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 In
June 1798, the French under Napoleon conquered
Malta. In the following months, the Napoleon
dissolved the Maltese nobility and strongly
restricted the church, which was also stripped of
it’s treasures. After 3 months of French rule, the
Maltese were no longer willing to tolerate Napoleons
tyranny and started to resist the French occupation.
The French army had to retreat into the
fortifications, while the Maltese asked for support
from Sicily and England.
One of the main figures in the upraising was Dun
Mikiel Xerri, a Roman Catholic priest. Xerri, born
on the 10th of February 1740, was a philosopher and
mathematician and convinced that a revolt was the
only way to regain the people's rights.
To the Maltese nothing was more valuable than
freedom. Hundreds of people died of malnutrition and
disease, including many of the French troops.
The Maltese planned attacks on the French army in
Valletta and Cottonera, but the French came to know
of the plot. Amongst the 49 men caught for plotting
against the French was Dun Mikiel Xerri.
In the morning of January 17, 1799, Bishop Labini
visited Dun Mikiel and the other prisoners and
blessed them. The prisoners were brought from St.
Elmo to Liberty Square, where a platoon of soldiers
awaited them. On their way to the square Dun Mikiel
encouraged his friends, and having arrived at the
square, he asked for some minutes to speak to his
compatriots. Prayers were said, and they all asked
God to forgive them. Dun Mikiel advanced towards the
officer, took out a silver watch, gave it to him,
and said, "Please fire straight at my heart, I shall
give you the signal to fire" Then he shouted,
together with his compatriots, "God have mercy on
us! Long live Malta!" There was a volley of shots,
Dun Mikiel and the rest slumped down. Malta, for
whose freedom they had died, received their warm
bodies.
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