283:
Vassalli was a scholar, a thinker and a dreamer and that therefore he was not cut out for the intricacies of political life. Whatever one's opinion might be, the fact remains that his political involvement was a bitter experience that brought him disgrace, suspicion, prison sentences and escapes. Finally this benefactor of the
Maltese people was exiled for twenty years from his beloved country. This was a dark period spent in France and Spain until, in 1820, aged 56, poor, in bad health and, deprived of the best years of his life, he was allowed to return.
384:
373:
186:
One can easily point out
Vassalli's Discorso Preliminare as second only to the Constitution of the Republic in that it is a beautiful and precious document for the Maltese Nation to whom it was dedicated with the words: "Alla Nazione Maltese", a phrase which in those days could only be the fruits of a very fertile imagination.
260:, overwhelmed by financial problems, by divisions running deeply within it and, worst of all, by the backwardness. Shocked by the precarious situation Malta was to be found in, and particularly his fellow Maltese, Vassalli listed some suggestions for the Grandmaster of the Order. Amongst other things he asked:
726:
The most famous
Maltese buried here was Mikiel Anton Vassalli, known as the father of the Maltese language, who died on 12 Jan 1829, aged about 64. He was not on good terms with the local Catholic church and had translated the New Testament into Maltese against the wishes of the church. His wife was
295:'. He had a passion for intellectual enlightenment and learning, a broad base for formal education, and a longing for a social and political system more in line with egalitarian and fraternal principles. On the other hand, his philosophy does not show any pronounced aversion towards religion or the
215:
Vassalli's call was above everything else a political one favouring the education of the
Maltese masses and the development of Maltese potential in all possible areas and the accessibility to the realms of wisdom and law so that the Maltese nation could arrive at a full consciousness of itself, its
251:
It was a time of great turmoil when Europe was beset with revolutionary ideas which would come to a head with the French
Revolution having as its ideals liberty and power to the people. As any other active and intelligent youth would, Vassalli closely followed all the developments that were taking
185:
The introduction to the dictionary has a strong social and political flavour which makes it very clear that
Vassalli's primary aim was not the Maltese language in itself, but the civil and moral education of the Maltese people which he believed could only be attained through their native language.
282:
in the hope that the
Maltese Islands would be taken away from the Order. However the plot was uncovered and Mikiel Anton was sentenced to life imprisonment. He was later released subsequent to the arrival of the French Republic which released all political prisoners. Many were of the opinion that
219:
Vassalli was the first to study
Maltese scientifically and according to its Semitic roots. He proposed it as an alternative to foreign languages which up to that time had always been employed in all areas involving intellect and culture. Thus for the first time the Maltese language appeared as an
248:(Paris, 1798), however, this was later attributed to the Maltese lawyer, Onorato Bres. Besides the social disorder that was an outcome of political upheaval, there was also a deeply felt division between the social classes: the privileged class on one hand and on the other the vast majority.
641:
Mikiel Anton
Vassalli — And the Early Nineteenth Century Maltese grammars and dictionaries had already been written before the century, but all of them have long since been lost. It is for this reason that the honour of being the author of the first Maltese grammar goes to Canon Agius de
348:– nonetheless his freedom of thought and his understanding of how philosophy could be socially and politically viable might be indeed regarded as significant. Most certainly, he is probably to be respected and studied as one of the first Maltese philosophers, apart from
605:
743:
274:
These suggestions were aimed at improving the financial condition of the country on one hand, and on the other of adjusting injustices by which native
Maltese were deprived of any right to make their voices heard and to develop intellectually.
691:
255:
After studies in Italy, Vassalli returned to Malta and to a new phase of political involvement. We can picture this young man bursting with revolutionary ideas, returning to Malta and witnessing the disorder of the final years of the
618:
507:) recounts the effects of the French Revolution on the Maltese Islands during those times. Mikiel Anton Vassalli is one of the main characters, calling on the Maltese to follow their French comrades to fight for freedom.
765:
143:
Maltese grammars and dictionaries had already been written before the century, but all of them have long since been lost. It is for this reason that the honour of being the author of the first grammar goes to Canon
660:
In the early nineteenth century the "Father of the Maltese language", Michel Antonio Vassalli, had actually converted to Protestantism and was employed by the British Bible Society to translate part ..
701:
326:(To the Maltese Nation), as an introduction to his Maltese-Latin-Italian dictionary in which he exposed, perhaps for the first time, his philosophical and political views. The book also included a
216:
duties and identify itself as a nation in its own right. This is therefore a movement in favour of democratic power. The Maltese language was to be the primary instrument for this process.
