FLAG OF MALTA: HISTORY AND MEANING - CULTURE VOCABULARY

The flag of Malta is the national symbol of this republic member of the European Union. It is composed of two vertical symmetrical stripes. The one on the left side is white, while the right one is red. In the canton, it maintains a George Cross design with a red border.

That cross is the highest distinction of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations, which they were awarded in 1942. The flag has been unchanged since the country's independence in 1964.

Flag of Malta. (Nightstallion).

The history of the Maltese flags is rich in the number of settlers that have passed through. Phoenicians, Romans and Arabs already waved flags on the island, which were definitively established with the Kingdom of Sicily.

Later, the Order of the Knights of Malta marked a before and after in symbols. After a brief French occupation, British colonization also left its flags marked.

The red of the flag is associated with sacrifices to defend the faith, in keeping with the colors of the Order of Malta. The white would be of peace and love, while the George Cross is a symbol that recognizes the bravery of the Maltese people.

History of the flag

It is estimated that the first inhabitants arrived in Malta around 5900 BC. The main activity was planting, but their methods damaged the soil, so they left the island.

However, by 3850 BC. A new settlement took place, with megalithic temples that still remain standing. Again this civilization died out, but since the Bronze Age, Malta has not been any more depopulated.

Phoenicians

The first to colonize the island were the Phoenicians. These navigators from present-day Lebanon were maintained from approximately 700 BC. Its concentration not only took place on the island of Malta, but also on Gozo, the island that accompanies it. Later, the islands came under the hegemony of Carthage along with the rest of the Phoenician colonies in the Mediterranean.

By trading with Greece, Malta began to speak Greek and have many influences, despite not being a Greek colony. It is considered that, during the Phoenician mandate, a red and blue bicolor flag could be used.

Flag of Phenicia. (Gustavo ronconi),

Roman and Byzantine empires

The first time the Romans entered Malta was in 255 BC. During the First Punic War. However, Roman rule began in the Second Punic War, around 218 BC. C., when the islands were incorporated into the province of Sicily. Later, they began to have their own institutions such as the Senate and the Assembly.

During Roman rule, the islands prospered and acquired the status of municipium. Even the Roman legacy can be seen in the architectural remains. Its power remained until the 6th century AD. C., when the Byzantines went on to conquer it after the division of the Empire. The Roman Empire used a banner called the vexillum, with the inscription SPQR, translated as Senate and Roman People.

Vexillum of the Roman Empire. (Ssolbergj)

After conquering Sicily, the Byzantine Empire took possession of Malta in 535. Later, the island would have been inhabited by a Greek Orthodox community, until the arrival of the Arabs.

Arab dominion

In approximately 870, the Arabs reached the shores of Malta and began a process of colonization. The Aglabi dynasty was the one that reached Maltese shores and was led by Halaf al-Hadim. This emirate had already conquered Sicily and from there, they besieged the Maltese islands and massacred many of its inhabitants.

Many of the island's churches were destroyed and the devastation was such that the island was practically abandoned until 1048. In that year, a Muslim community with the support of its slaves repopulated Malta.

Since then, Arab rule was maintained despite some Byzantine attacks. The legacy of the Arabs could be seen in the modernization of the islands, as well as in the economy and the language used.

Arab flags in Malta

Although the Aghlabi dynasty was autonomous, it nominally depended on the Abbasid Caliphate. This was kept until the year 909 and its flag was a black cloth.

Flag of the Abbasid Caliphate. (PavelD, from Wikimedia Commons).

Later, it was the Fatimid Caliphate that took possession of the Arab territories in the south of the Italian peninsula, Sicily and Malta. The flag of this caliphate was a white cloth.

Flag of the Fatimid Caliphate. (Ham105).

From the year 948 and after a revolt in the Fatimid Caliphate, Hassan al-Kalbi proclaimed himself Emir of Sicily. Consequently, his emirate became a de facto separate political entity from the Fatimid Caliphate, even though it nominally still belonged to it.

This emirate was once again responsible for fighting the Byzantines and other groups. The Emirate of Sicily used a green cloth as a royal pavilion.

Flag of the Emirate of Sicily. (Jeff Dahl).

Normans and Kingdom of Sicily

Malta remained one of the last places in this part of the Mediterranean under Arab rule. However, through the invasion of the Normans that they had been carrying out in the south of the Italian peninsula, they put an end to the Arab colonization and embraced Christianity.

In 1091 the first invasion by Roger I took place. In it, the great count would have given the people as gratitude a part of his red-and-white flag, which would be the origin of the Maltese flag. However, it was not until 1127 with King Roger II that there was a formal settlement of the island under Norman rule.

