The Siege of Malta by Napoleon Bonaparte

Published on 02/04/2011

Memorandum note on the Egyptian expedition (anonymous author) - Extract from the SHAT archives

It has been seen that Bonaparte wished to see Malta occupied before beginning the Egyptian expedition; the possession of this island and those of the Adriatic ensured dominion over the Mediterranean and provided the ability to maintain land and sea forces in Malta, always ready to join those destined for the conquest of Egypt. Various circumstances having prevented Admiral Brueys from seizing the island when bringing back the Venetian squadron from Corfu in 1797, Bonaparte resorted to cunning to have the doors of this important station opened to him.

Map of Malta

The diplomatic agent Poussielgue, under the title of inspector of the Levant trading posts, went to settle in Malta, either to incite the country against the Order or to assess the French Knights and persuade them to support the Republic's designs. The Order of Saint John of Jerusalem no longer retained anything of its former renown. It was a brotherhood that provided a few establishments for younger sons of noble families, more eager for rest than avid for glory. There was not a gentleman in Europe who would not have preferred an Infantry Company to the title of Knight. The Grand Master, well aware of the Order's decline, had found no other means of delaying its extinction than to seize the opportunity offered by Emperor Paul to briefly restore its splendor. During Orloff's expedition to Macedonia, the Maltese had shown Empress Catherine all the advantage she could derive from the former defenders of Malta in wars against the Turks. The chivalrous disposition of her son furthered her plans; upon his accession to the throne, he welcomed the Chevalier de Litta, dispatched by the Order to reclaim the revenues of the Grand Priory of Poland, and promised to increase them if a Russian tongue and a Greek tongue were created. He had indeed signed a treaty to this effect on January 15, 1797. But it could be foreseen that the Emperor of Russia, natural protector of these two tongues, desired less the prosperity of the Order than a pretext to exercise his influence over the island.

Everything in Malta still retained the appearance of a warlike colony. The coast was bristling with forts and batteries. But 4 to 500 knights aided by approximately 3,000 troops and as many poor militiamen could not prevent the landing of an invasion army that the population appeared disposed to welcome. Grand Master von Hompesch possessed nothing of the valor of his predecessors. Although warned of the Directory's hostile intentions by the reports of Chevalier Debray sent to the Order, and especially by Poussielgue's mission, he remained in a culpable state of complacency. The anchoring of Admiral Brueys, who stopped for eight days at the anchorage in March to survey all the approaches to the island (when he returned from Corfu to Toulon with the Venetian fleet), did not even arouse his suspicions. He believed, or pretended to believe, in the possibility of averting the storm through processions and other pious exercises. His reverence for the treasure of the Order's patron saint deprived him of even the thought of using it to renew the artillery equipment in an advanced state of decay, in order to supply the fortress and pay the troops' wages. It was only upon the approach of the convoy from Civita Vecchia, which anchored in sight of the island for four days, that the Grand Master showed concern, but he was immediately reassured by the arrival of the Order's ship and frigate returning from taking on provisions in Sicily, which had encountered no obstacle from the detachment.

However, the concerns of a great number of knights compelled von Hompesch, who could not prevent the convening of the War Council, but among the seven members who composed it, the three French knights, directors of Artillery, Engineering and Fortifications, formed the majority along with the Portuguese Bailiff Da Souza who had already been won over by Poussielgue, and a state of siege was not proclaimed. On the evening of June 9, upon the fleet's arrival before Malta, the commander-in-chief requested entry to the island's port. The Grand Master replied through the Consul that the Order's neutrality only permitted him to grant entry to four warships, and as he foresaw the consequences of this response, he assigned the principal knights to the posts they would have to defend. Prince Camille de Rohan, commander-in-chief of the militia (approximately 4,000 men), was assisted by two incapable lieutenants, one having never served except at sea and the other aged 72. The militia were not at their posts when the cannon was heard. General Beynier seized the islands of Gozo and Comino almost without resistance. General Baraghay d'Hilliers landed under fire from the batteries of Saint Paul and Melleha to drive Bailiff Thomassi from the entrenchments of Nascias, but General Vauboix, threatening to outflank "cadena," caused the militia to fall back in disorder toward the coast where they were pursued. On the left, Desaux landed with equal success in the cove of Marsa Sirocco. However, the resistance offered by the garrison in Fort Saint-Julien forced him to seek cover from the Belliard Brigade, in order to take the position and complete its investment. By 10 o'clock in the morning, Bonaparte was master of the island with the exception of a single fort in the city.