220:
instrument for popular education and made a claim for power. It was inevitable that Vassalli's revolutionary call would have many obstacles to overcome in the process of its realization.
152:(1750). It was only in the 1790s that Vassalli, alone among Maltese nationalists, took an interest in purifying the language of Italianisms and reviving it as a national language.
337:, he advocated a wide social reform aimed at the establishment of a Maltese republic based on a broad educational system centred upon the concept of Maltese cultural identity.
780:
278:
The suggestions made by this presumptuous youth did not go down well at all with the Order and Vassalli was left with no other option but to enter into league with the
228:
Mikiel Anton Vassalli was expelled from Malta a number of times during his life due to his political beliefs. He lived during one of the most turbulent periods of
852:
449:("Under Three Rules"), explores Vassalli's life when the Maltese Islands were ruled by the Order of Saint John, followed by the French and lastly by the British.
439:
played an important part in the patriot's life. Sammut has also republished Vassalli's book on Maltese proverbs in a Maltese translation of the original Italian.
340:
Though philosophically Vassalli might not be considered an original thinker – for he drew almost all of his basic concepts and ideas from contemporary French
812:
529:
145:
427:
as the best literary work ever written in Maltese. The novel has been published in an esperantist translation in New York and described by English writer
817:
333:
It was political and social change that Vassalli sought. Translating and applying the philosophical doctrines of the Enlightenment to the context of
579:
131:
in 1764 to a peasant family, and lost his father at the age of two. In 1785, at the age of 21, he started studies of oriental languages in the
521:
842:
827:
847:
857:
318:, and ventured to envisage their teachings in some concrete political form. Barely a year after terminating his studies in
837:
822:
388:
361:
159:, which set the study of the Maltese language for the first time on solid and scientific foundations. These works were:
832:
398:. His grave is to be found in the Msida Bastion Historic Garden, a restored early 19th-century Protestant cemetery in
132:
237:
544:
779:: Għaqda Każin Banda San Filep. pp. 208–209, 213, 217, 221, 225, 227, 229, 231, 233, 235. Archived from
516:
Ciappara, Frans (2014). M.A. Vassalli 1764-1829: An Enlightened Maltese Reformer. Midsea Books. p. 106.
442:
264:
That the Order would stop all fighting with the Moslems, an activity which was out of step with the times
696:
61:
807:
802:
349:
303:
560:
485:
360:
Vassalli died in 1829 and, having been refused burial by the Catholic Church, he was buried in the
292:
257:
194:
461:
241:
190:
720:
496:
403:
244:
from 1800. For a time he was suspected to have been the author of the Francophile publication,
692:"National Geographic names Msida Bastion Cemetery one of 'Europe's five loveliest cemeteries'"
517:
421:(The Maltese Dream) a novel which revolves around Vassalli's life. The novel was acclaimed by
233:
45:
431:
as "a colossal work". The novel's main thesis had been proposed by Sammut in an issue of the
428:
229:
156:
104:
100:
457:
341:
330:(An Opening Word) in which he outlined his prospective reorganisation of Maltese society.
315:
296:
580:"John Hookham Frere in Malta (1821–1846) : a link with our social and cultural past"
469:
613:
89:
252:
place and absorbed the social ideas, besides doing very well in his academic studies.
796:
291:
Philosophically, Vassalli felt himself to be part of 'the century of light' and the '
739:
465:
414:
776:
395:
377:
128:
41:
436:
383:
345:
96:
715:
372:
279:
270:
That the Order would introduce a branch for Maltese wishing to become knights.
314:, between 1785 and 1795. He seems to have avidly read the major works of the
423:
197:
as the first Professor of the Maltese language, and produced other works:
504:
399:
155:
During the nineties Vassalli published three substantial works about the
208:
116:
112:
108:
452:
Vassalli's political figure is also celebrated in a number of poems:
92:
267:
That Maltese harbours would be open for commerce with all countries
382:
371:
352:, who carried philosophy into novel ambits of thought and action.
334:
311:
319:
307:
115:
in Maltese, and towards the end of his life, a book on Maltese
456:("To Mikiel Anton Vassalli") is the common title of poems by
150:
Della lingua púnica presentemente usata da Maltesi in Roma
135:. Vassalli had three children, though he was not married.
672:
Thake, Robert (2015). "Un Républicain Maltais à Paris".
766:"Ir-rikonoxximent uffiċjali ta' Vassalli bħala eroj"
394:
There is a statue of Vassalli in his town of birth,
364:, a Protestant cemetery mainly used by the British.
