Proceedings of History Week 2011

THE MALTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Researching, propagating and safeguarding
Malta's historical heritage since 1950
Proceedings of
• History Week
2011
Edited by
Joan Abela - Emanuel Buttigieg - Krystle Farrugia
www.maltahistory.eu
Proceedings of History W e e k 2011
Contents
3 0 t h Anniversary Edition
History Week 2011 was dedicated to the memory of
Jean Quintin d'Autun (Quintinos) on the 4S0th anniversary of his death
Published in M a l t a by the
M a l t a Historical Society, a n d
Midsea Books Ltd.
6, S t r a i t S t r e e t , V a l l e t t a , M a l t a
T e l : 2 1 4 9 7 0 4 6 Fax: 2 1 4 9 6 9 0 4
w w w . midseabooks.com
Editorial
C o p y r i g h t © Literary, M a l t a H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y a n d t h e a u t h o r s , 2 0 1 3
C o p y r i g h t © E d i t o r i a l , M i d s e a B o o k s Ltd, 2 0 1 3
Capitano Francesco Laparellt a n d Valletta
Roger Vella Bonavita
All rights r e s e r v e d .
No part of this publication may he reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in a n y f o r m o r by a n y m e a n s , e l e c t r o n i c , m e c h a n i c a l ,
p h o t o c o p y i n g , r e c o r d i n g , or o t h e r w i s e ,
w i t h o u t t h e previous written permission of t h e author.
C o v e r design by S t e p h e n C. S p i t e r i
P r o d u c e d by M i z z i Design a n d G r a p h i c Services Ltd.
P r i n t e d by G u t e n b e r g Press Ltd.
David Mallia
29
A s t u d y o f t h e p o l y c h r o m e w o o d e n s t a t u e o f St J o h n t h e B a p t i s t l o c a t e d a t H a d
Dingli parish church
47
D o n Juliano Barg: Parish priest o f Naxxar, m o n e y lender, l a n d o w n e r ( 1 5 7 0 - 1 6 1 0 )
Paul Catania
G9
A n O r d e r in decline? An a l t e r n a t i v e perspective
Aleks Farrugia
79
O f Briefs a n d Privileges: T h e r o l e o f t h e a m b a s s a d o r t o t h e H o l y See (Fra M a r c e l l o
S a c c h e t t i ) in s a f e g u a r d i n g t h e O r d e r o f S t J o h n ' s p o s i t i o n d u r i n g t h e 1 6 8 0 s
Adrian Scerri
ISBN 9 7 8 - 9 9 9 3 2 - 7 - 4 3 9 - 1
1
T h e survival o f t h e Knights' Church in Tripoli
Valentina Lupo
First p u b l i s h e d , 2 0 1 3
v
95
Zejtun: A n e i g h t e e n t h - c e n t u r y 'Smart City'
Carmel Vass3ilo
105
Editorial
S h i p w r e c k , e n s l a v e m e n t a n d a n a n g r y w i f e : C o r s a i r i n g i n M a f t a in t h e l a t e e i g h t e e n t h
century
Liam Gauci
ng
T h e d e l i m i t a t i o n o f b o u n d a r i e s b e t w e e n Church a n d State in late n i n e t e e n t h a n d
early twentieth-century Malta
Michael Refalo
131
H o w M a l t a lost s e l f - g o v e r n m e n t , 1 9 3 0 - 1 9 3 3
Dominic Fenech
141
Love or l o a t h t h e m , anniversaries t e n d t o serve as useful focal points f o r reflection,
g e n e r a t i n g all kinds o f activities f r o m publications t o e x h i b i t i o n s . I t w a s d u r i n g a
C o m m i t t e e m e e t i n g o f t h e M a l t a Historical Society t h a t Albert G a n a d o suggested t h a t
during History W e e k 2 0 1 1 m e n t i o n should be m a d e of t h e fact t h a t this coincided w i t h
t h e 4 5 0 t h year since t h e passing away of Jean Q u i n t i n d'Autun ( o f t e n referred t o simply
as Q u i n t i n u s ) , a u t h o r o f t h e r e n o w n e d Insuhe Melitae Descriptio ( L y o n s , 1 5 3 6 ) . T h e
i n t e n t i o n w a s t o pay t r i b u t e t o a m a n w h o s e w o r k - as t h e first published t r e a t i s e o n
M a l t a - has b e e n o f s i g n i f i c a n t i n f l u e n c e i n t h e c e n t u r i e s s i n c e its f i r s t a p p e a r a n c e .
