Aspects of the relationship between Sicily and Malta during the grandmastership of Alof de Wignacourt : 1601-1622

Abstract

In chapter I, ‘Naval Expeditions’, I have discussed the formal naval expeditions undertaken by Sicily and Malta: individually, in concert, and with the Catholic Armada. In chapter II, ‘Sicily and the Maltese Corso’, I have discussed the impact of corsairing upon the two Mediterranean islands and the related issues that emerged. The island of Malta was hardly ever economically self-sufficient; this was in a major sense due, to its lack of natural resources, poor soil, and few springs. Therefore, to meet the local demand of foodstuffs, it had to import all the necessary provisions from abroad, especially from Sicily. In fact, wheat and wine formed an integral part of the diet of the Maltese islands and were two commodities which were imported particularly from Sicily. To each of these two commodities, a chapter has been devoted. In chapter III, ‘The Wheat Supply - An Endemic Problem in the Siculo-Maltese Relations’, I have discussed the importance of the Sicilian wheat supply to the Maltese inhabitants and to the Order itself, together with other such matters as the so-called extra/infra regno issue, the incidence of the Nave Bellina, and the level of the Maltese population. In chapter IV, ‘Malta and the Sicilian Wine’, I also have discussed the importance of the imports of Sicilian wine to the Maltese islands and the problems that inevitably accompanied them.