322:, in 1796 Vassalli published an open letter, called
302:
Vassalli came in contact with the doctrines of the '
75:
67:
51:
28:
21:
637:History of the Maltese language in local education
606:"New document reveals Vassalli was never married"
246:Recherches Historiques et Politiques sur Malte
88:(5 March 1764 – 12 January 1829) was a
8:
175:(1796) - a Maltese-Latin-Italian dictionary.
499:(music) and Raymond Mahoney (lyrics) named
146:Giovanni Pietro Francesco Agius de Soldanis
18:
402:that is maintained by the national trust
570:
488:pays homage to him in his Maltese song
387:Gravestone of Mikiel Anton Vassalli at
201:a new Maltese grammar in Italian (1827)
654:Fodor, István; Hagège, Claude (1994).
71:lexicographer, writer, freedom fighter
853:Translators of the Bible into Maltese
7:
604:Xuereb, Charles (18 February 2020).
240:(1798–1800), and the first years of
181:(1791) - a Maltese grammar in Latin.
813:Italian-language writers from Malta
435:dedicated to Vassalli, namely that
700:. 23 November 2014. Archived from
204:a book of Maltese Proverbs (1828),
127:Mikiel Anton Vassalli was born in
14:
818:Latin-language writers from Malta
193:, Vassalli began to teach at the
727:later also buried here in 1851.
472:mentions Vassalli in the poem
16:Maltese writer and philosopher
1:
773:Ħaż-Żebbuġ : Festa, 2017
753:(in Maltese). 23–24: 128–153.
389:Msida Bastion Historic Garden
362:Msida Bastion Historic Garden
617:. p. 16. Archived from
528:Fabricv, P. Grabiel (1931).
843:Maltese non-fiction writers
764:Gauci, Henry Franz (2017).
716:"Historic Garden, Floriana"
635:Marshall, David R. (1971).
168:Lill-Malti li qiegħed jaqra
133:Sapienza University of Rome
111:book, the first Protestant
103:books, including a Maltese-
874:
751:Journal of Maltese Studies
433:Journal of Maltese Studies
530:"U Mikiel Anton Vassalli"
454:Lil Mikiel Anton Vassalli
232:: the final years of the
828:Male non-fiction writers
495:A Maltese rock opera by
376:Monument to Vassalli in
99:who published important
543:(2): 43. Archived from
95:, a philosopher, and a
858:Maltese lexicographers
744:"Vassalli illuminista"
391:
380:
107:dictionary, a Maltese
697:The Malta Independent
578:Cassar, Paul (1984).
386:
375:
238:Napoleonic government
207:a translation of the
86:Mikiel Anton Vassalli
62:Crown Colony of Malta
23:Mikiel Anton Vassalli
838:Maltese male writers
823:Linguists from Malta
704:on 22 December 2021.
350:John Nicholas Muscat
328:Discorso Preliminare
324:Alla Nazione Maltese
306:' while studying in
304:Age of Enlightenment
173:Ktieb il-Kliem Malti
656:Réforme des langues
561:Philosophy in Malta
550:on 31 January 2018.
447:Taħt Tliet Saltniet
293:Republic of Letters
236:, the two years of
195:University of Malta
848:People from Żebbuġ
833:Maltese Christians
724:. 6 October 2011.
674:Treasures of Malta
624:on 3 January 2022.
484:Singer-songwriter
392:
381:
191:John Hookham Frere
522:978-99932-7-476-6
189:With the help of
83:
82:
46:Hospitaller Malta
865:
788:
787:
786:on 25 June 2022.
785:
770:
761:
755:
754:
748:
736:
730:
729:
712:
706:
705:
688:
682:
681:
669:
663:
662:
651:
645:
644:
632:
626:
625:
623:
610:
601:
595:
594:
587:Melita Historica
584:
575:
551:
549:
534:
429:Marjorie Boulton
419:Il-Ħolma Maltija
234:Hospitaller rule
164:L-Alfabett Malti
157:Maltese language
139:Maltese Language
101:Maltese language
58:
38:
36:
19:
873:
872:
868:
867:
866:
864:
863:
862:
793:
792:
791:
783:
768:
763:
762:
758:
746:
738:
737:
733:
721:Din l-Art Ħelwa
714:
713:
709:
690:
689:
685:
671:
670:
666:
658:. p. 615.
653:
652:
648:
639:. p. 128.
634:
633:
629:
621:
608:
603:
602:
598:
582:
577:
576:
572:
568:
558:
547:
532:
527:
513:
511:Further reading
482:
476:(Victory Day).
458:Dun Karm Psaila
412:
404:Din l-Art Ħelwa
370:
358:
342:encyclopaedists
316:encyclopaedists
297:Catholic Church
289:
230:Maltese history
226:
141:
125:
60:
56:
55:12 January 1829
40:
34:
32:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
871:
869:
861:
860:
855:
850:
845:
840:
835:
830:
825:
820:
815:
810:
805:
795:
794:
790:
789:
775:(in Maltese).
