is the main artery running north from Parliament Square, towards Charing Cross at the southern end of Trafalgar Square...
    
     regarding the integration proposal break down.
  • The United Kingdom imposes direct colonial rule over Malta.
• 1959: Malta is granted an Interim Constitution, providing for the creation of an Executive Council.

Towards independence

Independence

Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....

 (1961 - 1964)

• 1961: The State of Malta is created pursuant to the Blood Constitution, which provides for a measure of self-government.
• 1961-1973: Gozo is granted a local government system.

Constitutional Monarchy

Queen of Malta

This title of Queen of Malta was held by Elizabeth II between September 21, 1964 and December 13, 1974, following Malta's independence from the United Kingdom....

 (1964 - 1974)

• 21 September 1964:
  • Malta is granted independence
    Independence
    Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
    
     from the United Kingdom as a Constitutional Monarchy
    Constitutional monarchy
    Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
    
    , with Queen Elizabeth II as its Head of State
    Head of State
    A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
    
    .
  • The Duke of Edinburgh
    Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
    Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is the husband of Elizabeth II. He is the United Kingdom's longest-serving consort and the oldest serving spouse of a reigning British monarch....
    
     represents The Queen at the Independence celebrations, which were held just six months following the birth of Prince Edward
    Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
    Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex KG GCVO is the third son and fourth child of Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh...
    
    .
• 1 December 1964: Malta joins the United Nations
  United Nations
  The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
  
  .
• 1965: Malta joins the Council of Europe
  Council of Europe
  The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
  
  .
• 1970: Malta becomes an Associate member of the European Community.
• 1971: Capital punishment
  Capital punishment
  Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
  
   for murder abolished.
• 1972: Malta enters into a Military Base Agreement with the United Kingdom and other NATO countries.
• 1973: Malta decriminalises homosexuality
  Homosexuality
  Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
  
  .

Republic of Malta

Republic

A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...

 (1974 - present)

• 13 December 1974: Malta becomes a Republic
  Republic
  A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
  
  , with the last Governor-General, Sir Anthony Mamo
  Anthony Mamo
  Sir Anthony Joseph Mamo, OBE, QC was the first President of Malta and previously served as the last Governor-General, representing Elizabeth II as Queen of Malta, when the country was a Commonwealth realm...
  
  , serving as its first President
  President of Malta
  The President of Malta is the constitutional head of state of Malta.The President is appointed by a resolution of the House of Representatives of Malta for a five year term, taking an oath to "preserve, protect and defend" the Constitution....
  
  . Malta remains a member of the Commonwealth of Nations
  Commonwealth of Nations
  The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
  
  .
• 25 June 1975: Malta withdraws recognition of titles of nobility.
• 31 March 1979: Freedom Day, Termination of the Military Base Agreement. The Duke of Edinburgh
  Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
  Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is the husband of Elizabeth II. He is the United Kingdom's longest-serving consort and the oldest serving spouse of a reigning British monarch....
  
   oversees the departure of the last British forces from Malta.
• 1981: In the national election, the Malta Labour Party
  Malta Labour Party
  The Labour Party is, along with the Nationalist Party, one of two major contemporary political parties in Malta. It is the party of opposition in the Maltese House of Representatives where it has thirty-four of the sixty-nine seats.- Party Structure :...
  
   remained in Government notwithstanding the fact that 51% of the electorate voted in favour of the Partit Nazzjonalista
  Nationalist Party (Malta)
  The Nationalist Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in Malta, along with the Labour Party. It was founded by Fortunato Mizzi in 1880 as the Anti-Reform Party, opposing taxation decreed by the British colonial authorities and measures to Anglicise the educational and the...
  
  . In the wake of this result, the constitution is amended to provide a mechanism whereby the party with a majority of the popular vote would be awarded a sufficient number of additional seats to give it a legislative majority.
• 1990: Malta applies to join the European Union.
• 1993: Local Councils are re-established in Malta.
• 2000: Capital punishment
  Capital punishment
  Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
  
   abolished from military code of Malta.
• 8th March 2003: A referendum regarding Malta joining the European Union
  European Union
  The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
  
   results in 143,094 votes cast in favour and 123,628 against
• 16th April 2003: Malta signs accession treaty to the European Union.
• 1 May 2004 Malta becomes a member of the European Union.
• 1 January 2008 Malta adopts the euro
  Euro
  The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
  
  , which replaces the Maltese lira
  Maltese lira
  The lira was the currency of Malta from 1972 until 31 December 2007. The lira was abbreviated as Lm, although the traditional ₤ sign was often used locally...
  
  .