List of monarchs of Malta

The Royal Standard of Malta

Cross of the Knights Hospitaller, called the Maltese Cross

The Mediterranean islands of Malta and Gozo have been ruled by Phoenician, Byzantine and Roman aristocrats, before passing to various European monarchies. 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.

The history, languages and culture of Malta and Sicily share many key events, including occupation by the Fatimids and liberation by Roger I of Sicily in 1090. The islands 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 and joined the European Union on May 1, 2004.^[1]

Kingdom of Sicily

Main article: List of monarchs of Sicily

Flag of the Sovereign Military and Hospitaller Order of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta

From the years 1090 and 1530, the Maltese Islands were a non-autonomous part of the Kingdom of Sicily and thus had the same sovereign. At this time the Nobility of Malta resided in or around Mdina. 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.

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

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriages	Death
George III 1799–1820		04 June 1738 Norfolk House son of Frederick, Prince of Wales and Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha	Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz St James's Palace 8 September 1761 15 children	29 January 1820 Windsor Castle aged 81
George IV 29 January 1820–1830		12 August 1762 St James's Palace son of George III and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz	(2)[2] Caroline of Brunswick St James's Palace 8 April 1795 1 daughter	26 June 1830 Windsor aged 67
William IV 26 June 1830–1837		21 August 1765 Buckingham Palace son of George III and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz	Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen Kew Palace 13 July 1818 2 children	20 June 1837 Windsor Castle aged 71
Victoria 20 June 1837–1901		24 May 1819 Kensington Palace daughter of Prince Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent and Strathearn and Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld	Albert, Prince Consort St James's Palace 10 February 1840 9 children	22 January 1901 Osbourne House aged 81

House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriages	Death
Edward VII 22 January 1901–1910[3]		9 November 1841 Buckingham Palace son of Victoria and Albert, Prince Consort[4]	Alexandra of Denmark Windsor Castle 10 March 1863 6 children[4]	6 May 1910 Buckingham Palace aged 68[4]

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).

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriages	Death
George V 6 May 1910–1936[5]		3 June 1865 Marlborough House son of Edward VII and Alexandra of Denmark[6]	Mary of Teck 6 July 1893 St James's Palace 6 children[7]	20 January 1936 Sandringham House aged 70[6]
Edward VIII 20 January – 11 December 1936[8]		23 June 1894 Richmond son of George V and Mary of Teck[8]	Wallis, The Duchess of Windsor France 3 June 1937 no children[8]	28 May 1972 Paris aged 77[9]
George VI 11 December 1936–6 February 1952[10]		14 December 1895 Sandringham House son of George V and Mary of Teck[10]	Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon Westminster Abbey 26 April 1923 2 children[11]	6 February 1952 Sandringham House aged 56[12]
Elizabeth II 6 February 1952–1964[13]		21 April 1926 Mayfair daughter of George VI and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon[14]	Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh Westminster Abbey 20 November 1947 4 children[15]

Crown of Malta (1964–1974)

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriages	Death
Elizabeth II, Queen of Malta (Reġina ta' Malta) 1964–1974[13]		21 April 1926 Mayfair daughter of George VI and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon[14]	Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh Westminster Abbey 20 November 1947 4 children[15]

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

1. ^ "The History of the European Union – 2000-today". http://europa.eu/abc/history/2000_today/index_en.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-12. 
2. ^ George IV first married Maria Anne Fitzherbert on 15 September 1785, but the marriage was void.
3. ^ NNDB Profile of Edward VII. URL last accessed on 21 January 2007.
4. ^ ^{a b c} Royal Genealogies. URL last accessed on 21 January 2007.
5. ^ King George V. URL last accessed 21 January 2006.
6. ^ ^{a b} House of Windsor – George V. URL last accessed 21 January 2006.
7. ^ Mary of Teck. URL last accessed 21 January 2006.
8. ^ ^{a b c} House of Windsor – Edward VIII. URL last accessed 23 March 2008.
9. ^ Royal Government's The House of Windsor – Edward VIII. URL last accessed 21 January 2006.
10. ^ ^{a b} House of Windsor – George VI. URL last accessed 21 January 2006.
11. ^ Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon: The Indomitable Queen Mum. URL last accessed 21 January 2006.
12. ^ King George VI dies in his sleep. URL last accessed 21 January 2006.
13. ^ ^{a b} BBC Historic Figures – Elizabeth II. URL last accessed 21 January 2006.
14. ^ ^{a b} House of Windsor – Elizabeth II. URL last accessed 21 January 2006.
15. ^ ^{a b} BBC Historic Encyclopaedia Britannica Guide to Women's History – Elizabeth II. URL last accessed 21 January 2006.