M o r e o v e r , H i s t o r y W e e k a n d t h e p u b l i s h e d p r o c e e d i n g s t o w h i c h i t b e a r s f r u i t , f o l l o w in
t h e f o o t s t e p s o f Q u i n t i n u s i n t h e s e n s e t h a t a t its basis, H i s t o r y W e e k Is a b o u t a q u e s t
f o r , a n d i n d e e d a l o v e of, k n o w l e d g e a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g i n t h e i r w i d e s t p o s s i b l e f o r m s .
By a h a p p y c o i n c i d e n c e , 2 0 1 1 a l s o m a r k e d t h e 3 0 t h a n n i v e r s a r y f r o m t h e
Proceedings of History Week 1981, t h e f i r s t t o b e p u b l i s h e d . P r i o r t o t h i s , t h e r e w e r e
History W e e k s in 1979 and 1980, but due t o financial constraints, these could n o t
be published. F o r t u n a t e l y , t h e Proceedings o f 1 9 8 1 s a w t h e light o f day u n d e r t h e
e d i t o r s h i p o f M a r i o Buhagiar, t h e r e b y i n s t i t u t i n g a t r a d i t i o n w h i c h has c o n t i n u e d o v e r
t h r e e d e c a d e s t o b r i n g t o g e t h e r w o m e n a n d m e n i n t e r e s t e d in M a l t a ' s p a s t w i t h a l l its
h u e s a n d c o m p l e x i t i e s . In t h e I n t r o d u c t i o n (p.v) t o t h e P r o c e e d i n g s o f 1 9 8 1 , t h e t h e n
President o f t h e M a l t a Historical Society, M g r V i n c e n t Borg stated:
T h e w r i t i n g of h i s t o r y is a l i e n t o ail f l i g h t s o f f a n c y a n d s e c t a r i a n i n f l u e n c e s , M a n ' s
a c h i e v e m e n t s in t i m e a n d s p a c e a r e b r o u g h t t o life t h r o u g h t h e h i s t o r i a n ' s d e d i c a t i o n
t o t h e search of t r u t h . In t h i s w o r k h e has t o e n j o y f u l l f r e e d o m f r o m all f o r m s o f
e n c r o a c h m e n t w h i c h , o t h e r w i s e , w o u l d shackle t h e u n b i a s e d a c c o u n t s t h a t h a v e t o
result f r o m t h e historian's w o r k .
S u c h a vast a n d c o n f i d e n t s t a t e m e n t i n t h e p o w e r o f h i s t o r y t o shine like
a b e a c o n o f l i g h t a m i d d a r k n e s s is f a s c i n a t i n g i n t h a t its t o n e is p a r t i c u l a r a n d
universal at t h e same time. The unquestioning assumption that t h e male historian
studies ' m a n ' s a c h i e v e m e n t s ' in 'search o f t r u t h ' reads s o m e w h a t anachronistically in
a p o s t - f e m i n i s t a n d p o s t - m o d e r n i s t a g e w h i c h h a s b e c o m e a w a r e t h a t ft/s-tory m a k e s
l i t t l e s e n s e w i t h o u t h e r - s t o r y a n d t h a t ' t r u t h ' is i n i t s e l f a h i g h l y u n s t a b l e , p r o b l e m a t i c
c a t e g o r y o f analysis. N o n e t h e l e s s , t h e a p p e a l f o r ' f r e e d o m f r o m all e n c r o a c h m e n t '
in t h e h i s t o r i a n ' s w o r k r e m a i n s as v a l i d a s e v e r a n d t h e M a l t a H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y , b y
providing a variety o f fora a n d m e a n s f o r t h e d i s s e m i n a t i o n a n d discussion of ideas,
plays a s e m i n a l role in t h e c o n t i n u e d f o s t e r i n g o f such a f r e e d o m .
