Description
The origins of Maltese migration to Corfu go back to the first half of the 19 century, following Sir Thomas Maitland’s appointment as Governor of Malta in 1813. A couple of years later, in 1815, the Greek lonian Islands were declared a British protectorate and, consequently, Maitland was appointed as Lord High Commissioner for the Ionian Islands.
Till now, the year officially recognized as the one when the first Maltese settled in Corfu is 1819. This is probably linked to the fact that in that year Thomas Maitland brought over from Malta a considerable number of workers to contribute to the building of the Palace of the Lord High Commissioner in Kerkyra.
The surviving registers of the Catholic Diocese Archives at the bishopric in the old town of Kerkyra belie this dating, since the presence of Maltese in Corfu has been documented since at least 1815.
This book investigates the first wave of Maltese migration to Corfu, and covers the period from 1815 to 1831.
