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Charles B. Spiteri

F’dawn l-aħħar snin, Kodak taf irrekordjat l-agħar żminijiet tagħha. Iżda 120 sena ilu, kienet il-pijuniera għall-fotografija tan-nies komuni.

Fl-1888 ħolqot il-Kodak No 1, li tat lill-klijenti ċ-ċans li jiġbdu xeni rilassanti u li qabel kien jinġibdu biss minn fotografi professjonali. Minn dawn ir-ritratti għad hawn fl-idejn. Ritratti li nġibdu fis-seklu 19.

Il-camera No 1 kienet tkun mimlija b’negattivi biżżejjed biex dak li jkun jiġbed mitt ritratt. Meta l-fotografu jiġbed ir-ritratti kollha,  li kienu jkunu tondi, kien ikollu jieħu l-camera b’kollox lil Kodak, li appena tiżviluppalu r-ritratti, terġa’ timlielu l-camera b’negattivi oħra. Din l-istess camera, li kellha kisja ħoxna tal-ġild kienet tinbiegħ bis-slogan “Int tagħfas il-buttuna u aħna nagħmlu l-kumpalment!”

Il-kumpanija Eastman iddisinjat il-cameras flimkien ma’ Frank A. Brownell, mastrudaxxa, li beda l-produzzjoni tal-fabbrika.

Snin wara, Kodak qed titqies bħala li baqgħet lura milli tħaddan it-teknoloġija moderna bħalma hi l-fotografija diġitali, li kienet l-invenzjoni tagħha stess. Sentejn ilu l-Kodak applikat għall-protezzjoni kontra l-falliment u ħabbret li se tieqaf milli tipproduċi l-cameras diġitali; il-video cameras tal-but u l-frames diġitali tar-ritratti. Dan kollu biex taqta’ l-ispejjeż.

Kien rappurtat ukoll li l-kumpanija, issa se tikkonċentra fuq il-bejgħ tat-tagħmir għall-istampar u servizzi għan-negozji.

Charles B. Spiteri

Il-Papa għadu kif akkuża lil bosta mill-predeċessuri tiegħu bħala nies narċiżisti, li ħallew lilhom infushom ikunu mfaħħrin mill-ajjutanti tagħhom infushom.

Il-Papa Franġisku, riformatur ewlieni tal-Knisja, wiegħed li se jagħmel ħiltu kollha biex ibiddel il-mentalità tal-Vatikan, u qal li s-Santa Sede kienet wisq iffukata fl-interessi tagħha stess.

Waqt li kompla jattakka t-tradizzjonijiet passati tal-Vatikan, li issa jidhru li għamlu żmienhom, f’intervista mal-Editur tal-gazzetta xellugija Taljana La Repubblica, il-Papa qal li l-Qorti Papali kienet il-lebbra tal-Papat. Din l-intervista xxandret fl-istess waqt li l-Papa beda żjara privata ta’ tlett ijiem biex jiltaqa’ ma’ tmien kardinali minn madwar id-dinja biex jgħinuh jirriforma l-amministrazzjoni tal-Vatikan, magħrufa bħala l-Kurja.

Dan għax il-Papa jemmen li l-Kurja preżenti aktar qed tagħti kas tal-interessi temporali, waqt li mhix tagħti kas tal-ħtiġiet veri li tabilħaqq huma meħtieġa madwar id-dinja. Hu wiegħed li se jagħmel dak kollu possibbli biex joħloq il-bidla meħtieġa.

Il-Papa Franġisku qal li t-tmien kardinali li għażel, se jinħatru biex jagħtuh il-pariri meħtieġa, u l-għażla tagħhom saret għax m’għandhomx motivi egoisti. Permezz tagħhom il-Papa jrid li l-Knisja jkollha organizzazzjoni li ma tkunx biss vertikali iżda wkoll orizzontali.

Rigward it-twemmin tal-fidi personali, il-Papa Franġisku kien rappurtat li qal: “Ma jeżistix Alla Kattoliku… Jien nemmen f’ Ġesù Kristu u fl-inkarnazzjoni tiegħu. Ġesù hu s-sid  u r-ragħaj tiegħi, iżda Alla u l-missier… id-dawl u l-kreatur. Dan hu li nemmen jien.”

