| 60 |
Shipwreck of St. Paul the Apostle. |
| 117-138 |
Islands become municipium under Emperor Hadrian. |
| 395-870 |
Byzantine rule. |
| 454 |
Islands occupied by the Vandals (?) |
| 464 |
Islands occupied by the Goths (?) |
| 533 |
Islands restored to Byzantine rule (?) |
| 870-1090 |
Arab rule. |
| 870 |
Aglabiti (Tunisian) Arabs invade Malta and expel
the Byzantine. |
| 1048 |
First Byzantine attempts to regain islands. |
| 1091-1194 |
Norman rule. |
| 1091 |
Count Roger of Hauteville, aka the Norman,
takes Malta and imposed taxes but leaves Arab rulers |
| 1127 |
Roger II, Count Roger's son, establishes Norman
rule |
| 1122 |
Arab uprising fails. |
| 1144 |
Second Byzantine attempt to regain islands. |
| 1154 |
John made Bishop of Palermo and Malta. |
| 1154-1205 |
Genoese influence. |
| 1194-1266 |
Swabian rule. |
| 1224 |
Final expulsion of Arabs from Sicily and Malta. |
| 1266-1283 |
Angevin rule. Creation of the Universita'
(body of administration and not academic institution). |
| 1282 |
Sicilian Vespers (uprising against Angevin (French)
rule). |
| 1283-1412 |
Aragonese rule. |
| 1412-1530 |
Aragonese and Castilian rule. |
| 1350 |
Establishment of Maltese Nobility. |
| 1350-1357 |
First incorporation into Royal Domain (of Aragon) |
| 1393-1397 |
Time of the Tyrants - Malta given to feudal lords. |
| 1397-1420 |
Second incorporation into Royal Domain. |
| 1420 |
Feudal possession of Don Antonio Cardona. |
| 1425 |
Revolt against Don Consalvo de Monroy. |
| 1429 |
Tunisian Saracens fail to capture of islands. |
| 1428-1530 |
Last incorporation into Royal Domain. |
| 1530
. |
Knights of St. John take possession |
| 1551 |
Dragut, prominent Turkish corsair, raids Gozo. |
| 1561 |
Inquisition officially established. |
| 1565 |
Great Siege. Malta besieged by Turks but the Knights
helped by the Maltese resist and win. |
| 1566 |
Founding of Valletta, the new capital city named
after Grand Master La Valette, hero of the Great Siege. |
| 1568 |
Jean Parisot La Valette buried in Valletta. |
| 1571 |
Battle of Lepanto. Christian victory over Turks. |
| 1573 |
Foundation stone laid for St. John's Co-Cathedral. |
| 1592 |
Founding of Jesuits College, which later becomes
the academic University of Malta. |
| 1615 |
Wignacourt Aqueduct completed to supply fresh
water to Valletta. |
| 1676 |
School of Anatomy and Surgery founded at the Sacred
Infirmary, the Knight's hospital in Valletta. |
| 1732 |
Manoel Theater dedicated. |
| 1768 |
Jesuits expelled and property transferred to the
Knights by Papal Order. |
| 1769 |
Conversion of Jesuits College to a University. |
| 1775 |
Uprising of the priests brutally repressed. |
| 1784 |
Creation of a legal code by Grand Master De Rohan. |
| 1792 |
Possessions of the Knights of St. John located
in France seized by the French revolutionary government. |
| 1800 |
The French capitulate. British rule begins. |
| 1802 |
Treaty of Amiens. The Napoleonic Wars resume because
of Malta. |
| 1813 |
The Bathurst Constitution |
| 1814 |
Treaty of Paris. Malta declared free of the plague. |
| 1815 |
Congress of Vienna affirms Treaty of Paris. |
| 1828 |
Vatican Church-State proclamation. Right of Sanctuary
revoked. |
| 1831 |
(Church) See of Malta made independent of See
of Palermo. |
| 1833 |
Construction begins on Mosta dome. |
| 1835 |
First Council of Government under British rule. |
| 1839 |
Abolition of Press censorship. Laying of cornerstone
for St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral. |
| 1846 |
Carnival riots. |
| 1849 |
Council of Government with elected members under
British rule. |
| 1869 |
Opening of the Suez Canal. |
| 1870 |
Referendum on Ecclesiastics serving on Council
of Government. |
| 1881 |
Anglo-Egyptian Bank founded in Malta |
| 1882 |
Creation of Executive Council under British rule. |
| 1883 |
Malta Railway begins operation. |
| 1885 |
First postage stamps issued. |
| 1886 |
Surgeon Major David Bruce discovers microbe causing
Malta Fever. |
| 1887 |
Council of Government with "dual control" under
British rule. |
| 1888
. |
Construction begins on Royal Opera House.
