In August 1675, the chaplain Henry Teonge was in Malta as part of an English expedition that was headed to attack Tripoli in North Africa. In his diary he talked about a huge wall coming about Birgu. This was likely a reference to the Cottonera Lines, work on which had commenced in 1670, and which like a vast embrace of stone, was aimed at enveloping the Santa Margherita Lines, Birgu and Senglea.
This vast and ambitious building project was associated with Grand Master Nicolas Cotoner, after whom the fortifications and the area are still called. Work on these fortifications was concentrated in the decade 1670 to 1680, during the reign of Nicolas Cotoner. At 5pm in late August 1670, the Conventual Prior of the Order, carrying the prized relic of the right arm of St John the Baptist, led a solemn procession from the parish church of Bormla to the bulwark of St Nicholas where Grand Master Nicolas Cotoner laid the foundation stone of the enterprise that was to bear his name.
Throughout that evening, the sound of prayers to God to help carry forward the work mixed with the booming of artillery fire from all the fortifications. By the end of Cotoner’s reign in 1680, although it had absorbed huge resources and a lot of work had been done, much of it remained incomplete well into the eighteenth century, and the outworks were never constructed.
- Looking at structures and buildings to develop historical enquiries
Buildings and structures offer a fascinating insight into history – a major incentive for encouraging individuals who are curious about history to look more closely at buildings is that they are visible, relevant and can be observed first-hand.
Looking at these offers a better sense of place and time. They are witnesses to the history of the place they are situated in. They are living heritage.
- How can you gain a deeper understanding of Maltese history?
Through a structured programme of learning, the Diploma in Maltese History in Context offered by the University of Malta’s Department of History, will over the course of two years, build up your knowledge of History and a clearer picture of the chronological events that paved the way to the present.
From key developments in prehistoric times to pivotal moments in modern times, this course will foster your intellectual, analytical, critical and organisational skills that will be of value in any career.
For more information, visit the dedicated page in the UM Course Finder.