Joseph Henry Abela, Qassis

Il-ħajja ta’ kuljum tindera u ssir qisha rota bla kisra, bla heda, bla ferħ, bla gost, bla ħajra.

Għalhekk aħna nfittxu l-ġdid, il-ħoss, il-pjaċir, ix-xorb, il-briju. Briju jagħmel il-ħajja ferrieħa, siewja, iġennek. Ikliet, daqq, żfin, sparar tal-festi, baned.  Imma jekk ma noqogħdux attenti malajr naqbżu l-qies. Il-ħaġa, l-għemil, l-imġiba jitlef il-gost tiegħu għax jibda jdejjaq, ikidd, imarrad, jinnervja.

Jekk ikun l-għaqal, minnek, minni, minna, ikollna ċertu ġieħ għal xulxin u jkun hawn wisa’ għal kulħadd. Jekk le, tikber it-tensjoni, id-dwejjaq u l-inkwiet.

Ta’ kuljum iweġġa’ r-ras u jekk ma tilqgħux issa, tista’ ssir straġi li ma tistenniex.

minn Charles B. Spiteri

Toninu Falzon mill-Birgu, li fi ċkunitu l-familja tiegħu marret tgħix il-Marsa, kien tifel li jattendi l-Museum b’mod regolari, iżda meta faqqgħet l-aħħar gwerra, inġabar bil-lieva u serva bħala suldat. Tul l-erba’ snin ta’ tħarbit ħadd ma kien jaf x’sar mill-għaqda tad-duttrina, għax il-laqgħat waqfu. Kien f’dan l-istess żmien li Toninu beda jinġibed lejn is-Sagrament taż-żwieġ. Meta ntemmet il-gwerra tkellem fuq hekk ma’ ommu u staqsieha kinitx taf b’xi xbejba għaż-żwieġ.

Mingħajr titubar, ommu Katy nee Forte, semmietlu lil Lucy, bint Tereża, li kienu bil-ħanut maġenbhom. Qaltlu li kienet tifla bieżla u li kienet temmen li hi addattata għalih. Mhux hekk biss, talli Katie għarrfet hi stess lil żewġha Ġużeppi bil-ħsieb ta’ binhom.

Għalhekk, Toninu nqeda biż-żewġ ħutu bniet, Tereża u Mary li spiss kienu joħorġu ma’ Lucy, biex iwasslulu l-istedina għall-imħabba.

Min-naħa tagħha, Lucy, bint Francesco, neguzjant u Tereża, qaltli li hi kienet l-unika tifla fil-familja. Għandha żewġ ħutha oħra, wieħed akbar u l-ieħor iżgħar minnha. Minħabba f’hekk kienet il-mimmi tal-ġenituri tagħha.

Passiġġati u talb

Spiss, matul il-ġimgħa, flimkien ma’ ħut Toninu, kienu jpassu mill-Marsa għall-kappella ta’ Lourdes fil-Furjana, fejn jgħidu xi talb. Darba waħda, f’Marzu tal-1945, waqt li kienu għal din il-passiġġata, Tereża qaltilha li ħuha Toninu kellu ġibda għaliha. Lucy ssummat u ma weġbitha xejn, għax qabel riedet tieħu l-permess tal-ġenituri tagħha.

Meta marret id-dar qalet b’kollox lil ommha, li staqsietha x’kienet wieġbet lil Tereża. Hi ammettiet li ma weġbitha xejn, għax xtaqet tara x’tgħidilha hi. U ommha weġbitha “issa naraw”. Sadattant marret tgħid lil żewġha Francesco bl-aħbar ta’ binthom u kulma qalilha kien “dak jogħġobni”. Lucy ssemmi li xi xahrejn qabel, kien mar xi ħadd ieħor ikellem lil missierha biex jitolbu jiżżewweġ lil bintu u missierha mhux talli ma riedx, talli kien bagħatha l-knisja biex lanqas tara min kien.