Simmons-Rampolla agreement (Vatican-British) |
| 1903 |
Return to the 1849 form of Council of Government
under British rule. |
| 1904 |
Tram service begins. |
| 1905 |
Dr. Themistocles Zammit discovers source of Malta
Fever. |
| 1912 |
Dun Karm writes his first poem in Maltese. |
| 1914-18 |
World War I; Malta is not directly involved in
the fighting but becomes known as the "Nurse of the Mediterranean". |
| 1919 |
Sette Giugno
riots sparked by cost of living. National Assembly convened.
Self-government granted under British rule. The
Malta Union of Teachers (MUT) is the first Maltese trade union. |
| 1921 |
First Parliament opens. Joseph Howard named Prime
Minister. |
| 1923 |
The Maltese National Anthem, "Innu Malti"
played first time in public. Dr. Francesco Buhagiar becomes Prime Minister. |
| 1924 |
Sir Ugo P. Mifsud becomes Prime minister. |
| 1927 |
Sir Gerald Strickland becomes Prime Minister.
The Malta Labour Party comes to power for the first time together with
Strickland's party. |
| 1930 |
Constitution suspended because of a political-religious
dispute between Strickland and the Church. |
| 1931 |
Malta railway closes. |
| 1932 |
Constitution restored under British rule. Sir
Ugo Mifsud becomes Prime Minister. |
1933 |
Constitution withdrawn as Fascist Italy increases
its influence on Malta. Malta reverts to the Crown Colony status it held
in 1813. |
| 1934 |
Malti and English become dual official languages.
The first official grammar for the Maltese Language
published. |
| 1935 |
Rediffusion Radio launched, with the aim of countering
Fascist propaganda from Italy. |
| 1936 |
Constitution revised to provide for nomination
of members to Executive Council under British
rule. |
| 1939 |
Constitution revised to provide for an elected
Council of Government under British rule. Germany invades Poland and WWII
starts |
| 1939-45 |
World War II. |
| 1940 |
On June 11th the first Italian bombs are dropped
in Malta |
| 1941 |
Daring Italian e-boat attack on Grand Harbour
fails. British aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious damaged, bombed, repaired
and departs. The Germans join the Italians in bombing Malta. |
1942 |
Award of the George Cross to the people of Malta
to honour their bravery. Operation Pedestal Convoy arrives in Grand Harbour
and saves Malta from starvation and surrender. |
| 1943 |
Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill
and King George VI visit Malta. Invasion of Sicily
from Malta. Italy surrenders on the 8th of September and the Italian Fleet
comes to Malta. The General Workers Union, Malta's largest trade union,
set-up. |
1945 |
Churchill and Roosevelt meet in Malta prior to
the Yalta Conference with Stalin. |
| 1946 |
National Assembly results in 1947 constitution
under British rule. |
| 1947
. |
Self-government restored under British rule. Dr.
Paul Boffa becomes Prime Minister with a landslide victory for the Malta
Labour Party. |
| 1949 |
A young ambitious politican, Dom Mintoff, brings
a split in the MLP. |
1950 |
Dr. Enrico Mizzi becomes Prime Minister from September
to December when he dies. Dr. Giorgio Borg Olivier becomes Prime minister
in December. |
| 1955 |
Dom Mintoff becomes Prime Minister. Roundtable
Conference held to discuss Malta's future with Britain |
| 1956 |
Referendum on Integration with Britain. |
| 1958 |
Dom Mintoff resigns as Prime Minister and a national
strike called by the General Workers Union on the 18th of April ends in
clashed between workers, police and British soldiers. Dr. Giorgio Borg
Olivier declines forming alternative government. Colonial governor takes
direct administration under British rule. |
1959 |
Interim Constitution provides for an Executive
Council under British rule. |
| 1961 |
Blood Commission provides for a new constitution
allowing for a measure of self-government and
recognizing the "State" of Malta. Another political-religious
struggle erupts between the Church led by Archbishop Gonzi and Mintoff's
MLP. |
| 1962 |
Dr. Giorgio Borg Olivier becomes Prime Minister. |
| 11979 964 |
"Innu Malti" recognized as the national anthem.