In Proceedings of History Week 1982, t h e e d i t o r , a g a i n M a r i o B u h a g i a r , s e t t h e t o n e
f o r l a t e r v o l u m e s : t h e p u b l i s h e d P r o c e e d i n g s w e r e ' o f f e r e d as a c o n t r i b u t i o n t o w a r d s
t h e s t u d y o f t h e h i s t o r y a n d c u l t u r e o f t h e M a l t e s e islands', w h i l e t h e m e e t i n g s t h a t
c o n s t i t u t e H i s t o r y W e e k itself, w e r e - a n d still a r e - 'rallying point[s] f o r M a l t e s e
s c h o l a r s t o c o m e t o g e t h e r a n d s h a r e t h e f r u i t s o f t h e i r r e s e a r c h (p.v).' A c o m m i t m e n t
t o t h e s e salient points can be traced across t h e various v o l u m e s o f Proceedings w h i c h
have n o w appeared (listed b e l o w ) . Indeed, in her e d i t o r i a l preface t o t h e Proceedings
o f 2009, Charlene Vella (incidentally t h e first f e m a l e editor of this series) stated t h a t :
'The publication of t h e papers ensures t h a t t h e i m p o r t a n t n e w material they contain
b e c o m e s available t o s t u d e n t s , r e s e a r c h e r s a n d all t h o s e w i t h a l o v e a n d i n t e r e s t
f o r M a l t a a n d its variegated historical a n d cultural heritage.' T h e present editors, in
p r e s e n t i n g t h e c u r r e n t set o f Proceedings, r e n e w t h e i r and t h e Society's c o m m i t m e n t
t o t h e research, p r o p a g a t i o n a n d safeguarding o f M a l t a ' s historical h e r i t a g e as a past
w h i c h is p l u r a l i s t i c a n d b e l o n g s t o a l l . T h e p r e s e n t v o l u m e , i n l i n e w i t h i t s i m m e d i a t e
predecessor, has a d o p t e d a m o r e m o d e r n f o r m a t t h a t fits o u r digitally-enhanced era,
w h i l e still p u t t i n g f o r w a r d a high q u a l i t y o f scholarship.
Year o f Proceedings
1981
1982
1983
1984
1986
1992
1993
1994
1999
I Aspects of Maltese History
during French rule 1798-1800)
2003
2005
(Malta and Matiini)
2009
List o f p u b l i s h e d Proceedings
VI
of History
„
Year o f Publication
1982
1983
1984
1986
1992
1994
1997
1996
Editor
M a r i o Buhagiar
M a r i o Buhagiar
M a r i o Buhagiar
Stanley Fiorini
J o s e p h F. G r i m a
Stanley Fiorini
Keith Sciberras
Stanley Fiorini
2002
2004
William Zammit
Toni Cortis
2007
2012
Simon Mercieca
Charlene Vella
History W e e k 2011 was held b e t w e e n 2 9 N o v e m b e r - 2 December in the
e l e g a n t setting o f Palazzo d e la Salle i n V a l l e t t a , t h e historic seat o f t h e M a l t a
Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, t o w h o m w e are grateful for their
c o - o p e r a t i o n a n d assistance in m a k i n g this e v e n t a successful a n d e n j o y a b l e o n e . As
ever, t w o f e a t u r e s stand o u t in t h e Proceedings o f H i s t o r y W e e k . First, t h e i r eclectic
character, ranging across t i m e a n d space a n d delving i n t o all kinds o f subjects f r o m
a multiplicity o f methodological angles. Chronologically, the papers range f r o m t h e
early sixteenth century t o t h e first half o f t h e t w e n t i e t h . Second, t h e proceedings
offer a space for b o t h established and emerging scholars t o put f o r w a r d t h e results
o f t h e i r l a b o u r s . It is w o r t h n o t i n g t h a t a g o o d n u m b e r o f t h e c o n t r i b u t i o n s i n t h i s
v o l u m e trace t h e i r origins t o dissertations s u b m i t t e d t o t h e University of M a l t a . All
t o o o f t e n , and regretfully, such w o r k s , w h i c h are full o f original insights into t h e m e s
and sources, e n d u p largely f o r g o t t e n in t h e vaults o f t h e University library. T h e
M a l t a H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y is t h e r e f o r e p r o v i d i n g a g r e a t s e r v i c e i n b r i n g i n g f o r t h s u c h
studies and ensuring t h e y are accessible t o a m u c h w i d e r readership.
