Paulina Jarkiewicz

Shakespeare's language in the land of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

What connected the great empire with the small island in the Mediterranean?

Did this partnership resemble friendship David and Goliath?

The column is dedicated to the part of the history of Malta that was associated with Great Britain and its influence on the present nature of this charming island in the Mediterranean Sea.

We will start the story with the famous... Frenchman.

A stamp of Napoleon's shoe.

Is about 1798. Napoleon - still as the general of the French Republic - embarks on an exotic war expedition to Egypt. He departs from Toulon ahead of the French fleet and crosses the Mediterranean Sea towards Africa. He is a clever strategist. He knows that there is a small island on the way to Egypt, small but extremely rich. It has huge strategic location and meaning. Who controls it - controls the sea route from Europe to Africa and Asia. It is ruled by the Order of the Knights of Malta somewhat flagging but still well-off. The Order consists of a large group of French knights. Who would they support: a young, charismatic general, representing freedom, equality and brotherhood or a German, the Great Master just by title? The glory days of the Order had passed. Now money and power mattered. The predictions of the young Corsican general came true. The French part of Sovereign Military Order of Malta joined him readily. The Grand Master was influenced by economic persuasion and simply sold the island along with the Maltese living there and who were the only ones that tried to resist the Napoleon’s army, however unsuccessfully. In this way Napoleon captured Malta in three days. He took wealth to fund the campaign in Egypt (he did not even spare the silverware on which patients ate in the famous Sovereign Military Order of Malta’s hospital). Having left a mass, he sailed away, leaving on the island a garrison of 3,000 men. This disturbed the balance of political influence in the Mediterranean. Ruling in the seas was England - the homeland of such sailors as: sir Drake, captain Cook, or Napoleon’s modern-day – admiral Nelson, couldn’t allow anyone else to take control of these waters. First, Lord Nelson destroyed the fleet that took Napoleon to Egypt, and then attacked Malta. Maltese fortresses were difficult to conquer so he ordered the island's sea blockade. It didn't go smoothly or pleasantly. The commander of the French garrison was honourable and stubborn. He lasted 2 years, literarily cut off from the supplies. After two years, not a single rat remained on the island, and the French were forced to use the ships anchored in the port as firewood. On the water - the English and on land - the Maltese made things awkward for the occupants. Finally, in 1800, decimated by disease and simply starvation, the French crew gave up. The English entered Malta, where they had a good base to attack the garrison left by Napoleon in Egypt.

Malta Evacuation, English caricature from 1803, National Portrait Gallery; Internet source

Fish and chips instead of frog legs.

The English didn’t intend to resign from a key point on the Mediterranean trade routes. During Napoleonic times, Malta was under their protectorate. After the fall of the French Emperor, the island became an English colony. It functioned calmly, developing the economy and trade at the great protector’s fingertips. Thanks to its location, the Royal Navy created a military base for its fleet and controlled routes to Africa and Asia. Despite imperial politics, the English enabled the Maltese people to take care of their cultural heritage. In the nineteenth century, the Maltese language was written and then introduced to schools. The bilingual teaching structure has survived to this day. Malta has also preserved its religious separateness. Almost 96% of Maltese are Catholic, Protestants make up about 1% of followers.

"An unsinkable aircraft carrier."

There was a time when the Maltese military base faced a major threat and the presence of the English on the island was under a big question mark.

A new leader appeared on the arena dreaming of conquering the world - der Führer. As part of the conquest of whole the world, he naturally planned to grab Africa, and the small island hampered his way, the enemy colony, hindering the peaceful delivery of people and supplies to the coasts of Egypt. England that was experiencing hard times this time, attacked by countless Messerschmits and Junkers, didn’t have the resources to defend its Maltese colony. The Führer, being engaged in activities in England, sent against Malta the air force of his Italian colleague.

What forces was Malta to oppose Regia Aeronautica?

Some sources say it was 6, and some that it was 4 outdated Gladiator aircraft (it means biplanes). Three of them were able to combat. What other choice they had? They took off and started defended Malta against squadrons of Italian fighters and bombers. The Maltese had given them beautiful names: Faith, Hope and Mercy. They also had to give them the energy of this extraordinary island because something incredible happened. Three old planes wiped out 37 modern Italian machines from the sky. Malta impressed its great protector, so the island got several fighters type Hurricane, and then even Spitfires. The Italians had to receive support from the German Luftwaffe because they could not control the sky over Malta. In that moment I’ll end with the marry tone of this story. The last air raid on the island took place on July 20th, 1943. It was 3340 raid (from June 11th 1940 when the siege of Malta began). In total, during the three-year siege of the island, about 14 thousands of bombs fell on it. About 1,500 people from 270,000 Maltese population were killed. Once again, they showed fortitude and survived on starvation rations, completely cut off from supplies from the sea. Wikipedia reports that at the worst times of the siege the civilian daily ration was: "three candies, half of sardine and a spoon of jam." The Maltese proved that they were tough, brave nation. Malta didn’t fall on its knees and it wasn’t conquered. However, the island paid a high price for others’ war. After that terrible conflict it was completely destroyed, the economy ruined, unable to feed its inhabitants on its own.

The bust of sir Winston Churchill, who called Malta "an unsinkable aircraft carrier", Upper Barrakka Gardens, Valletta – the capital of Malta; photo Paulina Jarkiewicz

The heritage.

20 years passed and in 1964 this brave nation finally gained independence. Nevertheless, English influences in Malta are still visible. Starting from left-hand traffic, the English school system, to the language. English roots and the language helped to develop the economy so much that this small island evolved to a major trading partner, financial and tourist centre. In schools, little Maltese learn Maltese and English simultaneously. About 90% of Maltese speak English, and in some industries it is the main language of the communication. Although 86% of Maltese at the same time claim that they prefer to use their mother language, English is the language of Maltese business and the tourist industry. Therefore, when you visit Malta, you can easily talk in Shakespeare's tongue any place you go.

Familiar telephone booths - the English symbol in Malta; photo Paulina Jarkiewicz