Monarchs of Malta

The Mediterranean islands of Malta and Gozo have been ruled by various European monarchies since their liberation from Arab rule by Count Roger the Norman. Foreign monarchical rule over Malta lasted a total of 874 years. The Crown of Malta was "patriated" for the first time in 1964, with the achievement of independence.

Between 1090 and 1530, Malta was a fully fledged, non-autonomous part of the Kingdom of Sicily and as thus had the same sovereign. A strong cultural (and, to a lesser extent, political) connection to Sicily survived from 1530 to 1798 throughout the 268-year rule over Malta by the Knights Hospitaller. However, the history, languages and culture of Malta and Sicily parted ways in a decisive and permanent manner in 1799, when Malta became a British Crown colony. British rule over Malta lasted 165 years, and for a further 10 years, Malta remained a Commonwealth realm. Malta adopted a republican constitution in 1974.

Non-autonomous part of Sicily

From the years 1090 until 1530, the Maltese Islands were simply part of the Kingdom of Sicily, with no autonomy, in a similar situation that Lipari and other small islands are today. Malta had the exact same king as Sicily, without the kings using "of Malta", but simply "of Sicily" in his title. In terms of the regional divisions of the islands, Malta Island was part the Valle di Mazzara province, Gozo was part of the Valle di Demona province and Comino was part of the Valle di Noto province.

Knights Hospitaller (1530 - 1798)

Although the Knights of St. John ruled Malta as sovereign princes, they held that privilege as a fiefdom, paying a tribute of one falcon per year to the Viceroys of Sicily, payable on the feast of All Souls' Day.
* See: List of Grand Masters of the Knights Hospitaller

France

* Occupied by First French Republic (1798 -1799)

= British Crown (1799 - 1964) =

House of Hanover

-
George III
1799–1820 ||
aged 81
-
George IV
29 January
1820–1830 ||
aged 67
-
William IV
26 June
1830–1837 ||
Windsor Castle
aged 71
-
Victoria
20 June
1837–1901 ||
aged 81

House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha

Edward VII
22 January
1901–1910 [http://www.nndb.com/people/906/000068702/ NNDB Profile of Edward VII] . URL last accessed on 21 January 2007.] ||
Buckingham Palace
aged 68

House of Windsor

"The house name Windsor was adopted in 1917, during the First World War. It was changed from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha because of wartime anti-German sentiment. The heirs of Elizabeth II, by royal proclamation, will remain part of the House of Windsor (even though their legal surname is Mountbatten-Windsor)."

George V
6 May
1910–1936 [ [http://www.britroyals.com/kings.asp?id=george5 King George V] . URL last accessed 21 January 2006.] ||
aged 70
-
Edward VIII
20 January –
11 December 1936 [http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/windsor_2.htm House of Windsor - Edward VIII] . URL last accessed 23 March 2008.] || .]
-
George VI
11 December
1936–6 February
1952 [http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/windsor_2.htm House of Windsor - George VI] . URL last accessed 21 January 2006.] || .]
-
Elizabeth II
6 February
1952–1964 [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/elizabeth_ii_queen.shtml BBC Historic Figures - Elizabeth II] . URL last accessed 21 January 2006.] || .] |

= Crown of Malta (1964 - 1974) =

Elizabeth II, Queen of Malta
1964–1974 [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/elizabeth_ii_queen.shtml BBC Historic Figures - Elizabeth II] . URL last accessed 21 January 2006.] || .] |

Malta acquired independence from Great Britain on September 21, 1964, but remained a Commonwealth realm. On December 13, 1974, Malta became a republic, and since that date, its head of state has been the President of Malta.

References