SENGLEA THROUGH THE AGES – 57 & 58

Senglea during the Inquisition

     The year 1998 marks the two hundredth anniversary of two unforgettable events in the history of the Maltese islands, namely: in 1798 the inquisition ended in Malta and it marked the beginning of the French occupation. It is appropriate that we look into how these two events affected our city. In those days Senglea was one of the focal points of our islands and so these two events left indelible marks on our city’s history.

     With regards to the inquisition there is a book written by Patri Alexander Bonnici O.F.M. Conv entitled ‘Medieval and Roman Inquisition in Malta’ and the part Senglea played is treated in length in this book.

     The people of Senglea were not worse than those in other parts of Malta in fact one dare say that they were better behaved. A good number of people from Senglea had proper education. There were also some small schools in Senglea to cater for the local citizens. There were also many people from Senglea who reached high notches of our society.

     The people of Senglea were harshly hit by the Inquisition at times more than citizens in other parts of the islands. The Inquisitor hardly knew what was happening in say Qrendi or Mellieha but he got to know all that was happening in Senglea. The Inquisitor’s palace was in Vittoriosa which as one knows is very near to Senglea. Whoever knew of some misdemeanour being committed by a neighbour used to lodge a report at the Inquisitor’s palace. In all probability there were even collaborators of the Inquisitor and some were members of the Oratorians of St Philip.

     Everything was reported to the Inquisitor even petty mistakes, whether committed consciously or not. Many got into trouble because they were reported to the Inquisitor. Even Parish priest fell foul of the Inquisitor. Parish priest Fortunat Vella, who was Parish priest of Senglea for about sixty years, spent some time in the Inquisitor’s prison because he was reported to him. Dun Salv Bonnici, the first Archpriest of Senglea too was imprisoned for some days during the final days of the Inquisition in Malta.

     There were also some members of the Clergy from Senglea who were in the good books of the Inquisitor and were held in high esteem. Some clergy even boasted that they showed more allegiance to him than to the Bishop. They help the Inquisitor to clean up Malta of those people who were unfaithful to the Church’s teaching.

SENGLEA THROUGH THE AGES – 58

A proper day to mark ‘Senglea’s Day’ – the 8^th May – the day Fort St Michael was inaugurated

     In the history of our City it is difficult to separate Religion from other events. About a year ago (in 1997) I was asked to propose appropriate days from which one could be chosen to be marked as ‘Senglea’s Day’. I looked up all the important dates connected to our city and found the following days which marked important events for Senglea such as:

i)    18^th May 1555 – The day De La Sengle passed away. De La Sengle is the founder of our city and 

                                           it is named after him;

ii)   27^th July 1761 – The birth of the foremost citizen of Senglea, Ferdinandu Mattei. He became

                                          Archbishop and was the first in a line of  Maltese who went to lead a diocese

                                          abroad;

iii)  18^th October 1942 – the granting of the George Cross medal at Senglea’s marina;

iv)  26^th May 1990 – the day Pope John Paul II passed through the streets of Senglea.

     But I could not find a more appropriate day than the 8^th May 1552. On this day, Fort St Michael was inaugurated. The Order’s historian Giacomo Bosio gave a good description of the importance of this fort for the defence of our City and of the Cottonera area. This fort was so named because in those days, the feast of St Michael was held on the 8^th May moreover before the time of De La Sengle, this area was known as St Michael’s hill. The Order considered St Michael as one of their protectors. Just as St Michael defended God’s honour in Heaven his protection was invoked by the Order to help them have this fort as a shield to protect Vittoriosa, the headquarters of the Order on the island in those days.

     On the 8^th May 1555 the red flag with the white cross superimposed on it, the flat of the Order of St John was unfurled for the first time from on top of the fort. It was of utmost importance that the fort be strong enough to remain unbeaten. Even if it were to be overcome, the Muslims would have used so much energy to conquer it that they would not have enough strength left to attach other places. It is a known fact that For St Michael played an important part in the defence of our islands during the Great Siege of 1565 and remained undefeated. The fort was one of the main reasons while Senglea started to be called Civitas Invicta – the unconquered city.

     Therefore it is appropriate that Senglea’s day be celebrated on the 8^th May, in connection with the inauguration of Fort St Michael. There is also the religious connection. On the 8^th May the feast of Our Lady of Pompei is celebrated and these two occasions together make this day the best day on which Senglea’s Day be celebrated.

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