First Sicilian banners

The political entity by which the Normans grouped their conquests to the south of the Italian Peninsula was the County of Sicily. Its first great count was Roger I, who kept as arms a blazon with a yellow background with a black lion. This monarch would be, according to the myth, the originator of the colors of Malta, having given her people a red and white flag.

Arms of the Grand Count of Sicily Roger I. (Coat of Arms and Shield of León (1284-1390).svg: HeralderDerivate work: The White Lion).

Roger II was his successor. That great count was the one who invaded Malta and settled permanently, founding the Kingdom of Sicily and proclaiming himself king. The kingdom did not have national symbols at the beginning, but it did have royal weapons.

Blazon of the Hauteville family in the Kingdom of Sicily. (Image disegnato per il Progetto Blasoni di Wikipedia in lingua francese.).

Creation of the County of Malta

Nominally, Malta belonged to the Kingdom of Sicily for 440 years. However, this kingdom was part of different dynasties. In the beginning, there was not a total detachment from the Arab traditions of many inhabitants. Even in 1127 King Roger II had to face an Arab uprising.

For the year 1192 the County of Malta was created, which was a feudal lordship of the Kingdom of Sicily, with Margarito de Brindisi as its first count. From the year 1194 there was a change of dynasty in the Kingdom of Sicily, before which Henry VI of the Holy Roman Empire took power. This monarch belonged to the Hohenstaufen dynasty, so the symbols changed.

By then, the Hohenstaufen imposed a white flag with a triangular tip on the right side that included a black eagle, a symbol of the dynasty.

Flag of the Kingdom of Sicily during the Hohenstaufen dynasty. (King Manfred of Sicily Arms.svg: Heralderderivative work: The White Lion).

With the Hohenstaufen the process of Latinization of Malta was accelerated. In 1224, the Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick II, sent a mission to Malta to establish a new royal control. Furthermore, the goal was to prevent a future Muslim rebellion. However, the Maltese language endured.

Anjou House

The relationship between the Papal States, led by the Pope, and the Kingdom of Sicily, were not good. In fact, the papacy sought a way for the Hohenstaufen dynasty to hand over the Sicilian throne.

After an unsuccessful attempt to hand over the crown to the English monarchy, Pope Urban IV commissioned Louis IX, King of France, with the Kingdom of Sicily. For that, he appointed his brother Carlos de Anjou as King of Sicily.

The invasion occurred in 1266 and by 1268 the Hohenstaufen heirs had died. Malta became a private fiefdom of King Charles I, who kept it until 1283. The new royal house kept the symbols typical of France, which were the fleur de lis and the crosses.

Blazon of Carlos I of Anjou, king of Sicily and Jerusalem. (He leaves).

House of Aragon

However, the French takeover of this region upset the Crown of Aragon and the Byzantine Empire, who organized an insurrection. This was successful and King Pedro III of Aragon won the victory. The result was the division of the kingdom between its peninsular and insular part.

For the Kingdom of Trinacria, composed of the island of Sicily and Malta, the throne went to Federico III of Aragon. However, for the Kingdom of Sicily or Kingdom of Naples, on the peninsula, Carlos II of Anjou kept the throne. It was not until the 16th century when the King of Spain recovered both territories.

In 1282, King Pedro II began to use what was the first emblem of the Kingdom of Sicily, made up of the arms of Aragon and the Hohenstaufen dynasty. This was done in the wake of his marriage to Costanza de Hohenstaufen.

Flag of the Kingdom of Sicily. (1282-1296). (Sicilian Arms of James II of Aragon as Infante (1285-1296).svg: Heralderderivative work: The White Lion).

The coronation of Frederick III changed the flag of the kingdom. In this case, the division was maintained in four, but in the form of the Cross of San Andrés. This flag was used as a naval insignia and remained until 1816, having been one of the longest-lived flags in Europe.

Flag of the Kingdom of Sicily. (1296-1816). (Bandiera_del_Regno_di_Sicilia.svg: Oren neu dagArms_of_the_Aragonese_Kings_of_Sicily.svg: Heralderderivative work: Luigi Chiesa).

Order of Malta

Faced with the Ottoman expansion, the King of Spain Carlos V who controlled the Kingdom of Sicily made several decisions to protect his conquests from the Turkish advance in Europe.

One of the victims of the Ottomans was the Catholic Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, then established on the Greek island of Rhodes and expelled from there by the Ottomans.

As a consequence, Charles V decided to give these knights a new headquarters in 1530: the island of Malta. Thus began 275 years of history on the island of Malta of what is also known as the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, which would be called the Sovereign Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta. Or simply, Order of Malta.

The power of these knights developed through fortifications and evangelization. That served them in one of the most important historical events. In 1565, the island of Malta was besieged by Sultan Suleiman of the Ottoman Empire.

