The Mystery of Cicero and Malta
Did Cicero, the father of modern politics, the greatest Roman orator ever visit Malta which he wrote so much about? This article separates myth from the historical reality.
The Lion in the Harbour: When Garibaldi Came to Malta
In 1864, the most famous man in the world spent 36 hours in Malta. In 1864, Giuseppe Garibaldi stopped off in Malta on his way to England. He was limping from a bullet wound and wanted a quiet rest. What he got instead was a firestorm.
The Battle of Strigonia
Sixteenth century Europe was ablaze with one war after another. The epoch-defining conflict was the one between the Ottomans and the Hapsburg Empire. This changed European, and Middle-Eastern history. One of this war's battles included a contingent of Maltese fighting forces. This article explains how they came to be there and the story of that siege.
When Napoleon Conquered Malta in 72 Hours
Think the fall of powerful nations takes months? Napoleon Bonaparte dismantled 268 years of Knights' rule over Malta in three days. If you want to understand how empires truly fall, keep reading.
ORP Kujawiak: From Britain to Malta
During World War II, the Polish Navy operated under the auspices of the British Navy. One destroyer escort, the ORP Kujawiak, helped supply the island of Malta where it hit an Italian mine.
This article explains the short life of ORP Kujawiak, its final moments and its current status as an underwater diving site.
The independence of Ħal-Għargħur
In the 16th century, the rural village of Ħal-Għargħur became an independent parish for 3 brief years. It’s unusual that someone thought it should be independent and changed their mind a few years later.
This article explains the village politics behind the situation, and how Ħal-Għargħur became a parish.
The Icelandic anomaly
In geopolitical terms, Iceland is a bit of an anomaly. It gained independence from Denmark, but found itself unable to defend itself. It joined NATO even though it doesn't have a standing army of its own. It's crucial to North Atlantic security but is it that crucial?
This article examines Iceland before NATO, and how it, and NATO, evolved together.
St James’ Church, Valletta
St James' Church on Valletta's bustling Merchants' street never attracted my eye the same way the other churches in the city do. When I found out my ancestors married there so I thought I'd take a closer look at this historical building.
The bombing of RAF Kalafrana
On 9 May 1942, at the tail end of the Siege of Malta, an unexpected switch in Axis tactics led to loss of life at one of Malta's airfields. This article describes the situation at that point, and the details of the men who lost their lives that day.
How the 1602 famine hit Malta and Sicily
We often don't think of how explosive and violent Mother Nature can be. In 1600 a volcano exploded in Peru, affecting life around the planet in many ways. In Malta, it led to a diplomatic spat with Sicily and caused a riot in the south of Malta.
This article explains how one led to the other.