Referendum on Independence Constitution. Malta
granted independence, becoming a sovereign nation
within the British Commonwealth. |
| 1968 |
Central Bank established. |
| 1970 |
Malta enters an Association agreement with the
European Economic Community (EEC), today known as the European Union (EU). |
| 1971 |
Dom Mintoff becomes Prime Minister after Malta
Labour PArty wins general election in June. Sir Anthony Mamo becomes the
first Maltese national to be named Governor General. He is the last one
for the Maltese Islands. |
| 1972 |
Military base agreement signed by Malta, the United
Kingdom and other NATO nations.
The King's Own Malta Regiment disbanded.
Change to decimal monetary system.
Government bars the U.S. Naval Forces from using
Malta as a liberty port. |
| 1973 |
Formation of Air Malta. |
| 1974 |
Malta becomes a Republic, remaining in the Commonwealth.
Sir Anthony Mamo elected first
President.
Government increases its control over the University. |
| 1975 |
Barclays Bank International, Ltd. taken over to
become Mid-Med Bank. |
| 1976 |
Dr. Anton Buttigieg becomes second President.
Mintoff confirmed as {Prime Minister after Malta
Labour Party is obtains win in general election |
| 1977 |
Dr. Eddie Fenech Adami elected leader of the Nationalist
Party. |
| 1979 |
Military base agreement terminated. British forces
leave. First Freedom Day celebrated on the 31st of March. |
| 1981 |
The Malta Labour Party wins the general election
by its majority of seats in Parliament, but the Opposition Nationalist
Party has the absolute majority of votes. The Nationalist Party begins
a protest campaign against the unjust election result. |
| 1982 |
Agatha Barbara becomes third, and first female,
President of Malta. |
| 1984 |
Dr. Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici becomes Prime Minister
after the resignation of Prime Minister Dom Mintoff.
Stand-off between the government and teachers
in a seven-week strike following government's attempt to make private schooling
free of charge. |
1987 |
Dr. Eddie Fenech Adami becomes Prime Minister
following a Nationalist victory in the May general election. |
| 1988 |
Freeport Corporation set-up. |
| 1989 |
First gathering of Knights of St. John in Malta
since their departure in 1798.
U.S.-Soviet Summit meets in Malta to end the Cold
War.
Dr. Vincent Tabone elected fourth President. |
| 1990 |
Government formally applies for full membership
in the European Community.
Pope John Paul II makes the first Papal visit
in Malta.
Prof. Guido De Marco elected President of 45th
Annual UN General Assembly. |
| 1991 |
Malta Cable Television given license as the first
cable tv operator in Malta.
Two Vatican Agreements between the Malta Government
and the Holy See signed in Rome.
New Delimara Power Station begins operations. |
| 1992 |
New Malta International Airport terminal inaugurated.
Nationalist Party wins election. Dr. Alfred Sant
elected Leader of the Malta Labour Party as Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici steps
down following his party's defeat.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in Malta
for the 50th Anniversary of the awarding of the George Cross.
50th Anniversary of Operation Pedestal, popularly
known as the 'Santa Marija Convoy' celebrated. Stock Exchange opened.
Maritime Museum opened in Vittoriosa. |
| 1993 |
The European Union's first report on Malta says
it is eligible for EU membership.
First University degree courses
offered in Gozo.
Government signs the Inter-
national Convention banning the use of chemical weapons.
The Fifth Games of the Small States of Europe
held in Malta. First elections for Local Councils held. |
| 1994 |
Dr. Ugo Mifsud Bonnici elected fifth President. |
| 1996 |
Malta Labour Party wins the elections held in
October. Dr. Alfred sworn in as Prime Minister of Malta. |
1997 |
Malta's application to join the EU is 'frozen'
(suspended) but not withdrawn in accordance with the MLP's policy. MLP
government instead seeks industrial free trade
zone and closer relations to EU but not membership. |
| 1998 |
Dr. Alfred Sant calls for a snap election following
a vote of no-confidence. Dr. Eddie Fenech Adami is elected Prime
Minister after the Nationalist Party wins the election. |
| 1999 |
Prof. Guido de Marco appointed President of Malta. |