Fortunato Mizzi
Fortunato Mizzi (5 July 1844 – 18 May 1905)[1] was a Maltese lawyer and politician.
Biography
Born of Francesco Mizzi Marianna Galea,
Mizzi founded the Partito Anti-Riformista in 1880 and, later, the Partito Nazionale (today's
Mizzi was instrumental to obtain liberal and progressive constitutional changes for the country during the colonial period, and is credited with starting the process which eventually led to Malta's independence.[5]
In 1871 Fortunato Mizzi married Maria Sofia (Marie Sophie) Folliero de Luna (
Memory
A lapide (plaque) with an epitaph to the memory of Fortunato Mizzi was placed at Mizzi’s former house at 15 Old Mint Street, Valletta, in 1922. The plaque was inaugurated in 1922 by then-Prime Minister Joseph Howard in the presence of Sir Filippo Sciberras, other members of the National Assembly and a very large crowd of supporters. The epitaph, in Italian, mentioned Fortunato Mizzi having lived and died in that house and exalted his many virtues and his dedication towards the national cause. It carried a bronze effigy of Mizzi in a roundel made by the Russian émigré sculptor Boris Edwards.
A bust of Fortunato Mizzi, inaugurated in 1940, can be seen in the
On 8 June 1940 an anti-Italian protest, stirred by the unveiling of the bust of Fortunato Mizzi at the
A new lapide to Fortunato Mizzi was prepared in Italy, sculpted by Orlando Paladino Orlandini, made from white travertine marble, measuring 2 x 1.27 metres per 400 kg wight. It carried an identical replica of the epitaph, flanked by two massive fasces, surmounted by a bronze bust of Mizzi. The replica lapide was meant to be placed at the same place in Valletta once the island fell to Italian forces. Italy declared war on Great Britain and France two days after the protests in Valletta. In 1941 the lapide was moved to the Basilica di Santa Croce in Florence for display amongst the memorials of Italy’s great and mighty. It was moved to storage in 1943 and remained there till 2019, when it was gifted to Malta by the Opera di Santa Croce . It is on display at the Malta at War Museum in Birgu.[4]
In the 1950s a third plaque was made to Fortunato Mizzi to replace the one vandalised in 1940 and this remains until today in Old Mint Street, Valletta.[4]
See also
- Italian irredentism in Malta
- Italia irredenta
References
- ^ Bezzina, Joseph (2016). "Fortunato Mizzi, 5 July 1844 - 18 May 1905".
- ^ a b Gen Mare Nostrum
- ^ Albero genealogico dei Mizzi
- ^ a b c d e [https://newsbook.com.mt/watch-fortunato-mizzi-lapide-back-in-malta/ Newsbook
- ^ "Financing of Political Parties". justice.gov.mt. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
- ^ "Dr Enrico Mizzi (1950 - 1950)". www.gov.mt. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
- ^ "Curious And Unusual - The Busts in the Pincian Gardens". roma.andreapollett.com.