Key History Milestones

The following is a summary of the key milestones in the Maltese Nation's history:

Year


Before 4000 BC
c. 3400 BC
c. 2000 BC
c. 1400 BC
c. 900-800 BC
c. 800-480 BC
c. 480-218 BC
218 BC
60 AD
117-138
395-870
870
1090
1194-1266
1266-1283
1283-1412
1530
1565
1566
1642
1675-1676
1676
1768
1775
1784
1798


1799
1800
1802
1813
1814
1835
1883
1896
1904
1914-1918
1919
1920
1921
1923
1931
1933
1934
1936
1939
1940
1941
1942
1942
1946
1947
1958


1961
1962
1964


1966
1968
1971
1971
1972
1972
1973
1974


1976
1979
1981


1987
1987


1989
1992
1994
1996


1996

1998


2003


2003


2003



2004

2007

2008

Event


Arrival of Man in Malta
Introduction of copper to Malta
First invasion of bronze-using people
Second invasion of bronze-using people
The Iron Age
Phoenician colonization of Malta
Carthaginian domination of Malta
Malta incorporated in the Roman Republic
St Paul shipwrecked in Malta
Maltese islands made Municipalities
Byzantine domination of Malta
Invasion of Malta by Aghlabite Arabs
Normans invade Malta
Swabian domination of Malta (German)
Angevin domination of Malta (French)
Aragonese domination of Malta (Spanish)
Military Order of St John takes possession
Great Siege of Malta
Foundation of Valletta (capital city of Malta)
First printing press in Malta
Plague in Malta killing 11,300 people from a population of 60,000
Foundation of School of Anatomy and Surgery at the Sacra Infermeria
Jesuits expelled from Malta
Rising of the priests against the Order
Promulgation of the code of law "Diritto Municipale" by Grand Master DeRohan
The French under Napoleon occupy Malta

Rising of the Maltese against the French
Britain takes Malta under its protection in the name of the King of the Two Sicilies
The French capitulate. Malta under the protection of the British Crown
Peace of Amiens: Malta was to be returned to the Order of St John
Plague epidemic in Malta
Treaty of Paris: Malta becomes a British Colony
First Council of Government established
Malta Railway officially opened
Inauguration of electricity in Malta
Tram service inaugurated
World War I
Sette Giugno riots against the British
Foundation of the Society of Maltese Writers to establish and standardise an official Maltese orthography
Malta granted Self-Government: Opening of first Maltese Parliament
Innu Malti (Maltese national anthem) played for first time
Closure of Malta railway
Constitution suspended: Crown Colony Government as in 1813
Maltese and English become official languages
Constitution provides for nominated members to Executive Council
Council of Government to be elected
First air raids on Malta in World War II
Maltese National Anthem officially recognised
King George VI awards the People of Malta the George Cross for Gallantry during World War II
Royal Opera House in Valletta razed to the ground with bombing
National Assembly resulting in 1947 Constitution
Restoration of Self-Government: Labour Party wins government
Mr Dom Mintoff, PM, resigns and opposition decline to form government. Governor assumes direct administration
Blood Constitution provides for a measure of self-government for the "State" of Malta
Nationalist Party wins government
Malta gains independence from Britain and becomes a sovereign and independent state within the British Commonwealth
Nationalist Party retains government
Establishment of the Central Bank of Malta
Malta Labour Party wins government
Sir Anthony Mamo becomes the first Maltese Governor-General
Malta enters into a military base agreement with Britain and other NATO countries
Malta changes to decimal currency
Malta establishes its national airlines: Air Malta
Malta becomes a Republic: Maltese Parliament passes amendment to Constitution by more than two-thirds majority. Governor-General, Sir Anthony Mamo, becomes the first President of Malta
Malta Labour Party retains government
Military base agreement is terminated. After 180 years presence in Malta, British Services leave
Malta Labour Party wins majority of seats but Nationalist Party wins majority of first count votes and boycotts Parliament
Nationalist Party wins government after 16 years in opposition
Constitution amended: a party with overall majority of first count votes but minority of seats be awarded as many seats as it requires to be able to form government with a majority of one
Constitution amended to provide for dual citizenship
Nationalist Party retains government
Commission for the Administration of Justice set up
Constitution amended so that a party with less than overall majority of votes but more votes than a second party and less seats than the second, gains government with a majority of one
Malta Labour Party wins government
Government loses vote of confidence: Nationalist Party wins government at early elections with 35 seats in a 65-member parliament
8 March: The Yes vote wins a 54% majority in the Referendum to establish whether Malta should accept the invitation to join the European Union
12 April: Nationalist Party is returned to government having won 51.8% of votes at a general election retaining the same 5-seat majority
16 April: Prime Minister Dr Eddie Fenech Adami and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Joe Borg sign the EU Accession Treaty in Athens, Greece. The Treaty enters into force on 1 May 2004 when Malta formally becomes a full member of the European Union
1 May: Malta becomes a full member of the European Union
Nationalist Party wins the election and retains government.1 Jan: Malta joins the Eurozone and adopts the Euro as its currency