Bi tbissima tirrakkonta wkoll li wieħed minn zijietha, ġuvni, li kien ikun sikwit għandhom; meta sema’ mingħand ommha bil-ġibda ta’ Toninu lejn Lucy, qal lil missierha “lil dan ma tgħidlux le, ta!” U missierha wrieh li lest jaċċettah.

B’hekk, omm Lucy qaltilha biex meta terġa’ tiltaqa’ ma’ Tereża tistaqsieha jekk dak li kienet qaltilha, kienx minnu, u jekk tgħidilha li kien tassew, tweġibha “iva”. Għamlet hekk u mill-ewwel kienet aċċettata bħala waħda tal-familja u bdiet tidħol id-dar għandhom. Matul dan l-episodju, Lucy kellha 19 u Toninu 25 sena.

Aħwa ’l-aħwa

In-namur ma kienx jeżisti. Ladarba l-ġenituri jkunu jafu bil-ħsieb rett, kienet tibda l-għerusija, b’data fissa għaż-żwieġ, li ta’ dawn l-għarajjes kienet it-28 ta’ April tal-1946. Bħala għarajjes kienu joħorġu għal xi passiġġati, iżda dejjem iġorru magħhom lil oħt Toninu, li inċidentalment, spiċċat biex iżżewġet lil ħu Lucy.

Toninu u Lucy jiftakru li kienu xtraw iċ-ċrieket tal-għerusija u tawhom lil xulxin waqt riċeviment fejn tlaqqgħu l-ġenituri. Matul din il-laqgħa kienet saret diskussjoni fuq id-dota, fejn l-għarajjes ingħataw kulma kellhom bżonn għad-dar…tant li wara 68 sena għad għandhom bosta tifkiriet tad-dotarju.

Il-koppja Falzon qaltli li peress li dak iż-żmien kienet għadha kif intemmet il-gwerra, ma tantx kien hawn postijiet fejn imorru jabitaw tabita fihom, għax ħafna kienu ġġarrfu. Iżda l-familja ta’ Lucy, li kellha dar kbira, offritilhom imorru joqogħdu għandha sa ma jsibu fejn joqogħdu. Min-naħa tagħhom, Toninu u Lucy kienu diġa’ qabbdu sensara biex issibilhom dar għalihom.

Ġara iżda li l-familja ta’ Lucy kellhom dar mikrija l-Marsa u min kien joqgħod fiha kien se jmur l-Afrika ta’ Isfel. B’hekk ingħataw din id-dar biex imorru joqogħdu fiha.

Toninu u Lucy żżewġu fil-jum tal-Ħadd, peress li minħabba l-ħwienet li kellhom il-familja ta’ Lucy, din kienet l-aktar ġurnata ideali. Il-kunsens taż-żwieġ sar filgħaxija, fil-knisja parrokkjali tat-Trinita’. Żewwiġhom Patri Ġużepp Falzon, Dumnikan, li hu l-prim kuġin ta’ Toninu u li kien għadu kif ħa l-quddiesa tliet xhur qabel. Bħala xhieda kellhom ziju minn kull naħa, it-tnejn jisimhom Carmelo.

Ir-riċeviment

Ir-riċeviment tat-tieġ għamluh f’sala fi Triq Balbi, il-Marsa. Kellhom tieġ sabiħ minkejja li kienet għadha kif spiċċat il-gwerra.

Wara t-tieġ marru għall-qamar il-għasel fil-lukanda Riviera, Għajn Tuffieħa u mbagħad niżlu fid-dar ġdida tagħhom biex jibdew ħajjithom.

L-ewwel tarbija li kellhom kienet tifla, illum Suor Olivia, Dumnikana. Imbagħad kellhom lil Catherine, miżżewġa lil John Calleja u għandhom żewġt itfal, Christian u Clarissa. Wara kellhom lil Tessie, miżżewġa lil Twanny Cutajar u għandhom tlett itfal; Norbert, Ruben u Maria Alexia. Fl-aħħar kellhom lil Joe, li hu miżżewweġ lil Josette u wkoll għandhom tlett itfal; Nicholas, Daniel u David. B’hekk, Toninu u Lucy huma nanniet ta’ tmien neputijiet u bużnanniet ta’ żewġ pro neputijiet Samuel u Julia, ulied Nicholas, li hu bin Joe.

