History of Malta

The absence of a serious military threat to the Knights of St John's existence, together with increasing wealth, arrogance, lack of discipline and debauchery ate into the moral fabric of the Order. Thus in 1798 Napoleon found little resistance in obtaining Malta’s surrender to the French Navy, and he brought to an end 268 years of rule by the Knights of St. John. But French rule in Malta was short-lived; by 1800 the Maltese, with the help of Nelson, managed to drive the French garrison out of Malta and sought the protection of the British throne. The British ruled Malta for over 160 years, until independence was obtained in 1964. During the Second World War, the Maltese suffered yet another terrible siege, as bombs were dropped relentlessly throughout the war to try to get the tiny islands to surrender. Though bombed to the point of starvation, the Maltese did not give in, and were awarded the George Cross by King George VI of Britain as recognition of their bravery. In 1990 Malta played host to the crucial summit between East and West as Gorbachov and Bush strove to bury the cold war. Today Malta is a neutral peaceful republic, its strategic position at the crossroads of two continents reflected in its comfortably co-existing ancient heritage and modern outlook for the new century.