The Treaty of Amiens

Recently on a local TV station there was an interesting documentary about the last days of the Knights of St John in Malta, Napolean and the uprising of the Maltese against the French.

It must be clarified that under the Treaty of Amiens of 1802, the European powers stipulated that Malta should be returned to the Knights of St John. There only remained a Grand Master to be found to take possession.

The Russian council decided to relinquish its control and the Chapter- General proposed that the Pope should appoint a Grand Master from a list of candidates nominated by each Priory.

The Grand Mastership was filled by the appointment of the Balì Giovanni Tommasi. Tommasi immediately sent his envoy to Malta and demanded cession of the island promised at Amiens. However French policy made the Treaty unworkable.

Although the Sovereign Military Order of Malta was based at the convent in Messina so that it could reach Malta quickly, the continuation of war between Britain and France halted the operation and broke the treaty.