Built over a period of almost 30 years during the Knights of St John’s lengthy staycation on the island, Fort Ricasoli remains a proud testament of their achievements in modernising Malta. Although in a seriously dilapidated state, the fortress remains immensely popular with Hollywood producers in need of an ancient structure to feature in their latest big-budget ventures. However, unbeknownst to most, this proud structure has seen its fair share of action and drama, most of which would trump any ambitious film script.
One action-filled event occurred during the height of the Napoleonic Wars, where Fort Ricasoli became the battleground for what turned out to be the biggest mutiny of the time. Many lives were lost and although justice was served, the situation created much unrest.
The Froberg mutiny happened between 4th and 12th April, 1807 by the Froberg Regiment. Made up of a multi-national mix of soldiers, the troops were unhappy with their wage and ranks – having been promised much better conditions upon enlisting. The dubious method under which they were recruited would eventually come back to not only haunt them, but also Gustave de Montjoie, who had impersonated the German Count Frobert and set up a regiment under his name for the British army. He was reportedly chopped into small pieces when news of the mutiny emerged.
Their request to be sent back to Corfu was denied and they were instead sectioned off in Fort Ricasoli where their ill-will continued to fester. Almost half of the 513 men in the regiment turned against their commanders, killing multiple high-ranking officers and injuring several others. In close proximity of both Fort St Elmo and Fort St Angelo, the mutineers threatened to open fire on the fortresses unless an official pardon was issued, and the soldiers left free to travel back to Corfu.
Then-Grandmaster Villettes was not about to accede to their demands and instructed the two forts under his control to reposition their cannons in the direction of Fort Ricasoli. His plan was to starve them out, but this strategic move was intended to scare the mutineers into submission. The mutineers held strong for eight days, but with supplies running critically low they started releasing families of officers held hostage. The rebels started squabbling amongst themselves, and Villettes, having sensed the disagreements, sent a delegation to negotiate terms of a surrender. Still, it was not welcomed, and the mutineers held on.
Meanwhile, more disagreements continued to arise, and with supplies almost extinguished, the rebels requested provisions to be sent over or the Fort would be destroyed. It was followed up by another request, this time threatening the loss of all lives held hostage. The situation came to a head when a substantial number of mutineers deflected from their ill-organised mission and fled the fort.
The remaining mutineers opened fire on Valletta, but no damage was reported and members of the same regiment who had managed to flee early in the mutiny climbed up the walls and took control of the fortress. The mutineers realised they were running on borrowed time and after a two-day standoff blew up the fort’s magazine with 600 barrels of gunpowder inside, consequently killing a further three British sentries with the blast.
Although some of the ringleaders managed to evade immediate capture, they were eventually brought to justice and hanged. Divided into groups, each batch of prisoners was hanged by the following group of prisoners with the final unit executed by firing squad. After Count Froberg’s deceptive tactics came to light, the regiment was disbanded and most members returned to Corfu, with some choosing to enlist in other British regiments.
As for the Fort, the damaged areas were never rebuilt to their original design and although repairs were effected, further damage taken on during WWII and the threat of sea erosion have resulted in its current dilapidated state, despite its 20-year-long shortlisting as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Did you ever hear about this mutiny before?