British Rule in Malta

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In the first months after the insurrection against the French, Maltese leaders realised that they needed a great power to help them expel the French and protect the islands. They first appealed to the King of Naples but since Naples itself was having trouble with Napoleon, help instead came from the British, at the time allies of Naples and at war with Napoleon’s France.

In February 1799 Captain Alexander Ball was appointed president of the National Congress. In March 1799 the Congress petitioned King Ferdinand IV of Naples to transfer his rights over Malta to King George III of Great Britain. King George accepted the Maltese request and granted the Maltese full protection and the enjoyment of all their rights. In October 1801 the National Congress declared not to surrender the islands to any power other than Britain, nor would they accept back the Order of St. John. The British were here to stay and by 1813 Malta was declared a Crown colony. However, Maltese patriots felt cheated because they wanted Malta to be ruled by a Maltese elected assembly and the role of the British would have been only that of protectors of the islands.

British rule brought an immediate boost to the economy, leading to the establishment of banks, as well as improvements to the education and medical sectors. However a 1813-14 outbreak of bubonic plague killed some 4,500 and hampered trade as other countries imposed restrictions on goods from Malta. Smallpox ravaged the population in 1830 and in 1837, and a cholera epidemic, also in 1837 killed 4,000 inhabitants.

Meanwhile the the Maltese never forgot that they had asked the British to come to Malta to expel the French and longed for self rule. In 1849, a new constitution was drawn up, empowering the Maltese to elect the members of the government council. Although decisions taken by this council were still subject to approval by the British in London, this was a major milestone in establishing the democracy in Malta.

The Crimean war in March l854, when Britain and France came to Turkey’s aid to limit Russian expansion, was an economic boon for Malta as wounded soldiers were brought to Malta for medical care, a role repeated in World War I when Malta became known as ‘Nurse of the Mediterranean’. The opening of the Suez Canal led to an increase in shipping movements in the Mediterranean, boosting the Maltese economy.

In 1882, a sea ferry service linking Sliema and Valletta was launched, followed by a train service connecting Valletta to many towns and villages. In 1905, a tram service was introduced, however by 1931, neither trains nor trams were required, as buses replaced them.

As soon as World War I ended the Maltese petitioned the British for self-government. After WWI widespread unemployment, price hikes and severe food shortages stirred major unrest which culminated in the bloody ‘Sette Giugno’ riots in Valletta on the 7th June 1919. The British troops attempted to control the riots and several Maltese were killed in the process. A National Assembly was set up, with the intention of drafting a constitution for self governance. On 1 November 1921 a joyful populace attended the opening ceremony of the first Maltese Parliament by the Prince of Wales.

At that time, Italian was the language of the Church, of the law and of ‘society’ and the question of English or Italian being taught in schools became a major political issue. This problem combined with issues regarding the Governor’s powers resulted in the constitution being revoked. In 1939 a constitution allowing for a parliament with a minority of Maltese citizens was granted, but the beginning of World War II caused local government to be suspended.

During the first years of British rule the island was not given much importance but its excellent harbours became a prized asset especially after the opening of the Suez Canal. The island went on to become a military and naval fortress, the headquarters of the British Mediterranean fleet. Malta’s strategic position during WW II led to it suffering heavy bombing with many casualties and widespread destruction of buildings. It was during the worst of this period, in 1942, that Malta was awarded the George Cross “To honour her brave people I award the George Cross to the island fortress of Malta to bear witness to a heroism and devotion that will long be famous in history”. To this day the George Cross forms part of the Maltese flag.

After World War II the islands achieved self-rule once again which was followed and a national debate on whether Malta should be integrated with Britain or achieve independence occupied the Maltese for over a decade. Independence was granted in 1964 and in 1974 Malta became a Republic with a Maltese President as head of state. The decreasing strategic importance of Malta to the Royal Navy meant that the British government was increasingly reluctant to maintain the naval dockyards and by 1979 Malta stopped being used as a British military base.

To this day the presence of the British influence in Malta is felt throughout the islands, from the use of English as one of Malta’s official languages to its administration, system of education and parliamentary structure. The British introduced the Neoclassical style of architecture to Malta, evident in the Greek revival portico of the parish church of Sta. Marija Assunta in Mosta, and in the soaring spire of St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral which dominates the Valletta skyline. Neo-Gothic architecture was also introduced to Malta during this period, in the Chapel of Santa Maria Addolorata at Malta’s main cemetery, and in the Għajnsielem, Gozo. Sliema which developed from a sleepy seaside village into a bustling, cosmopolitan town during the British period, once boasted an elegant seafront that was famed for its Regency style architecture, strongly reminiscent of the British seaside town of Brighton.