After four months of battle, the Ottomans accepted defeat despite their numerical superiority, which left them at a demoralizing point and from which they could not continue conquering.

Maltese cross flags

The Order of Malta has two large flags whose distinctive symbols are recognized throughout the world, even today. Currently, the Order of Malta is a state without territory that has its headquarters in the capital of Italy, Rome. However, from approximately 1130 they already used a red flag with a Latin white cross that divides the cloth into four parts.

This flag was established after an order from Pope Innocent III. It differed from the flag of the Templars by having the colors reversed.

Flag of the Order of Malta. (Zscout370).

The other great symbol of the Order of Malta is what is today called the flag of works, intended to be used in its social and hospital works and not in its role as a state. This is also a red cloth with an eight-pointed cross, known as the Maltese cross, which has its origin in the 12th century.

The cross was also used from the 13th century by knights and on boats. Its origin is in the flag of the Republic of Amalfi, from which the founders of the order came.

Flag of the works of the Order of Malta. (Marce79).

French occupation

As early as the 18th century, the power of the Knights of the Order of Malta was declining. They even faced some internal rebellions. Napoleonic expansion and wars continued to grow, and in 1798 in the middle of his expedition to Egypt, Napoleon Bonaparte requested a safe harbor for his ships, which was denied him.

In response, he sent a division to La Valletta, the capital of Malta, and occupied it. The Grand Master of the Order of Malta capitulated on June 11. Napoleon spent six days in Malta, in which he imposed an administrative and financial reorganization.

Furthermore, it abolished slavery in which the Turks still remained. At an educational level, he guaranteed public education. The population received the French favorably, but this situation quickly changed. During the French occupation, which lasted for two years, the French tricolor was used.

Flag of France. (1794–1815) (1830–1958). (The original uploader was Skopp at Wikimedia Commons.).

British protectorate

The situation with the French became unsustainable, before which the French garrison had to take refuge. Finally, help was requested from the British, who imposed a blockade on the island that ended with the French surrender in 1800. In this way, Malta entered the British Empire voluntarily, with the status of protectorate, but remaining in the Kingdom of Sicily.

Although British control was supposed to be temporary, the attractiveness of the Maltese ports made their presence linger over time. Although from the beginning a system of autonomy or Home rule was proposed, this was discarded, which caused the colonial system to rise and the population was condemned to poverty.

British colonization

Starting in 1813, the Crown colony of the island of Malta and its dependencies were created, ending its membership in the Kingdom of Sicily. The British, over time, began to compromise on possible self-government for Malta.

However, various powers clashed in Malta. Although new constitutional texts began to be established, movements emerged to defend the Italian language, which had begun to be threatened by English. Furthermore, the Catholic Church did not want to lose its privileges or inheritance.

In 1849 they formed a Governing Council of elected members, among whom were several ecclesiastical members, but all controlled by the British government. During the 19th century, the colony of Malta used a British colonial flag. This kept the Union Jack in the canton, but with the symbol of the Maltese cross or of Saint George white, so its background was red.

Flag of British Malta. (XIX century). (Orange Tuesday).

The end of the 19th century allowed the creation of different banking and railway institutions, and increased industry in the colony. By 1875 a new colonial flag was approved. This reduced the Maltese cross to a shield format.

Flag of British Malta. (1875-1898). (Own work).

Twentieth century

Just before the turn of the 20th century, in 1898, British Malta seized another colonial flag. This again maintained the British vexillological scheme, with the Union Jack in the corner, a dark blue background and the shield on the right side. However, this time around, the shield changed to simply be a white and red field with a yellow border, without crosses.

Flag of British Malta. (1898-1923). (Orange Tuesday).

Malta played an important role during the First World War, being the first reception center for soldiers during the conflicts in the Mediterranean.

On June 7, 1919, protests over the price of bread gave rise to demands on the autonomy of the island, which resulted in self-government in 1921, with a bicameral parliament, which from then on chose a prime minister.

In addition, other symbols such as the Innu Malti anthem began to be recognized and a new flag was approved. This kept the same colonial flag design of the previous one, but removing the circle in which the shield was.

Flag of British Malta. (1923-1943). (Orange Tuesday).

Self-government and World War II

The self-government relations were strained and the colonial constitution was suspended twice, arguing the interference of the Catholic Church in the elections and the parliamentary decision to teach Italian in schools.

However, Maltese was allowed to establish itself as an official language in 1934. A new constitution in 1936 brought the government appointment back to the British decision.

Malta was the center of bombing by the Axis Powers in World War II. Being surrounded by enemy countries, Malta suffered heavy casualties. In the final stage of the war, the island received US military support. Furthermore, from that island the invasion of Sicily for the liberation of Italy began.

