The French Occupation of Gozo, 10th June-28th October 1798

Abstract

So my chief concern in this survey is to ascertain as accurately and as completely as possible the facts regarding this short French occupation of Gozo. Here and there, as occasion offers, I shall insert some conclusion or reflection of my own. The factual aspect of the survey has necessarily to predominate; it is precisely in “facts" that this period of the written history of Gozo is most lacking. - These events are grouped round two main topics: (A) the invasion of Gozo by the French and the rising of the Gozitans, ending up in forcing the French to Leave the Island for good; (B) the administration of Gozo before, during and after the French occupation. The culminating point is the rising of the Gozitans in the early days of September 1798. The victory of the inhabitants resulting from this conflict had great meaning for them for with scanty means of victuals and war ammunition they succeeded in humiliating powerful and well equipped French garrison, The Maltese too benefited from this victory of the Gozitans since from November 1798 to September 1800, Gozo was constantly helping her in her needs. As for the material and sources related to the first part, I found a written, though limited, correspondence between General Bonaparte himself and General Reynier, who disembarked at Gozo. Indispensable also are the documents which form part of a private collection belonging to the Bondi’ family in Gozo, whose ancestor Notary Joseph Bondi Cauchi, was a prominent figure during the political events that took place in Gozo during this period. With regards to the early days of the French occupation of Gozo, I found an important document at the Public Library of Gozo. It is an account of these days drawn by the municipality of Gogo and handed over to the Government Commission of Malta. It gives a detailed account of the way in which the French troops ang officials got accustomed and settled down in their new surroundings, and how the newly formed Government under General Rayner acquired food, cloth and accommodation for the French troops, from the 17th June to 8th July 1798. Not less important are the letters of Archpriest Cassar, who in a special sense is the protagonist of the events. He was the master-mind of the counter offensive of the Gozitans and he was the one who directed all the administration of the Island. Equally important in the field of administration are the reports which Cassar issued later on in 1880. This is the main source from which I could draw most information about the way people Lived and how they contributed to the common cause during the blockade in September 1798. As far as I could. see this is the only document which throws light on the part played by the Gozitans in the rewarding effort against the French. Since I could not find any useful evidence about the political and economic climate in Gozo prior to the coming of the French, I decided to start my survey right from the beginning of the plans of the French to take Gozo together with Malta. An important fact underlying this survey is that the Gozitans were virtually all alone in their struggle: they could not expect much help from Malta as she too had to face the same emergency, perhaps on a larger scale. But the Gozitans showed their worth, in fending for themselves and in resorting to plans which yielded them their desired victory. Before ending these few words by way of preface.