- Monarchs of Malta
The Mediterranean islands of
Malta andGozo 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 theKnights 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 aCommonwealth 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 theKingdom of Sicily , with no autonomy, in a similar situation thatLipari 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 andComino 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 ofSicily , payable on the feast ofAll 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
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George III
1799–1820 ||
aged 81
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George IV29 January
1820–1830 ||
aged 67
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William IV26 June
1830–1837 ||
Windsor Castle
aged 71
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Victoria20 June
1837–1901 ||
aged 81House 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 on21 January 2007 .] ||
Buckingham Palace
aged 68House of Windsor
"The house name Windsor was adopted in 1917, during the
First World War . It was changed fromSaxe-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 isMountbatten-Windsor )."George V
6 May
1910–1936 [ [http://www.britroyals.com/kings.asp?id=george5 King George V] . URL last accessed21 January 2006 .] ||
aged 70
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Edward VIII20 January –11 December 1936 [http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/windsor_2.htm House of Windsor - Edward VIII] . URL last accessed23 March 2008 .] || .]
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George VI11 December
1936–6 February
1952 [http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/windsor_2.htm House of Windsor - George VI] . URL last accessed21 January 2006 .] || .]
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Elizabeth II6 February
1952–1964 [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/elizabeth_ii_queen.shtml BBC Historic Figures - Elizabeth II] . URL last accessed21 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 accessed21 January 2006 .] || .] |Malta acquired independence from Great Britain on
September 21 ,1964 , but remained aCommonwealth realm . OnDecember 13 ,1974 , Malta became arepublic , and since that date, itshead of state has been thePresident of Malta .References
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