They arrived on 9th June 1798. Within a couple of days, they caused the Knights of the Order of St John to surrender the Maltese islands after 268 years. Within a couple of years, they had won the scorn of the Maltese, who for the first time in a long history of occupation, established an active underground rebellion. Finally, the UK intervened, The French surrendered and Malta passed into British rule. That’s pretty much what most people know about the French occupation in Malta.
Oh, and that the silver church gates were painted black to fool the French into not stealing them - quite clever! But, the French did more than just pilfer, steal and cause discontent among the Maltese population. Here are some lasting effects of their stay.
1. The French established a constitutional tradition
In 1798, for the first time in Maltese history, Malta had a constitution, similar to that of the newly formed French Republic. This constitutional tradition continues today. Since the subsequent British rule, the 1964 constitution made Malta a parliamentary democracy within the Commonwealth, while a 1974 revision made Malta a republic with executive authority vested in the President.
2. The French dismantled the Inquisition
Can you imagine? After centuries of the Inquisition dictating what was morally and socially acceptable, with harsh penalties at stake, the Maltese were granted freedom from rule by imposed religious law. Still, the faithful Maltese were not impressed and viewed the French as a threat, particularly when the French seized and looted church property.
3. The French abolished nobility, slavery and the feudal system
Back home, the French had been experiencing, within their own history, the French revolution (1789) against the French royalty and were predisposed to abolishing the class system. No more noblemen and slaves in Malta either - this was the end of feudalism. Ironically, despite the call to democracy, there was something about the French which caused an uprising, considered the first Maltese revolution.
4. The French granted free education for all
With equal rights for all, the French established education as a right to all. They also granted it free to all citizens, forever marking a change in the average level of education of the Maltese people. Today, Malta proudly continues to offer free primary, secondary and tertiary education and tertiary-level students even receive a stipend - a rare incentive!
5. The French established the freedom of press
The French technically brought freedom to Malta. Freedom from the feudal system. Freedom of education. Freedom of religion. Freedom of speech. Freedom of the press. Political prisoners, including the father of the Maltese language Mikiel Anton Vassalli, were released. At last, you could be somebody in Malta if you were Maltese. Actually, you could be who you were: the Jews were also finally granted permission to build a synagogue.
French democracy vs British rule in Malta
So democracy was a great gift to the Maltese by the French, particularly so after years of suppression by the feudal system and the Inquisition. But that seems to have mattered little to the deeply religious Maltese, who were too angered by the French ways, particularly the handling of church property in order to pay for Napoleon’s expedition in Egypt.
Finally, passionate Mediterranean religious fervour won over that promise to freedom. When 10,000 irregular Maltese soldiers confined the French garrison to Valletta and the Harbour area, they welcomed a British rule in order to kick out the French. It would be another 196 years before the Maltese would taste democracy again.
So now you know: do not offend a Maltese Catholic.