The present v o l u m e contains a strong contribution f r o m t h e art historical 3nd
a r c h i t e c t u r a l side in t h e p a p e r s by Roger Vella B o n a v i t a , David M a l l i a a n d V a l e n t m a
L u p o . A s t h e a r c h i t e c t u r a l g e m w h i c h is V a l l e t t a l o o k s t o t h e f u t u r e w i t h a v a r i e t y o f
p r o j e c t s t h a t a r e i n t e n d e d t o t a k e it f o r w a r d , V e l i a B o n a v i t a ' s p a p e r d r a w s u s b a c k
t o t h e g e n e s i s o f t h e city, t h e details o f w h i c h a r e still surprisingly o p e n t o discussion
and debate. He provides a n i n t i m a t e insight into Francesco Laparelli, t h e m a n , t h e
engineer and t h e arch-organiser / diplomat. W e bear witness t h r o u g h this paper t o
t h e birth pangs o f a Renaissance city and t h e character compatibilities and clashes
of Laparelli a n d G r a n d M a s t e r Jean de V a l e t t e , all o f w h i c h played a part in shaping
V a l l e t t a , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n i t s e a r l i e r s t a g e s . W i t h D a v i d M a l l i a , t h e r e a d e r is i n v i t e d t o
cross o v e r s o u t h , t o t h e city o f Tripoli in Libya, t h e scene o f m a n y d r a m a t i c e v e n t s
o v e r t h e last c o u p l e o f m o n t h s . Tripoli's c o n n e c t i o n s t o M a l t a g o back o v e r t h e
centuries, including a short-lived (1530-1551) political u n i o n o f sorts b e t w e e n these
t w o outposts. Mallia's paper focuses o n t h e fortunes o f the church o f the Order in
T r i p o l i , e s p e c i a l l y a f t e r t h e H o s p i t a l l e r p e r i o d c a m e t o a n e n d . In h i g h l i g h t i n g t h e
l o n g - t e r m e v o l u t i o n o f t h i s building, M a l l i a p r e s e n t s t h e f o r m i d a b l e T u r g u t Reis
( b e t t e r k n o w n locally as D r a g u t ) n o t so m u c h as t h e f e a r e d corsair f a m i l i a r t o m a n y
M a l t e s e , b u t as a s k i l f u l s t a t e s m a n a n d a d m i n i s t r a t o r w i t h i n t h e c o m p l e x w o r l d o f
O t t o m a n politics. R e t u r n i n g t o M a l t a , V a l e n t i n a Lupo's p a p e r takes us t o t h e village
o f H a d Dingli, w h e r e a little k n o w n artistic t r e a s u r e , t h e p o l y c h r o m e w o o d e n s t a t u e
o f S t J o h n t h e B a p t i s t is p r e s e r v e d in t h e p a r i s h c h u r c h . L u p o ' s p a p e r is t e c h n i c a l i n
n a t u r e , b u t p r e s e n t e d in a n accessible a n d e n j o y a b l e f o r m so t h a t a non-specialist
audience can understand t h e intricacies of a detailed and technical study of a w o r k
o f a r t p r i o r t o t h e c o n s e r v a t i o n a n d r e s t o r a t i o n p r o c e s s . It r e m i n d s u s o f t h e ' l i f e cycle' of objects, in this case a d e v o t i o n a l statue, w h i c h despite b e i n g a n i n a n i m a t e
object, ' t r a v e l l e d ' e x t e n s i v e l y and e x p e r i e n c e d v a r i o u s c h a n g e s i n its life a t t h e
Week t o - d a t e
vii
h a n d s o f b o t h n a t u r e a n d h u m a n s ; t h e m o s t e x t e n s i v e c h a n g e b e i n g , as i n d i c a t e d
by Lupo, the t r a n s f o r m a t i o n f r o m a p o l y c h r o m e t o a m o n o c h r o m e statue.
This v o l u m e can boast a rich and varied selection o f papers o n t h e early m o d e r n
p e r i o d . Paul C a t a n i a o f f e r s a case-study o f a priest, D o n Juliano B o r g a n d his p a r i s h ,
Naxxar, in t h e late s i x t e e n t h / early s e v e n t e e n t h centuries. This paper provides a
s n a p s h o t o f t h e local c h u r c h a t a m o m e n t w h e n t h e t e n e t s o f t h e Council o f T r e n t
(1545-64} had barely begun m a k i n g t h e m s e l v e s f e l t in M a l t a . Father Borg w a s certainly
a n e n t e r p r i s i n g i n d i v i d u a l , t h o u g h p o s s i b l y n o t t h e b e s t s p e c i m e n o f a c l e r g y m a n . In a
s e n s e , h e r e p r e s e n t e d t h e last o f t h e 'old s c h o o l ' o f clerics w h o w e r e g r a d u a l l y replaced
by t h e m o r e rigorously t r a i n e d clergy d e m a n d e d by t h e C o u n t e r - R e f o r m a t i o n C h u r c h .