Mitluba jagħtu l-fehma tagħhom fuq il-valuri tal-passat u llum, il-koppja Falzon taqbel li fl-antik il-bniedem kien aktar reliġjuż u jfittex lil Alla. Illum, il-materjaliżmu kiber u qaċċat lill-ispiritwalita’. U qed naraw li aktar mal-bniedem jingħaqad mal-materjal, jinqata’ għal kollox mill-ispiritwal.
Biex Lucy tfiehem kemm kienet qawwija r-reliġjożita’ fi żmienhom, issemmi li f’pajjiżna kien daħal it-talkies. Ħafna żgħażagħ kienu jmorru biex jaraw xi filmat. Hi kienet tgħid lil missierha biex xi darba tmur, u hu kien iweġibha li xi darba joħodha. Darba, wara li reġgħet qaltlu, qalilha biex tmur tbiddel. Lucy ħadet gost kbir u rat lil ommha u lil ħutha mbiddlin ukoll. Iżda mbagħad kienu jispiċċaw iċ-ċimiterju, fejn kienu jitilgħu ħdejn il-kappella u jagħmlu l-Via Sagra u jitolbu għall-mejtin. Din kienet rutina regolari. U meta ma jmorrux iċ-ċimiterju, kienu jattendu l-knisja għall-prietka jew katekiżmu ta’ wara nofsinhar. Illum, tgħid Lucy, dawn l-affarijiet inqatgħu għal kollox.

Differenzi

Mitlubin jgħidu x’jaraw differenti mill-għerusija tal-imgħoddi għal dik tal-lum, Lucy tgħid li hemm baħar bejniethom. Illum, iż-żgħażagħ joħorġu, imorru fejn iridu u jdumu kemm iridu. Illum ma jġorru lil ħadd magħhom bħala chaperon. Barra minhekk, meta l-ġenituri l-antiki kien ikollhom lil uliedhom għarajjes, kien ikollhom seba’ mitt sena sakemm iżewġuhom, biex ir-responsabbilta’ tagħhom ikunu wettquha fil-milja tagħha.

Toninu jgħid li d-differenza kollha tinsab fid-dixxiplina. Dari, id-dixxiplina kienet serja. Illum, din battiet ukoll. U fejn ma jkunx hemm dixxiplina, il-bniedem jasal jiftaħ il-bibien tal-passjonijiet, u dawn jiġru bih u jwaqqgħuh f’kull tiġrib.

Toninu żied li eżempju tipiku tan-nuqqas tad-dixxiplina jidher sew fl-iskejjel Maltin. Fejn dari, jekk għalliem jikkorreġi student u jagħtih xi daqqa ta’ riga, il-ġenituri kienu jaqblu mal-għalliema – illum issib lill-ġenituri jieħdu l-linja tal-ulied u jmorru għas-sodisfazzjon, jekk mhux ukoll iħebbu għall-għalliem.

Ikompli jtenni li jekk il-ġenituri tal-lum ma jżommux il-bastun tad-dixxiplina, għad jiġi żmien li l-bastun ikun f’idejn ħaddieħor u jsawwat lilhom infushom minflok. Apparti dan, maż-żmien, l-ulied għad jisħtu lill-ġenituri tagħhom, għax la jkunu draw bla dixxiplina, ma jkunu lesti jbaxxu rashom għal ħadd.

