French occupation of Malta
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The French occupation of Malta lasted from 1798 to 1800. It was established when the Order of Saint John surrendered to Napoleon Bonaparte following the French landing in June 1798. In Malta, the French established a constitutional tradition in Maltese history, granted free education for all, and theoretically established freedom of the press, although only the pro-French newspaper Journal de Malte was actually published during the occupation.
Plaque on Palazzo Parisio referencing Napoleon's stay there.
The Main Gate of Birgu, which had its coats of arms defaced during the French occupation
The silver gate in St. John's Co-Cathedral was painted black by the Maltese so that the French troops would not realize that it was made of silver and melt it down into bullion.
History of Malta
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Malta has been inhabited since 5900 BC. The first inhabitants were farmers; their agricultural methods degraded the soil until the islands became uninhabitable. The islands were repopulated around 3850 BC by a civilization that at its peak built the Megalithic Temples, which today are among the oldest surviving buildings in the world. Their civilization collapsed in around 2350 BC; the islands were repopulated by Bronze Age warriors soon afterwards.
The megalithic temple of Ħaġar Qim
One of the so-called "fat ladies" of ancient Malta, at the Tarxien Temples
Spiral motif from one of the megalithic temples, now at the National Museum of Archaeology
One of the Cippi of Melqart which were discovered in Malta