Throughout its existence, Malta had a long and complex history which resulted in the island being ruled by a plethora of foreign rulers.

Such rulers include the likes of the “Phoenicians, Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Normans, Sicilians, Swabians, Aragonese, Hospitallers, French, and British”.

France established many reforms that reflected that of the French Revolution, such as ending the remaining feudalistic policies, building and founding many schools, and abolishing slavery.

Despite this, the people of Malta saw those policies as excessive for the locals were "largely dominated by [and loyal to] two institutions: the aristocracy and the Church.

Being the home of the British fleet in the Mediterranean, the Axis powers would try repeatedly to either destroy or control the island.

Malta became a republic a decade later and British forces finally left the country after the defence treaty expired on 31 March 1979, which is celebrated as “Freedom Day”.