Mitlubin jistqarru x’kienet ir-riċetta għal 63 sena żwieġ hieni, il-koppja Falzon taqbel mal-kliem ta’ Patri Paten, li “min jitlob flimkien, jibqa’ flimkien”. Jekk ma jkunx hemm Alla l-imbierek bejn ir-raġel u l-mara, il-problemi li jinqalgħu, iġarrfu kollox. Kulħadd kellu, għandu u jibqa’ jkollu l-problemi tul ħajtu. Id-differenza fis-soluzzjoni tagħhom hi biss fir-rigward ikunx hemm Alla fil-qalb tal-koppja. Jekk iva, kull problema ddub u tixxejjen, jekk le, il-koppja tasal tinfired. Għax ir-reliġjożita’ twasslek biex bl-umilta’, tagħraf, tagħder u taħfer, iżda jekk ma tkunx trid taf bir-reliġjon, ir-ras iebsa twasslek għad-dagħbien u t-telfien tar-ruħ.

L-għajnuna ta’ Alla

Min-naħa l-oħra jaqblu li meta koppja miżżewġa jkollha xi tgħid bejnietha, m’għandha qatt tirrikorri għall-għajnuna tal-ġenituri jew tal-ħbieb, għax dawn jafu jxaqilbu lejn xi parti u jagħmlu aktar ħsara milli ġid. Meta raġel u mara jiżżewġu, għandhom ikunu kapaċi li fin-nuqqasijiet tagħhom stess, jiddiskutu bejniethom u jsolvu d-differenzi ta’ bejniethom weħidhom, bl-għajnuna ta’ Alla.

F’għeluq il-ħamsin u sittin sena żwieġ, Toninu u Lucy iċċelebraw b’quddiesa ta’ ringrazzjament. Għall-ħamsin sena, din tqaddset fil-Għar tal-Madonna Dumnikani, r-Rabat. Qaddsilhom l-istess Patri li żewwiġhom – Fr. Joe Falzon u wara marru għal ikla f’ristorant ir-Rabat. Fl-okkażjoni tas-sittin sena żwieġ, il-quddiesa ta’ ringrazzjament għamluha fil-knisja San Ġorġ Preca u qaddsilhom Dun Gordon Refalo. Wara marru għal ikla f’ristorant f’Ta’ Xbiex. Għaż-żewġ okkażjonijiet, ġiet mill-Awstralja binthom Suor Olivia, fejn ilha f’missjoni snin sħaħ.  

written by Fiona Vella

Amongst its various significant documents, the National Archives of Malta house the records of the Consolato del Mare di Malta within the premises of the Banca Giuratale in Mdina. This collection holds the first records of Malta’s own maritime tribunal and sheds light over more than 100 years of maritime laws that were effected between the late 17th century and the early 19th century.

Consisting of a total of 473 items, the documentation of the Consolato del Mare di Malta is presently found in a stable condition. However it requires attention since present storage conditions do not guarantee its future preservation. While, highlighting the huge importance which this collection has to the better understanding of both local and international sea law, maritime historian, Dr Joan Abela, recently appealed for the preservation of this collection for posterity. Following this appeal, a group of individuals who are connected to the Maltese maritime industry, have joined forces in order to come up with an initiative to collect the required funds for this project.

“The proper preservation of our archives is always our main focus,” said national archivist and National Archives CEO, Charles Farrugia. “After consulting with our conservators, it was concluded that using the current resources, it would take us about 80 weeks in order to complete the first phase of preservation on the documents of the Consolato del Mare di Malta, and it would cost approximately €25,000.”

This initial work will involve the removal of acidic wrappers from the bundles of documents, cleaning of the bundles, the provision of new conservation grade covers and a condition assessment. Moreover, this collection will be stored in archival quality boxes that will serve for better protection and storage.

Archivist Noel D’Anastas commended the idea of this project, “At the moment, we have 52 metres of shelving dedicated to the collection of the Consolato del Mare di Malta. Although a good part of these documents are in a good condition, some of the bundles require urgent attention and it would be great if they could be preserved as soon as possible, particularly since this material is very much in demand by researchers.”

The commercial court of the Consolato del Mare di Malta was established in 1697 and its main aim was to coordinate local maritime affairs and to tackle disputes and litigations in a more efficient way so as to facilitate trade. This arrangement was further enhanced by the appointment of experienced merchants in maritime trade in the positions of consuls for the tribunal of the Consolato.

