This week in Christian history: Charles Spurgeon’s final sermon, United Church of Canada founded

Knights of Malta surrender to Napoleon Bonaparte – June 12, 1798

This week marks the anniversary of when the Knights of Malta, a distinguished Christian military order, officially surrendered to a French army led by Napoleon Bonaparte.

Also known as the Knights Hospitaller, the Knights had controlled the island of Malta in the Mediterranean since the early 1500s and had been known as a regional naval power.

However, by the late 18th century, the Knights had weakened considerably, with the French Revolution leading to a substantial loss of their wealth and influence due to their ties to France.

“The French Republic decided that Malta had been at war with France since it declared neutrality towards the Republic in 1793, and was further aggrieved by its assistance to British ships and reception of French émigrés,” wrote Thomas Lecaque of Grand View University.

“When the French fleet settled outside, the Knights attempted to limit their harbor to four vessels at a time, and Napoleon responded with mass landings of troops. Despite stiff resistance at a handful of fortresses scattered across the islands, Malta surrendered quickly.”