T h e papers by Aieks Farrugia a n d A d r i a n Scerri t a k e us f o r w a r d into t h e s e v e n t e e n t h
c e n t u r y a n d deal w i t h issues of sovereignty, and t h e relevance and r e p u t a t i o n o f t h e
O r d e r i n e a r l y m o d e r n E u r o p e . F a r r u g i a ' s c o n t r i b u t i o n is a t h e o r e t i c a l l y - r i c h p i e c e
w h i c h h i g h l i g h t s t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e r e l e v a n c e a n d t h e a d a p t i o n o f d i s c o u r s e in
h i s t o r y a n d in p r i m a r y s o u r c e s . I n t h i s w a y , t h e p a p e r a t t e m p t s a m o r e ' c o m p l e x ' a n d
ultimately m o r e fruitful discussion and 'answer' t o t h e long-debated question of t h e
decline o f t h e O r d e r o f St J o h n . Scerri, o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , o f f e r s a g l i m p s e i n t o t h e
c a r e e r o f Fra M a r c e l l o S a c c h e t t i , w h o f o r m a n y y e a r s w a s a m b a s s a d o r o f t h e O r d e r
t o t h e Holy See, a m o s t c o m p l e x posting. T h e paper delves into w h a t - for t h e Order
- w a s t h e all i m p o r t a n t issue o f ' i m m u n i t y ' a n d t h e n e e d t o s a f e g u a r d t h e special
p o s i t i o n o f t h e O r d e r w i t h i n C h r i s t e n d o m . In p r a c t i c e , t h e s a f e g u a r d i n g o f p r i v i l e g e s
w a s a lifeline f o r t h e O r d e r a n d t h e Ambassador's d i p l o m a t i c 'battles' w e r e e v e r y bit
as t o u g h a n d a s i m p o r t a n t as t h e b l o o d y b a t t l e s a t s e a . D i f f e r e n t b u t c o m p l i m e n t a r y
aspects o f t h e e i g h t e e n t h c e n t u r y are dealt w i t h by C a r m e l Vassallo a n d Liam Gauci.
Vassallo's use o f Z e j t u n as a case-study provides a concise t o u r - d e - f o r c e o f t h e h i s t o r y
o f Malta's c o m m e r c e and o f M a l t e s e m e r c h a n t s . By using t h e concept o f 'Diaspora
Entrepreneurial N e t w o r k s ' he explores t h e role o f M a l t e s e migrants and m e r c h a n t s
in Spain ( w i t h a special e m p h a s i s o n t h e significant c o n t r i b u t i o n f r o m Z e j t u n natives),
w h o s e key f e a t u r e w a s liminality, 'the occupation o f a position at, o r o n b o t h sides
o f , a b o u n d a r y o r t h r e s h o l d . ' G a u c i ' s c o n t r i b u t i o n , is a l s o , t o a n e x t e n t , a b o u t a
c a t e g o r y o f p e o p l e w h o l e d l i m i n a l l i v e s , t h a t is, t h e c o r s a i r s . T h i s is a n e v e r p o p u l a r
s u b j e c t , b u t p r e c i s e l y b e c a u s e it is s o p o p u l a r , i t is o f t e n p r o n e i n t h e m i n d s o f m a n y t o
f a n t a s t i c a l j o u r n e y s . G a u c i d o e s n o t fell i n t h i s t r a p f o r h i s w o r k is b a s e d o n a c r e a t i v e
use of d o c u m e n t a t i o n originating f r o m t h e Notarial Archives in Valletta, a n e x t r e m e l y
rich depository w h e r e generations of researchers t o c o m e will find plenty t o do.
T h e a u t h o r h e r e offers a v e r y h u m a n s t o r y w i t h protagonists ranging f r o m corsairs
t o m o t h e r s , w i v e s , a n d t h e s e a i t s e l f . I t is a w o r k w h i c h r e v i s i t s a n d q u e s t i o n s t h e
a s s u m p t i o n of t h e decline o f corsairing activities in t h e late e i g h t e e n t h century; in
this sense, it opens up t h e w a y f o r f u r t h e r questioning o f generally-accepted 'truths'.
T h e n i n e t e e n t h and m u c h o f t h e t w e n t i e t h centuries w e r e , for M a l t a , t h e British
period, a t i m e o f c r o w n / fortress colony existence. Fascinating original insights into
this p h a s e are t o be f o u n d in t h e papers by M i c h a e l Refelo a n d D o m i n i c Fenech.
