Malta The Medieval Millennium

The story of Malta’s Middle Ages, from the end of Roman rule to the arrival of the Knights Hospitallers, extends across centuries of exciting changes and dramatic events.

Malta’s medieval history paralleled, to a large extent, that of nearby Sicily, but it also had its own original characteristics.  The islands formed part of the Ostrogothic kingdom until eastern Roman rule was re-established around 535.  Byzantine rule in Malta was only ended by the Arab conquest in 870.

For more than two centuries, Malta and Gozo were part of Dar al-Islam.  In 1091 it was the turn of the Norman conquerors of Sicily to annexe the islands.  Christianity was slowly re-established.  in the remaining four centuries of the Middle Ages Malta was subjected to the kings of Sicily.

Written mainly from the surviving documents, The Medieval Millennium provides an exceptional pictorial record of the living heritage of these one thousand years of Maltese history which continue to  shape the islands today.