French Capture of Malta
- When
- 1798–1800
- Where
- Toulon; Malta
- Episodes
- 3
In June 1798, Napoleon Bonaparte's forces landed in Malta, leading to the surrender of the Knights Hospitaller. The French occupied the island until 1800, implementing reforms before eventually capitulating to British forces.
Episodes
- French Occupation Reforms
During the occupation, the French established a constitutional tradition, granted free education, and theoretically established freedom of the press.
- French Fleet Departure
A French fleet sailed from Toulon on 19 May 1798, escorting an expeditionary force of over 30,000 men under General Napoleon Bonaparte.
- Surrender of Malta
Following the French landing in June 1798, the Knights Hospitaller surrendered to Napoleon Bonaparte.
Background and detail
Capture. A French fleet sailed from Toulon on 19 May 1798, carrying over 30,000 men under General Napoleon Bonaparte. Following the landing in June, Bonaparte negotiated a surrender with Grand Master Hompesch, who agreed to hand over Malta and its resources in exchange for estates and pensions in France.
Occupation. During the occupation, the French established a constitutional tradition, granted free education, and theoretically established freedom of the press, though only the pro-French Journal de Malte was published. The French also despoiled local institutions like the Monte di Pietà of their assets.
People involved
- Napoleon Bonaparte · French General
- Alexander Ball · Civil Commissioner of Malta
Sources
- French occupation of Malta Wikipedia, revision of 2026-07-18
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.