The Story of Malta: The Fortress Island of the Mediterranean — Fexingo History

The Walled City of Mdina: Malta's Silent Capital

In this episode of The Story of Malta, Lucas and Luna explore the ancient walled city of Mdina, the silent capital that has stood for millennia. They discuss its Phoenician origins as 'Maleth', its transformation under Roman rule into 'Melita', and its role during the Arab period as 'Mdina', the fortified city. The episode delves into the city's architecture, including the Norman and Baroque influences, the story behind the Mdina Cathedral and its connection to the shipwreck of St. Paul, and the fascinating tale of the Mdina revolt of 1775 against the Knights of St. John. Lucas also explains why Mdina is called the 'Silent City' and how it survived the Great Siege of 1565. A donation segment ties the preservation of Mdina's history to supporting the podcast on buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. #Mdina #Malta #SilentCity #Maleth #PhoenicianMalta #RomanMelita #ArabMdina #NormanMalta #KnightsOfStJohn #MdinaCathedral #StPaul #GreatSiege1565 #MdinaRevolt1775 #BaroqueArchitecture #MediterraneanHistory #History #FexingoHistory #FortressIsland Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Malta 1698: The Plague That Nearly Wiped Out Valletta

In 1698, a ship from Alexandria docked at the Grand Harbour carrying not cargo but bubonic plague. Over the next eight months, the plague ravaged Valletta and the Three Cities, killing an estimated 11,000 people — nearly a third of the island's population. This episode follows the outbreak from its first victim, a sailor named Mikiel Xuereb, through the desperate quarantine measures ordered by Grand Master Gregorio Carafa. We explore the Lazzaretto on Manoel Island, the role of the Sacre Infermeria, and the heartbreaking decision to wall off entire neighborhoods. We also look at how the plague reshaped Maltese society, from the rise of public health regulations to the enduring memory of the pestilence in local folklore. Lucas and Luna discuss the tension between trade necessity and disease prevention, the heroism of the Hospitaller nurses, and the controversial figure of Dr. Giacomo Mangion, who argued for total isolation when others hesitated. A story of resilience and loss that left an indelible mark on the island. #PlagueOf1698 #Valletta #GrandHarbour #MalteseHistory #OrderOfStJohn #GregorioCarafa #Lazzaretto #ManoelIsland #SacreInfermeria #BubonicPlague #PublicHealth #MikielXuereb #GiacomoMangion #18thCentury #MediterraneanHistory #Epidemic #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Malta 1964: The Day the Union Jack Came Down

Independence wasn't handed to Malta on a silver platter. This episode takes you inside the negotiations, the protests, and the political brinkmanship that led to September 21, 1964. We meet the key figures: Prime Minister Borg Olivier, who navigated the tricky waters of the 1962 constitutional conference in London; Dom Mintoff, the fiery Labour leader who walked out; and the British Governor, Sir Maurice Dorman. We explore the tense moments when inter-island rivalry from Gozo threatened the whole deal, the last-minute concessions over defense and finance, and the quiet role of the Catholic Church. You'll hear about the 1964 Independence Constitution, the 'Malta Labour Party' boycott, and the celebrations that swept Valletta. We also reflect on whether independence truly changed everyday life. No dry lists of dates—just the human story of a small island prying itself loose from an empire. #Malta #Independence #1964 #BorgOlivier #DomMintoff #Gozo #Valletta #BritishEmpire #Constitution #MaltaLabourParty #September21 #Decolonization #Mediterranean #ColdWar #CatholicChurch #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

The Phoenicians in Malta: Traders Who Forged an Island

Long before the Knights or the Romans, another seafaring people left an indelible mark on Malta: the Phoenicians. In this episode, Lucas and Luna trace the arrival of these master traders from the Levant around the 8th century BCE, and how they transformed Malta into a vital hub in their Mediterranean network. They explore the founding of settlements like Maleth (modern Mdina) and the creation of unique Phoenician-Maltese cultural blends, from the fusion god Melqart-Heracles to the Phoenician-influenced pottery that still surfaces in fields today. Lucas explains how Phoenician commercial savvy—and their alphabet—laid the groundwork for Maltese identity long before the island became a fortress. Luna asks about the mysterious 'cart ruts' and whether they tie back to Phoenician activity. The episode also covers the sanctuary of Astarte at Tas-Silġ, the rivalry with the Greeks, and the eventual absorption into the Carthaginian sphere. A surprising look at Malta's first global age, where trade, not war, shaped a civilisation. #Phoenicians #Malta #MediterraneanHistory #Melqart #Astarte #TasSilg #Maleth #Mdina #AncientTrade #CartRuts #PhoenicianAlphabet #Carthage #GreekColonisation #Archaeology #AncientHistory #History #FexingoHistory #IslandHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Malta 1798: How Napoleon Captured the Fortress Island

In June 1798, Napoleon Bonaparte's fleet appeared off the coast of Malta. The island, ruled for over two centuries by the Knights of St. John, fell in just days. This episode dives into the strategic miscalculations, the internal decay of the Order, and the dramatic surrender that ended Hospitaller rule. We explore the role of Grand Master Ferdinand von Hompesch, the Knights' broken vows, and Napoleon's brief but transformative stay—including his abolition of slavery and the looting of churches. How did a supposedly impregnable fortress island capitulate so quickly? The answer lies in a mix of complacency, betrayal, and the sheer force of Revolutionary France. #Napoleon #Malta #KnightsOfStJohn #FerdinandVonHompesch #1798 #FrenchRevolution #MediterraneanHistory #Hospitaller #SiegeOfMalta #Valletta #GrandHarbour #BattleOfThePyramids #Nelson #OrderOfStJohn #FortSaintElmo #Mdina #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]