Gozo (1798–1800)

Coordinates: 36°02′36″N 14°14′49″E / 36.04333°N 14.24694°E / 36.04333; 14.24694
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
(Redirected from
Gozo (independent state)
)
The Gozitan Nation
La Nazione Gozitana (Italian)
In-Nazzjon Għawdxi (Maltese)
1798–1801
Flag of Gozo
Ferdinand III of Sicily
Governor-General 
• 1798–1801
Saverio Cassar
Historical eraFrench Revolutionary Wars
• Revolt
3 September 1798
• Established
28/29 October 1798
• British protectorate established
4 September 1800
• Disestablished
20 August 1801
CurrencyMaltese scudo
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
French occupation of Malta
Malta Protectorate
Today part ofMalta

The Gozitan Nation,

French-occupied Malta and was eventually incorporated into Malta Protectorate
on 20 August 1801.

History

Map of Gozo c. 1745

Until 10 June 1798, Malta and Gozo had been administered by the Order of Saint John. When Napoleon ousted the Knights from the islands in the Mediterranean campaign of 1798, the French established garrisons in various locations in Malta, as well as the Cittadella and Fort Chambray, the main fortifications on Gozo.

On 2 September 1798, the Maltese rebelled against the French in

canons
.

The French garrison held out in the Cittadella and Fort Chambray, until they capitulated on 28 October after negotiations which were made with the help of Sir Alexander Ball. The 217 French soldiers there agreed to surrender without a fight and transferred the island, its fortifications, 24 cannons, a large quantity of ammunition, and 3,200 sacks of flour to the British.[2]

The Cittadella, which the British transferred to the Gozitans on 29 October 1798

A day later, the British transferred control of the Cittadella and the rest of the island to the Gozitans. The people declared

Ferdinand III of Sicily as their monarch, and set up a provisional government led by Saverio Cassar, who became governor-general.[3][4] The provisional government included several British and Maltese representatives, and their first action was to distribute the captured food supplies to the island's 16,000 inhabitants. The Neapolitan flag (which later became the flag of the Two Sicilies) was flown over Gozo, and munitions and supplies arrived from Naples, with King Ferdinand praising his "faithful Maltese subjects."[5]

On 29 October, Cassar requested that Gozo becomes a separate diocese. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Gozo was eventually created on 22 September 1864, 65 years after Cassar's petition.[6] During Cassar's rule of Gozo, he organized the administration, reopened the law courts and elected new jurists; and even opened a customs house.

When the French garrison in

Emmanuel Vitale
, another leader of the Maltese insurrection, became governor, superintendent and the health director of Gozo, a post which he held until his death fourteen months later.

On 16 December 1805, Cassar died at the age of 58.

Notes

  1. ^ Italian: La Nazione Gozitana; Maltese: In-Nazzjon Għawdxija
  2. ^ Maltese: Għawdex

References

  1. ^ Vella, George (5 July 2005). "Outline History of the Circolo Gozitano". Circolo Gozitano. Archived from the original on 2 November 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  2. ISBN 0851779069
  3. ^ Cahoon, Ben. "Malta". World Statesmen. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  4. ^ Sciberras, Sandro. "Maltese History - F. The French Occupation" (PDF). St Benedict College. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 May 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  5. ISBN 9780313323294
    .
  6. ^ "Historical Note". Gozo Diocese. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  7. ISBN 9789993291329
    .

36°02′36″N 14°14′49″E / 36.04333°N 14.24694°E / 36.04333; 14.24694

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