During the war, in 1943, Malta made its last colonial flag change. On this occasion, the shield was modified, simplifying its shape. In addition, the white field was reduced by the presence of a new one: the blue one, on which the George Cross or George's Cross was imposed that King George VI had awarded to the people of Malta for their heroism during the war.

Flag of British Malta. (1943-1964). (Orange Tuesday).

Road to independence

After the Second World War, all the steps were taken towards independence, although it was a process that lasted almost twenty years. In 1946 a new National Assembly was elected and by 1947, a new constitution was approved. That same year, the female vote was approved.

The main political parties advocated a change of status. The Maltese Labor Party (MLP) supported self-determination or full integration into the UK. Instead, his center-right rival, the Nationalist Party (PN) only supported independence.

Following different proposals, a referendum was held in 1956 for the integration of Malta into the United Kingdom. In this state, they would be autonomous except for defense, foreign policy and financial matters. Although the referendum was supported by 77.02% of voters, turnout barely reached 59.1% due to the boycott of the Nationalist Party.

The British were also unsure about allocating seats in their parliament to former colonies because of the precedent they might create. The crisis ended with the resignation of the government and Labor deputies in 1958 and the suspension of the constitution, which left Malta in a full colonial situation. That made it lose Labor support for UK integration.

Independence

By 1961, the Blood Commission approved a new constitution for Malta, in which self-government was retaken. In addition, the right to self-determination and recognition of the State of Malta was proclaimed.

Finally, the British Parliament approved in 1964 the Act of Independence of Malta. Furthermore, the Maltese people approved a constitution with 54.5% affirmative votes.

On September 21, 1964, Malta formally became independent as a monarchy from the Commonwealth of Nations. Since that date, the Maltese flag has been used, which is the same one that remains in force today. This results from an adaptation as a national flag of the colonial shield that was maintained, and the suppression of the previously existing blue field.

Malta became a republic in 1974. That also did not imply any change to its flag.

Meaning of the flag

Red and white are the colors of Malta, and their meaning can be understood through their origin. There is a legend that says that in 1090, the great Count Roger I of Sicily arrived with his ships in Malta to guarantee his rule.

The monarch would have given a part of his red-and-white flag to the inhabitants as a symbol of gratitude, so the flag can be understood as the gratitude that represents Malta.

However, this story is considered a myth. The most likely story is that the origin of the red and white colors comes from the flag of the Order of the Knights of Saint John. These colors were a military symbol representing the order that wanted to make Christianity and hospital aid visible.

Although the Maltese flag lacks its own meaning, in recent times it has been interpreted that red is the color that represents the sacrifices to defend their faith. This argument is in line with what has been raised by the Order of Malta. Instead, white would signify peace, light, optimism, and love.

George Cross

In 1942, King George VI awarded the island of Malta, through his Lieutenant Governor General William Dobbie, the George Cross. This is the highest British distinction. The motive was to honor the bravery of his people, as well as to assert their heroism and devotion during World War II.

For the same reason, the George Cross that is kept on the flag symbolizes the courage of the Maltese, as well as their mettle in dealing with conflicts. In addition, its own cross nature is also related to Christianity, which has been very present in the history of Malta and also, in the religion that its citizens profess today.

Malta Civil Pavilion

In addition to the national flag, Malta has a civil flag or merchant flag. This is practically the same as the flag of works of the Order of Malta, as it incorporates in its central part the Maltese cross with eight points on a red background. What makes the difference is that this flag is framed in a white rectangle.

Malta civil flag. (Denelson83).

References

Buhagiar, M. (August 17, 2006). Tale of Count Roger and the flag (1). Times of Malta. Recovered from timesofmalta.com.
Castillo, D. (2006). The Maltese cross: a strategic history of Malta (No. 229). Greenwood Publishing Group. Recovered from books.google.com.
Government of Malta. (sf). Flags, Symbols and their uses. Government, services and information. Government of Malta. Recovered from gov.mt.
Malta Uncovered. (sf). The Malta flag and the George Cross. Malta Uncovered. Recovered from maltauncovered.com.
Reveal Malta. (July 25, 2017). History Behind the Maltese Flag. Reveal Malta. Recovered from revealmalta.com.
Seddall, H. (1870). Malta: Past and Present: Being a History of Malta from the Days of the Phoenicians to the Present Time. London, UK: Chapman & Hall. Recovered from books.google.com.
Smith, W. (2011). Flag of Malta. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. Recovered from britannica.com.
Vassallo, B. (November 6, 2012). The ancient Maltese flag (1). Times of Malta. Recovered from timesofmalta.com.

FLAG OF MALTA: HISTORY AND MEANING - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025