R e f e l o ' s p a p e r is u n d e r s c o r e d b y a n e n g a g e m e n t w i t h A n t o n i o ' s G r a m s c i ' s t h e o r y o f
t h e 'integral state' and t h e interaction b e t w e e n coercive and hegemonic exercises of
p o w e r in t h e late n i n e t e e n t h and early t w e n t i e t h centuries. T h e t w o key protagonists
here w e r e t h e British colonial administration and t h e R o m a n Catholic Church, w h i c h
R e f e l o d e s c r i b e s as ' t h e m a i n i n s t i t u t i o n o f civil s o c i e t y ' . T h e p a p e r d e a l s w i t h b o t h
t h e b i g p o l i t i c a l q u e s t i o n s , s u c h as i s s u e s o f t a x a t i o n a n d e x p e n d i t u r e , as w e l l as w i t h
i s s u e s o f m a t e r i a l c u l t u r e , s u c h a s t h e v i s i b i l i t y o f l i t u r g i c a l v e s t m e n t s . In a s e n s e i t is
a ' k n o w n story' o f t h e overlap and divergence o f t h e interests o f t h e colonial p o w e r
a n d t h e c o l o n i s e d , b u t R e f a l o h e r e e n r i c h e s t h i s s t o r y t h r o u g h a n a p p r o a c h w h i c h is
theoretically enhancing, offers n e w insights and goes b e y o n d standard 'nationalistic'
narratives. M a n y o f t h e s e issues can be seen carried o v e r into t h e early 1930s, t h e
p e r i o d w i t h w h i c h F e n e c h is c o n c e r n e d h e r e . T h e B r i t i s h c o l o n i a l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n a n d
t h e R o m a n Catholic C h u r c h w e r e n o w j o i n e d by a ' n e w ' , significant a n d - as it t u r n s
o u t f r o m a n a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p o i n t of view, b o t h colonial a n d ecclesiastical - disruptive
p l a y e r , t h a t is, t h e l o c a l p o l i t i c a l class, w h i c h b y t h i s t i m e w a s f i r m l y o r g a n i s e d i n t o
f o r m a l political parties. Fenech offers a fascinating, detailed insight n o t only into a
t u r b u l e n t m o m e n t in l o c a l p o l i t i c a l h i s t o r y , b u t a l s o i n t o t h e w i d e r f a b r i c o f i m p e r i a l
t h o u g h t s a n d E u r o p e a n politics. He deftly w e a v e s t o g e t h e r a multiplicity of layers
a n d players: t h e local s i t u a t i o n , t h e r e g i o n a l - i n t e r n a t i o n a l - i m p e r i a l s i t u a t i o n a n d t h e
L o n d o n e n v i r o n m e n t c o n s i s t i n g o f c o m p e t i n g m i n i s t e r s a n d civil s e r v a n t s , w h i c h a l l
together, helped t o give a v a r i e t y o f t w i s t s t o t h e tale o f M a l t e s e s e l f - g o v e r n m e n t .
T o c o n c l u d e , i t is f i t t i n g t o e n d t h i s e d i t o r i a l b y a c k n o w l e d g i n g a l l t h o s e w h o p l a y e d
a role in e n s u r i n g t h e success o f History W e e k 2 0 1 1 a n d t h e publication o f t h e s e
Proceedings. First a n d f o r e m o s t , w e n e e d t o t h a n k t h e m a i n sponsor, C o m p u t i m e
B u s i n e s s S y s t e m s E n g i n e e r i n g , as w e l l a s t h e t w o o t h e r s p o n s o r s , B a n k o f V a l l e t t a
a n d t h e J a n a t h a S t u b b s T r u s t . T h e i r f i n a n c i a l a s s i s t a n c e is v e r y m u c h a p p r e c i a t e d .
Again, w e need t o thank t h e M a l t a Society of Arts and Manufactures for providing a
congenial place w h e r e History W e e k could take place. W e are also grateful t o all t h o s e
w h o generously offered t h e i r t i m e t o chair a session during History W e e k : Giovanni
B o n e l l o , G e o r g e Cassar, Charles Farrugia, S a n d r a D e b o n o a n d W i l l i a m Z a m m i t . A w o r d
o f a p p r e c i a t i o n m u s t a l s o g o t o all t h e c o n t r i b u t o r s w h o w e r e a l w a y s f r i e n d l y a n d
diligent in heeding o u r instructions. W e t h a n k t h e C o m m i t t e e o f t h e M a l t a Historical
Society for t h e i r faith in e n t r u s t i n g us w i t h t h e responsibility f o r History W e e k and
t h e Proceedings and for t h e s u p p o r t w h i c h t h e s a m e C o m m i t t e e gave us t h r o u g h o u t .
Finally, w e t h a n k o u r l o v e d o n e s f o r p a t i e n t l y p u t t i n g u p w i t h m a n y h o u r s o f talk a n d
w o r k about History Week.
Joan Abeia - E m a n u e l Buttigieg - Krystle
Farrugia
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Contributors
PAUL C A T A N I A is a L o n d o n U n i v e r s i t y g r a d u a t e w i t h a specialization i n social a n d
e c o n o m i c h i s t o r y . For t h e last 3 0 years h e has b e e n r e s e a r c h i n g t h e h i s t o r y o f his
h o m e t o w n , Naxxar. H e has w r i t t e n f o u r books a n d w e l l over a h u n d r e d studies o n
t h e s o c i a l l i f e o f t h e v i l l a g e r s . H e is t h e a r c h i v i s t a t t h e p a r i s h a r c h i v e s a n d is p r e s e n t l y
researching social life in t h e late s i x t e e n t h c e n t u r y in t h e t h r e e villages o f t h e n o r t h .
