The 'Reggimento di Malta'
Having in mind the anxieties experienced in the recent reign of Grand Master Ximenes, with the unrest of the native Maltese population in the Revolt of the Priests, The newly elected Grand Master convening a Chapter General in 1776, called for the establishment of a new regiment.
It was to be recruited as a 'foreign legion' to protect the Order against internal enemies, and a document on the subject in the Grand Master's own hand was presented for consideration. Notwithstanding the efforts, the Grand Master had to experience a great disappointment on the formation of the Regiment. It was anything but a success. According to plan, 1200 men were enlisted overseas in Avignon, Corsica and Marseilles. This recruitment, though it cost the Treasury an enormous amount, was conducted in so careless a manner that instead of producing soldiers on whom the safety of the State could rest, it only produced deserters, vagabonds and scallywags picked up in all ports of the Mediterranean. A Major Ferret was given command in its first years, but he was so indulgent and ineffectual that not a day passed but some of the disgraceful soldiers acted like vagabonds against the folk in town and country, and even against their own officers who were all knights. In 1777 the Grand Master was informed that the new regiment of Malta was intended to desert and leave Malta, embarking from St. Julian's Bay. The Grand Council immediately took steps to prevent this mass by embodying the Regiment of the Cacciatori and deploying this unit at St. Julian's. De Rohan was forced, therefore to find a new commander. His choice was another French knight, the chevalier De Freslon, major in the regiment d'Hainault. This Knight was recalled from France, and, to give him an enhanced authority made him not only Colonel of the Regiment of Malta but also his Master of the Horse. He proved himself worthy of the confidence which was placed in him. At the very first inspection, de Freslon saw the source of the evil and, bluff Breton as he was, told Major Ferret what he thought. 'Each captain' he complained, 'runs his company as he likes and takes no heed of the orders given for discipline and instruction by the commandant. The soldiers, seeing this,, will not in turn obey the regulations any better. Also the officers, save those who have served in France, did not have the military style nor the right tone of command. Few knew how to handle the weapons of the soldiers, or how to take a parade, or to supervise the drills. De Freslon likewise reported all this to the Grand Master and declared, therefore that he wanted express orders to require the officers to conform to the regulations already made, and, in particular, those requiring regularity and discipline, both in barracks and out of it, especially concerning attendance at parades, inspection of linen boots and kit. The Grand Master at once assented to this request and signed an order of the day with his own hand.
At this Major Ferret, his pride wounded by these frank criticsm, and considering his honour involved, sought out his Colonel and furiously demanded satisfaction, forcing him to fight a duel in his own house. De Freslon was so seriously wounded that he could not command his regiment for a time. The Grand Master placed Major Ferret under arrest in his house and as time would be required to court-martial this officer, exercised his prerogative and commanded him to quit the island on long leave. While the Colonel was kept an invalid indoors, a Chevalier de Fresinet, another French Knight, was appointed to act fro him. This Lieutenant-Colonel, however, was also unsuitable for the task. He made daily reports from his quartermasters to the Colonel upon the regiment, but weakly gave in to his fellow-officers who still disregarded orders. Though not yet recovered, De Freslon returned to active duties. He had much to endure. He found De Fresinet as difficult as Ferret and also fought a duel with him!
Disgusted with this situation de Freslon tendered his resignation to the Grand Master and begged to be allowed to go back to his old regiment in France which he had left with much regret. But De Rohan knew his man and the needs of the situation. He refused de Freslon's request, dismissed de Fresinet, and declared in orders that the first officer who refused to obey the Colonel would be brought before the Council of War and that duel in such a case would result in the degradation of the officer in the regiment and loss of rank in the Order. As to the rank and file, the Colonel could do what he liked with them. Far from this order having effect, insubordination continued and hardly a day passed but some officer was placed under arrest. De Freslon, losing patience, with the authority of the Grand master dispensed with the services of all officer Knights, transferring their duties to the sergeant majors. No outcry was heard against this degrading punishment-such was the poor spirit of these knights. In spite of all the drastic measures taken to establish severe discipline in the rank and file, the greater number of these foreign soldiers was incorrigible and the Colonel was forced to send many to the galleys and to dismiss the others.
Finally he obtained the permission of the Congregation of War to allow him
to recruit native Maltese instead of enlisting only foreigners, thereby reversing the original plan. The execution of this measure did not meet with any difficulty; the new recruits were quickly found and cost only two thirds of the price, numbers of poor people were very happy to see a certain future assured to their children, henceforth well clothed, well nourished, an d in a the way of learning to read and write and cipher, and , even, if they liked, to be apprenticed to a trade, for there was a master worker of certain trades appointed to the barracks as well as a teacher – all ideas of the new colonel.
At the end of four or five years, this brave Knight had at length the satisfaction of seeing this regiment as well composed, trained and disciplined as any French regiment. The officers themselves settled down to the new spirit and with the new recruits cherished the Colonel as father. *2
To finance this regiment of 1,203 men, the Venerable Common Treasury made good for the bulk of expenses involved which included the sum of scudi 84,240 annually in pay alone. The balance came from four foundations ; Cottoner established Fort Ricasoli, Manoel established respecting Fort Manoel, Ven. Com. Tesoro, established Fort St.Elmo and Ven. Com.Tesoro established Fort St.Angelo.