Napoleon's Landing But this was not enough to ensure the success of the enterprise. Besides the city of La Valette, Fort Briccazolli remained, and the outer enclosure covering the Bourgs of Victoire and Sangle, strongly defended gates, could keep the French army in check until the arrival of the English squadron, upon which the Order's salvation now depended. Far from making well-coordinated use of his last resources, the Grand Master, shut up in his palace with Commander de Saint Priest, his adjutant, was invisible to all and gave neither orders nor instructions for the defense or evacuation of the last posts. Left to themselves and hindered by the French knights whom Poussielgue and Carisson had won over, the commanders of the various posts lost their heads when a reckless sortie carried out with the best troops by Bailiff de Bellemont was driven back by Brigade Commander Marmont and the fleet was forced to return to port. The cannonade nevertheless continued until the end of the day. Around 10 o'clock in the evening, the garrison of Sangle, terrorized and panic-stricken, took shelter by means of their boats under the walls of the City, where their presence only increased the disorder and gave rise to a fatal misunderstanding. This incident, for which some knights blamed the Bailiff de Saint-Tropez, decided the fate of the Order. Indeed, around midnight the Barons of the island and the principal inhabitants of the city went to the Grand Master's palace to urge him to capitulate. He yielded after consulting, as a formality, a Council from which he excluded the Grand Crosses who were not so compliant. Bailiff de Sanza and Consul Batardi were charged with requesting an armistice.

Bonaparte, informed of everything that was happening, accepted eagerly and had the terms of the capitulation drawn up without delay. He showed himself as generous toward the Grand Master as the latter was lacking in dignity. The Order ceded the city and forts of Malta and renounced its sovereign rights over the island as well as those of Gozo and Comino. Bonaparte promised, in the name of the Directory, a pension to the Grand Master and his intervention at the Congress of Rastadt to obtain a principality in Germany for him as compensation. An income of 700 francs and the guarantee of their property were assured to the French knights. Nothing was stipulated in favor of the knights of other nations. Von Hompesch, laden with their curses, left the island taking with him three to four hundred thousand francs, the sole remuneration for his shameful capitulation.

The French army found in Malta 1,200 cannons, approximately 50,000 muskets, 2 warships, a frigate and 4 galleys. Six days sufficed for Bonaparte to establish Malta as a French colony. Internal administration, national guard, taxes, religion, public education—everything was organized. Military command was given to General Vauboix; all Turkish slaves of the Order were embarked on the French fleet; knights born French who had not passed the age of 30 were incorporated into the army ranks or the administration. The Maltese administrators were dismissed; new ones were formed; besides the legion of 2 battalions that accompanied the expedition, several companies were sent to Corfu (see 16 and 24 Fructidor).

Malta, one of the strongest fortresses in Europe, could have withstood a siege as memorable as the one that in 1565 immortalized Jean de La Valette. It was he who had built the city after driving out the Turks. Since then, the fortifications had been perfected by the most skilled engineers. The capitulation was signed on June 19 at midnight aboard "l'Orient." Under the Romans, this famous island had no less importance than in our day. In the Middle Ages, it was conquered by a Frenchman, Count Roger the Norman. Under the Saracens, it became a fief of Sicily, then a possession of Louis XII, King of France, during the conquest of Naples. The Knights of Saint John, driven from Rhodes in 1522, received it as a fief from Charles V; they paid homage for it to the King of Sicily."

Source:
Extract from the SHAT archives: no. 1M520
Memorandum note on the Egyptian expedition (anonymous author) p. 35.
Article published in the AGM Review no. 36, 1^st quarter 2003

Published with the kind permission of Catherine VELLA-GONZALEZ