“During the period of the Order of St John, corsairing became one of the major commercial activities of our islands. However, by the end of the 17th century, the politico-economic atmosphere of Malta had evolved into stronger commercial enterprises, thereby lessening the importance of the corso,” explained maritime historian Dr Joan Abela.

“Between the years 1721 to 1723, the corso employed around 700 men whereas circa 3000 men were engaged with the merchant fleet. Therefore the need for a new regulatory system must be observed in this wider context of change from a crusading order to a trading order.”

Till then, Maltese shipping had been administered by the Consolato del Mare laws of Messina and Barcelona. Yet this development created the requirement of a legal framework with which merchants and seafarers could be guided in their dealings with other traders and sellers.

In order to cater for this demand, Grand Master Ramon Perellos y Roccaful entrusted Fra Gaspare Carneiro with the task of studying the set up of the Consolato del Mare of various countries and particularly those which were used in Messina, Barcellona and Valencia. Thereafter, Carneiro was expected to compile and formulate the regulations for a Maltese Consolato law.

“From the documents that are held today, we can see that this maritime tribunal functioned for many years. In fact, this form of regulation continued to serve this sector until 1814; when the British eventually replaced it with the Corte di Commercio,” elaborated D’Anastas.

Asked about the relevance of this collection today, all three agreed that the study of such documents could enable researchers to understand the evolution of our local commercial trade within the broader Mediterranean context.

“Since law and custom were highly connected, such documentation could also reveal a number of local maritime customs. Furthermore, such a collection could divulge interesting details regarding the economic and social aspect of past societies, and how law and business functioned.” suggested Dr Abela.

“Indeed this collection of the Consolato del Mare di Malta provides a snapshot of various business practices such as the chartering of vessels, the wages of sailors, contracts of commenda or trade agreements made by captains, sailors or merchants, cases involving insurance, freight and trade networks, navigation techniques and many more valuable information. Therefore, its relevance for research applies to different areas of study,” remarked D’Anastas.

Once again, they all agreed about the benefit of preserving such documents which highlight how a particular system has succeeded to continue functioning and elaborating itself over such a long period of time.

“History is the foundation on which to build one’s present and future. A country which does not take adequate care of its archives tends to suffer from a sort of forgetfulness,” insisted Dr Abela. “I believe that such a collection should be regarded as a treasure of worldwide significance since its records can explain in detail how people from various countries managed to operate a system with which to work together like clockwork.”

“There is no boundary to how much one can expand in the research of such documentation,” concluded Mr Farrugia. “Likewise, there is no limit to the sort of preservation and conservation that one can apply to such a collection in order to protect it and make it available to future generations. Hopefully, one day, we will be able to digitalize this information so that this masterpiece of knowledge could be more easily shared on a wider scale.”

Sponsors who would like to donate funds for this venture are requested to contact [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], or call 2229 6165.

(This article was published in the Shipping and Logistics Supplement in The Times of Malta dated 18 March 2015)

450 sena ilu, Malta kienet għaddejja minn wieħed mill-agħar perjodi fl-istorja tagħha, hekk kif din ġiet attakkata minn armata kbira Torka li kienet ħalfet li se teqred lill-Ordni tal-Kavallieri ta’ San Ġwann minn wiċċ id-dinja. It-Torok ma kellhom l-ebda dubju li dil-gżira ċkejkna kienet ser tiġi f’idejhom f’qasir żmien u waqt bosta mumenti, anki l-kavallieri għaddielhom minn moħħhom l-istess ħsieb. Imma wara assedju kbir li ħalla warajh mijiet ta’ mejtin u midruba, fosthom lill-magħruf Dragut, Malta, il-Maltin u l-kavallieri, irnexxielhom joħorġu rebbieħa u t-Torok ġew f’sitwazzjoni fejn kellhom jirtiraw b’mod immedjat.