As compensation for this subsidy the Regiment of Malta had to detach reinforcements, a number of men for the Garrison of the Forts as follows:
Fort Manoel 87 men
Fort Ricasoli 111 men
The Regimento di Malta provided men for the guard rooms and the sentries at the prisons of Fort St. Elmo and Fort St.Angelo even tough the Regiment was only duty bound to provide garrison in case of need, as Fort St. Elmo was manned by the Guards Battalion of the Grand Master. Fort St.Angelo was amply garrisoned by the two marine battalions of the Galleys and Men-of-War, still the Regimento di Malta was ordered on regular basis, for a number of years, to furnish sentry detachments, with the soldiers being barracked at the Fort. Expenses incurred for their accommodation have been regularly registered with the regiment's expenses.
Pay, which was termed 'Pre' was issued to the men of the Regimento di Malta, every five days. A sum of money was deducted from this pay and placed in an account called ' Mazzetta'. Out of this account, each man was entitled to draw 30 Tari annually. This account was under the charge of the Major who had to present a balance sheet every three months to the Congregazzjone di Guerra . This officer also had to make another deduction from the men's pay, called 'Ritenuta', which was to be spent on the upkeep of the soldier's linen, shoes and other personal accoutrements.
These contributions were collected from the men every three months by the company sergente maggiore – sergeant major and deposited in the regimental safe, which could only be opened by 3 different keys, kept by the Colonello-Colonel, Logotenentecolonello -Lt. Colonel and the Maggiore-Major.
The other Ranks also enjoyed a pension scheme on a contribution basis. Pension was allowed after 30 years service with the Colors or after receiving permanent injuries or suffering from a chronic disease and being declared unfit for military duties. In this latter case, the afflicted soldiers must have had at least 6 years service with the regiment to be eligible for such pension. If this was not the case, then they would have been entitled only to the life pension established for the next lower grade. It was also stipulated that bassufficiali - NCO's and men suffering from venereal diseases, were excluded outright from the pension scheme.
It was incumbent on pensioners to do light duties for the Venerable Congregation of war. They were also issued with a simple uniform to last for six years. One tari was deducted from their pension monthly for its upkeep.
The pension contributions fund was also kept in a safe, locked with two keys, one kept by the Preminente of the Congregation of War and the other by the Paymaster General or the Preminente di Semestre. Every three months, any accruing balances were invested at 3% in the Massa Frumentaria, the grain and cereals body which enjoyed a state monopoly of this staple food.
Without any doubt the Regimento di Malta was a heavy drain on the Order's Exchequer. To maintain this unit, the yearly expenditure amounted to over one hundred thousand scudi. A large part of this cost went to salaries, which for the financial year ending 30th April 1797, amounted to over fifty three thousand scudi. *3
Other recurrent expenses were incurred during this year were: clothing, bread, lighting oil, renting of houses for the Colonel, Major and five other senior officers of the Regiment, musket cartridges, gun powder, keeping of cats, Chapel, paper for the school, dentist, beds, mattresses, repair of furniture, buttons.
In 1783 the regiment was composed of men from twelve different nationalities:
Country of Origin Number
Papal States 111
Neapolitans 61
French 304
Maltese 389
Piedmontese 103
Modenese and Parmesians 10
Genoese 10
Corsicans 6
Spaniards 5
Germans 28
Tuscans and Milanese 37
Venetians 14
Total 1078
Age groups
Under 16 years 90;
16 – 20 years 349
20 - 25 214
25 – 30 178
30 - 35 99
35 - 40 83
40 and over 65 *3
By 1795 the total strength of the regiment had already gone down from a ration strength of 851 in May 1795 to a mere 521 All ranks in April 1796. This state of affairs was reached due to the weak financial state of the Order, which could ill afford to maintain large number of regular soldiers in employment.*3 The ratio of Maltese nationals and foreigners, in service with the Regimento di Malta, rose a little in the later years, until the dramatic events which saw the demise of the Order of St.John and the loss of Malta to the French Republican forces in 1798.
On the eve of the French invasion the Regimento di Malta was some 500 strong. Numbered detachments defended Fort Tigne, Fort St.Angelo, Fort Ricasoli and Fort St.Elmo. The larger garrison, of Fort St. Elmo was ordered to man the bastions of Valletta and Floriana.
It was men from Marmont's column, consisting of three battalions of the 4th light Infantry and two battalions of the 19 th Demi-Brigade of the Line, which came first in contact with soldiers from this regiment after having landed at St.Julian's, and attacked Fort Tigne on June 10th. .