ALEKS F A R R U G I A studied p h i l o s o p h y a n d h i s t o r y at t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f M a l t a , g r a d u a t i n g
i n H o s p i t a l l e r S t u d i e s in 2 0 1 1 . H e is t h e e d i t o r o f t h e w e e k l y n e w s p a p e r It-Torca a n d
l e c t u r e s in p h i l o s o p h y . H e is also a p u b l i s h e d a u t h o r o f a n u m b e r o f l i t e r a r y w o r k s in
Maltese.
D O M I N I C F E N E C H read h i s t o r y a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f M a l t a a n d o b t a i n e d his D.Phil i n
m o d e r n history f r o m t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f O x f o r d , w h e r e h e s t u d i e d as a Rhodes scholar.
H e h a s b e e n l e c t u r i n g a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f M a l t a s i n c e 1 9 7 9 . H e is p r o f e s s o r a n d H e a d
of t h e History D e p a r t m e n t and t h e Dean of t h e Faculty of Arts.
L I A M G A U C I is t h e C u r a t o r o f t h e M a l t a M a r i t i m e M u s e u m . H i s c u r r e n t r e s e a r c h
focuses o n t h e M a l t e s e corso b e t w e e n 1 7 7 5 - 1 7 9 8 , w i t h a special interest in t h e m e n
t h a t w o r k e d aboard t h e corsair ships and t h e i r impact o n M a l t e s e society. He o b t a i n e d
his M A f r o m t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f History o f t h e University o f M a l t a in 2 0 1 2 .
V A L E N T I N A L U P O h o l d s a B a c h e l o r D e g r e e in C o n s e r v a t i o n a n d R e s t o r a t i o n o f p a i n t i n g s
a n d p o l y c h r o m e s c u l p t u r e s . S h e h a s p r e s e n t e d h e r d i s s e r t a t i o n 'A s t u d y o f t h e
p o l y c h r o m e w o o d e n s c u l p t u r e o f St J o h n t h e B a p t i s t l o c a t e d a t D i n g l i p a r i s h c h u r c h '
as a p o s t e r a t t h e t w e n t y - f o u r t h b i e n n i a l IIC ( I n t e r n a t i o n a l I n s t i t u t e f o r C o n s e r v a t i o n )
C o n g r e s s in V i e n n a . I n 2 0 1 2 s h e t e a m e d u p w i t h a g r o u p o f c o n s e r v a t o r s a n d o p e n e d
' A t e l i e r d e l R e s t a u r o ' , a p r i v a t e c o n s e r v a t i o n a n d r e s t o r a t i o n l a b o r a t o r y . S h e is a l s o t h e
P.R.O o f M A P C o - R e ( M a l t a A s s o c i a t i o n o f P r o f e s s i o n a l C o n s e r v a t o r s - R e s t o r e r s ) .
D A V I D M A L L I A is a m a n a g e r a t t h e M E P A r e s p o n s i b l e f o r d e v e l o p m e n t c o n t r o l in U r b a n
C o n s e r v a t i o n A r e a s , a v i s i t i n g l e c t u r e r in c o n s e r v a t i o n a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f M a l t a a n d
M a l t a C e n t r e f o r R e s t o r a t i o n a n d an e x t e r n a l e x a m i n e r at Al-Albayt U n i v e r s i t y (Jordan)
a n d t h e M . U . 5 . T . U n i v e r s i t y ( C a i r o ) . His s t u d i e s h a v e f o c u s e d o n r u r a l c h u r c h e s a n d
f o r t i f i c a t i o n s , t h e o r i g i n s a n d d e v e l o p m e n t o f M a l t e s e v e r n a c u l a r a r c h i t e c t u r e , as w e l l
a s s o c i e t y , c u l t u r e a n d a r c h i t e c t u r e in t h e I s l a m i c w o r l d .
MICHAEL REFALO obtained a doctorate o f laws in 1980 and after nearly 3 0 years
legal practice, r e a d f o r a B A at t h e G o z o C e n t r e o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f M a l t a , f o l l o w e d
b y a P h . D . His d i s s e r t a t i o n w a s e n t i t l e d The Maltese Commercial Class, 1870-1914:
155
Business, Families, Networks. T h i s w a s p u b l i s h e d a s a b o o k b y t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f P i s a
in 2 0 0 1 .
A D R I A N SCERRI g r a d u a t e d in t h e o l o g y in 1997 and
in 2006, linking t h e passion o f Greek tragedy w i t h
In 2 0 1 1 h e o b t a i n e d a n M A i n H o s p i t a l l e r S t u d i e s .
his area o f specialization, h e concentrated o n t h e
a m b a s s a d o r f o r t h e Order at t h e Holy See during t h e
o b t a i n e d his m a s t e r s in t h e s a m e
the depth of the Gospel of John.