756:
731:
707:
683:
664:
646:
627:
614:Times of Malta
596:
569:
567:
564:
557:
554:
553:
552:
525:
512:
509:
481:
478:
411:
408:
369:
366:
357:
354:
288:
285:
272:
271:
268:
265:
225:
222:
213:
212:
205:
202:
183:
182:
176:
170:
140:
137:
124:
121:
81:
80:
77:
73:
72:
69:
65:
64:
59:(aged 64)
53:
49:
48:
30:
26:
25:
22:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
870:
859:
856:
854:
851:
849:
846:
844:
841:
839:
836:
834:
831:
829:
826:
824:
821:
819:
816:
814:
811:
809:
806:
804:
801:
800:
798:
782:
778:
774:
767:
760:
757:
752:
745:
741:
740:Sammut, Frans
735:
732:
728:
723:
722:
717:
711:
708:
703:
699:
698:
693:
687:
684:
679:
675:
668:
665:
661:
657:
650:
647:
643:
638:
631:
628:
620:
616:
615:
607:
600:
597:
592:
588:
581:
574:
571:
565:
563:
562:
555:
546:
542:
538:
531:
526:
523:
519:
515:
514:
510:
508:
506:
502:
498:
493:
491:
487:
486:Manwel Mifsud
479:
477:
475:
471:
467:
463:
459:
455:
450:
448:
444:
443:Ġużè Aquilina
440:
438:
434:
430:
426:
425:
420:
416:
410:In literature
409:
407:
405:
401:
397:
390:
385:
379:
374:
367:
365:
363:
355:
353:
351:
347:
343:
338:
336:
331:
329:
325:
321:
317:
313:
309:
305:
300:
298:
294:
286:
284:
281:
276:
269:
266:
263:
262:
261:
259:
253:
249:
247:
243:
239:
235:
231:
223:
221:
217:
210:
206:
203:
200:
199:
198:
196:
192:
187:
180:
177:
174:
171:
169:
165:
162:
161:
160:
158:
153:
151:
147:
138:
136:
134:
130:
122:
120:
118:
114:
110:
106:
102:
98:
94:
91:
87:
78:
74:
70:
66:
63:
54:
50:
47:
43:
31:
27:
20:
781:the original
772:
759:
750:
734:
725:
719:
710:
702:the original
695:
686:
677:
673:
667:
659:
655:
649:
640:
636:
630:
619:the original
612:
599:
590:
586:
573:
559:
545:the original
540:
536:
500:
494:
489:
483:
473:
470:Rużar Briffa
466:Ninu Cremona
453:
451:
446:
441:
432:
422:
418:
415:Frans Sammut
413:
393:
359:
339:
332:
327:
323:
301:
290:
277:
273:
258:Hospitallers
254:
250:
245:
242:British rule
227:
218:
214:
188:
184:
178:
172:
167:
163:
154:
149:
142:
126:
85:
84:
57:(1829-01-12)
39:5 March 1764
808:1829 deaths
803:1764 births
593:(1): 60–61.
474:Jum ir-Rebħ
462:Ġorġ Pisani
437:Freemasonry
346:illuminists
76:Nationality
797:Categories
566:References
497:Paul Abela
445:'s novel,
287:Philosophy
68:Occupation
35:1764-03-05
424:The Times
368:Monuments
179:il-Mylsen
742:(1993).
642:Soldanis
556:See also
537:Il-Malti
505:Bastille
501:Bastilja
490:Vassalli
480:In Music
400:Floriana
280:Jacobins
224:Politics
166:(1790),
148:for his
117:proverbs
97:linguist
209:Gospels
113:Gospels
109:grammar
105:Italian
90:Maltese
79:Maltese
777:Żebbuġ
520:
417:wrote
396:Żebbuġ
378:Żebbuġ
129:Żebbuġ
93:writer
42:Żebbuġ
784:(PDF)
769:(PDF)
747:(PDF)
622:(PDF)
609:(PDF)
583:(PDF)
548:(PDF)
533:(PDF)
356:Death
335:Malta
312:Italy
680:(2).
518:ISBN
464:and
344:and
320:Rome
308:Rome
123:Life
52:Died
29:Born
678:XXI
799::
771:.
749:.
718:.
694:.
676:.
611:.
589:.
585:.
539:.
535:.
492:.
468:.
460:,
406:.
310:,
299:.
119:.
44:,
591:9
541:7
524:.
503:(
211:.
37:)
33:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.