Malta was under British rule from the Napoleonic era until its independence in 1964.
Britain became involved in Malta after Maltese rebels expelled French forces in 1800. The islands first functioned as a British protectorate, and Malta became a Crown Colony in 1813. British control was confirmed by the Treaty of Paris in 1814 and reaffirmed by the Congress of Vienna in 1815.
Malta’s position in the central Mediterranean made it strategically valuable. Its harbors served as a naval base and shipping station, especially after the Suez Canal opened in 1869. During both world wars, the islands supported British military operations, and Malta endured intense Axis bombing during World War II. In 1942, King George VI awarded Malta the George Cross for its wartime bravery.
The wording “occupied” is a simplified description: Malta was not merely a temporary military occupation throughout this period, but a British colony with periods of self-government. Malta became independent on September 21, 1964, later became a republic in 1974, and remains a member of the Commonwealth.