Taking t h e Order's diplomacy as
c a r e e r o f Fra M a r c e l l o S a c c h e t t i ,
m a g i s t r a c y o f Fra G r e g o r i o C a r a f a .
C A R M E L VASSALLO has researched a n d published extensively o n a v a r i e t y o f aspects
c o n c e r n i n g M a l t a ' s m a r i t i m e h i s t o r y . H e is C o - o r d i n a t o r o f t h e M e d i t e r r a n e a n
M a r i t i m e History N e t w o r k and Head of t h e D e p a r t m e n t of Spanish at t h e University
of Malta.
p u b l i c a t i o n is 'Knights, Jesuits, t h e I n q u i s i t i o n a n d C a r n i v a l i n s e v e n t e e n t h - c e n t u r y
M a l t a ' , The Historical Journal, V o l . 5 5 , N o . 3 , ( 2 0 1 2 ) , 5 7 1 - 9 6 . T o g e t h e r w i t h D r S i m o n
P h i l l i p s o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f C y p r u s h e i s e d i t i n g a v o l u m e o n Islands and Military
Orders, t o b e p u b l i s h e d b y A s h g a t e .
K R Y S T L E F A R R U G I A is a r e c e n t M A g r a d u a t e in A r t H i s t o r y a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f M a l t a .
For her dissertation she specialised in t h e study of art history and artistic preferences
in t h e late e i g h t e e n t h t o early n i n e t e e n t h century, focusing o n t h e e r u d i t e figure o f
C o u n t S a v e r i o M a r c h e s e . S h e is c u r r e n t l y R e s e a r c h O f f i c e r f o r t h e R e s e a r c h P r o g r a m m e
' T h e Study o f t h e Late M e d i e v a l a n d Early M o d e r n A r t a n d A r c h i t e c t u r e of t h e M a l t e s e
Islands' in t h e History of A r t D e p a r t m e n t at t h e University o f M a l t a .
ROGER VELLA BONAVITA w a s educated a t St Edward's College and M a n c h e s t e r
University. F r o m 1965 h e lectured i n history a t t h e University o f M a l t a w h e r e h e
strove t o make the curriculum relevant t o independent Malta. He moved t o Perth,
W e s t e r n A u s t r a l i a i n 1 9 8 2 a n d w o r k e d t h e r e as a n e x e c u t i v e i n t h e p r i v a t e , p u b l i c a n d
higher education sectors. Retiring in 1998, he r e t u r n e d t o researching M a l t e s e history,
especially its f o r t i f i c a t i o n s . In 2 0 1 1 h e received his d o c t o r a t e f r o m t h e University f o r his
thesis o n t h e career o f Francesco Laparelli da C o r t o n a , t h e designer o f Valletta.
Editors
J O A N A B E L A r e a d H i s t o r y a t £fte U n i v e r s i t y o f M a l t a a s a m a t u r e s t u d e n t , o b t a i n i n g
h e r B.A. ( H o n s ] d e g r e e i n 2 0 0 3 a n d a n M . A . w i t h D i s t i n c t i o n i n 2 0 0 7 . I n 2 0 0 8 s h e
was awarded a M a l t a G o v e r n m e n t Scholarship t o pursue her studies abroad a n d
concurrently a n o t h e r Scholarship f r o m t h e Centre for M a r i t i m e Historical Studies a t
t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f E x e t e r . T h e r e , u n d e r t h e s u p e r v i s i o n o f Dr. M a r i a F u s a r o , s h e r e a d f o r
a PhD. Her research interests focus mainly o n sixteenth-century M a l t a , w i t h particular
r e f e r e n c e t o p o r t activities a n d n o t a r i a l p r i m a r y sources. She is a f o u n d i n g m e m b e r
of t h e Notarial Archives Resources Council, Secretary o f t h e M a l t a Historical Society,
board m e m b e r o f t h e Planning Authority's Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee
a n d v i s i t i n g assistant l e c t u r e r a t t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f Legal H i s t o r y a n d M e t h o d o l o g y ,
University of Malta.
E M A N U E L B U T T I G I E G is a l e c t u r e r a t t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f H i s t o r y , F a c u l t y o f A r t s ,
University o f M a l t a . H e o b t a i n e d his Ph.D. f r o m t h e University o f Cambridge
( P e t e r h o u s e ) . H i s f i r s t b o o k is Nobility, Faith and Masculinity: The Hospitaller Knights
of Malta, C.1580-C.1700, ( L o n d o n a n d N e w Y o r k : C o n t i n u u m , 2 0 1 1 ) . His m o s t r e c e n t
156
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