This strategically placed Fort was defended by a small detachment from the Regimento di Malta commanded by the able knight the Bailli Reichberg – from the Anglo-Bavarian Langue. The Regimento soldiers held on to their posts and resisted all attacks directed against them. The French could not make any impression on this and Fort Manoel defended by the Kacciatori di Malta regiment, and were forced to lay siege to them until they finally surrendered following the capitulation. *3
On the same evening, part of the same Marmont's column, having by passed these two Forts and joined the column led by Colonel Desaix. The French forces, having realized a pincer movement enveloping the city lay around the outer Valletta fortifications in the whereabouts of what is Hamrun to-day.*3 The Marshal of the Order, de Loras, perceiving that the Grand Master Hompesh was unable or unwilling to react in a way which reflected some honour on the Order, decided to order an attack on the nearest French column. He ordered a small force of some 600 men handpicked from the regiment of Malta and the two marine battalions to make a sortie out of Porte des Bombes. *5
According to Marmont's account, the French troops gave way before the advancing Maltese troops who were marching in column with drums beating, headed by the Regimental colours of the Regimento di Malta. Colonel Pfiffer an Austrian Knight Commander of the Regimento di Malta, did not lead his unit during the sortie but preferred to watch in safety the battle from the Floriana ramparts.
Seeing the exit of this column, Marmont ordered his troops to keep on firing on the advancing column to slow it down and at the same time he ordered the 2 nd Battalion of the line to place itself in ambush on either side of San Giuseppe road.
As soon as the Maltese column was within musket range, the French battalions opened fire with devastating effect and in the confusion of battle, the Colour of the regiment was captured by Marmont dashing out for it, whom for this exploit was promoted to Brigadier General by Napoleon. This and other colours of the Order were later captured by HMS Seahorse from the French frigate La Sensible on its way to France.*3
The Regimento soldiers garrisoning Forts Ricasoli, St.Angelo and Fort St.Elmo witnessed what other troops elsewhere did. Francophile knights were insubordinate to their commanders, and sabotaged their own forces. When gunners at Fort Ricasoli tried to charge their guns the cartridges were filled with wet charcoal and just a little gunpowder. Others were found without fuses or rods, and cannons had different balls of different calibers. De Tillet, the French Commander, who kept loyal to the Order, sent fro fresh ammunition from aboard the San Zaccaria warship, arrested and replaced the master gunner. The fort guns started to fire on the French ships which kept a safe distance. Meanwhile Grand Master Hompesh and the Council of the Order decided to seek an armistice in view of capitulation.
By 6.00 a.m. on Monday 11 June, the white flag was flying over Fort Ricasoli and St.Elmo. A delegation was sent from Valletta to Bonaparte at 11.00a.m. and the armistice signed. During the afternoon, however, while a delegation sent by Napoleon was formulating the terms of capitulation in Valletta, the tide again turned in favour of the troops loyal to the Order, mostly Cospicuans in Cottonera, Fort Ricasoli and Fort St.Angelo. Even after the Convention was signed, at 1.00a.m. , on Tuesday 12th June, the garrisons of Fort Ricasoli and St.Angelo would not let go. The Bishop, Mgr V. Labini sent a priest, Fr. S. Casha to Ricasoli and finally convinced the garrison there to surrender. At 9.00p.m. Forts Ricasoli, St.Angelo and St.Elmo hoisted the French flag.*8
On the 13th June a day after the Order's capitulation, General Bonaparte ordered that all land and sea forces of the Order, with the exception of the country militia, were to form part of the expeditionary force. Not everybody obeyed the orders however and on the morrow, the troops which were gathered in a field in Birkirkara to be revued by General Dugua, numbered some 1,000.*6
The list and comments as compiled by the French, on that occasion reads about the Regimento soldiers:
A total of 60 Nco's soldiers and drummers from the regiment of Malta were revued. These men from this corps, after the Grenadiers of the Grand Master's guards, have the best of military bearing; twenty four have presented themselves for service of the Republican forces, amongst whom are three officers and sergeant majors, being more than 50 years of age with thirty years service.*6
The Maltese, some 2,000 in all, mostly marines and sailors, were peremptorily informed that they had just been impressed in the French Armee d'Órient with orders to embark on the morrow on the French ships sailing for Egypt. The new Corps which included some of some 400 men from the land forces, was designated la Legion Maltaise. The officers and men, sive also those belonging to the Reggimento di Malta were allowed to keep their uniforms. A painting detail from an ex-voto made by sgt. Michele Tabuni on August 1799, was presented at Mellieha Sanctuary of Our Lady on his return from the Egyptian campaign. The painting clearly shows a company of the Legion Maltaise in the uniform of the Guard of the Grandmaster and of the Reggimento di Malta in white uniforms and bi-corns. *3 Very few survivors did manage or chose to make it back to Malta.
John Neville Ebejer
References: *1 The house of the temple : Ryan
*2 Regolamenti per il servigio del Regimento di Malta –MNL & MISC 309
*3 History of the KOMR : Wismayer
*4 MNL Misc 112
*5 The French in Malta : Testa
*6 LÉxpedition D'Egypt – De la Jonquire
*7 AOM 1015
*8 Fort Ricasoli -Quintano
*9 Ordinanze ed Esercizi Militari –MNL
*10 Misc 288 MNL
*11 Istruzioni ed Ordinazioni per il Cappellano d'Ubidienza del Regimento di Malta -MNL