Affreski li juru xeni mill-assedju tal-1565

Fatt interessanti huwa illi l-aktar episodji sinifikanti li seħħu waqt dan l-assedju ġew impinġija mill-artist Taljan, Matteo Perez d’Aleccio. Huwa ġie kkummissjonat jagħmel dax-xogħol minn Fra Jean l’Evesque de La Cassiere, li kien il-Gran Mastru ta’ Malta bejn is-snin 1572 u l-1581. Is-sett ta’ affreski tal-Assedju l-Kbir tal-1565 kellu l-iskop li jikkommemora dawn il-ġrajjiet tremendi imma erojċi li kienu ġraw xi ftit tas-snin qabel. M’hemmx xi ngħidu, rebħa monumentali bħal dik li kisbu l-kavallieri f’pajjiżna, kienet ġibdet ir-rispett u l-ammirazzjoni ta’ bosta pajjiżi, tant li l-Ordni mhux talli reġgħet ġiet fuq saqajha imma saret akbar milli qatt kienet qabel. Illum dawn l-affreski jinsabu f’waħda mis-swali tal-Palazz tal-Gran Mastru fil-Belt Valletta u huma xhieda ta’ dak li għadda minnu pajjiżna fis-sena 1565.

It-taqtigħa bejn l-Ordni u t-Torok

Għal mijiet ta’ snin, il-Kavallieri ta’ San Ġwann u l-Ottomani kienu mqabbdin f’xulxin kemm fuq kwistjoni ta’ reliġjon u anki minħabba l-għatx li kellhom għall-poter sabiex jakkwistaw l-artijiet.

Għalkemm oriġinarjament, l-Ordni kellha l-funzjoni li tilqa’ u tieħu ħsieb il-pellegrini li kienu jaslu f’Ġerusalemm, maż-żmien din evolviet f’natura militari sabiex tiddefendi b’mod attiv il-pellegrini u r-reliġjon Kristjana. Naturalment, dan l-aġir tal-kavallieri, ma damx ma daħħalhom f’taqtigħat mal-Musulmani, u aktar ma għaddew is-snin, dan il-ġlied beda jiżdied fil-feroċità tiegħu.

Hekk kif l-Ordni bdiet tikseb is-simpatija tan-nobbli, tar-rejiet u tal-Papiet, din bdiet tiġbed lejha wkoll bosta donazzjonijiet ta’ flus, rikkezzi, artijiet u privileġġi. B’hekk beda jikber ukoll il-poter tal-membri tagħha u dan wassal biex attira diversi tfal tan-nobbli li bdew jieħdu l-voti sabiex isiru kavallieri.

L-Ordni ta’ San Ġwann f’Rodi

L-Ordni tal-Kavallieri ta’ San Ġwann damet f’Ġerusalemm sal-1187, sakemm finalment, din il-belt waqgħet taħt il-kmand tas-Sultan Saladin. B’hekk il-kavallieri kellhom jibdlu l-kwartieri tagħhom u jimxu lejn Margat fis-Sirja, imbagħad f’Acre fi Tripli u eventwalment f’Limassol f’Ċipru. Madanakollu, x-xewqa tal-kavallieri kienet li jirnexxilhom jakkwistaw il-gżira ta’ Rodi, u fl-1309, huma rebħuha mingħand il-Biżantini.

Il-kavallieri ma damux ma għarfu u sarrfu l-kwalitajiet ta’ Rodi li kienet gżira b’pożizzjoni tassew strateġika hekk kif din kienet tgħaqqad id-dinja tal-Lvant ma’ dik tal-Punent. Huma bidlu lil din il-lokalità f’belt iffortifikata u maż-żmien, bnew flotta liema bħalha li bdiet tattakka b’mod regolari x-xwieni tal-Ottomani. Iżda dan ma kienx biżżejjed għall-kilba tal-poter u l-flus għax apparti x-xwieni, l-Ordni bdiet taħbat ukoll għal xi bliet u kastelli Ottomani, sakemm finalment, it-Torok ġew urtati mhux ħażin.

Il-kavallieri kienu saru xewka tweġġa’ ħafna qalb l-imperu Ottoman u t-Torok ma tħallew bl-ebda għażla ħlief li jaraw kif se jsibulhom tarfhom. Huma attakkaw lil Rodi għal diversi drabi imma qatt ma rnexxielhom iġibuha żewġ. Sakemm finalment, fl-1522, Sultan Suleiman ħa r-riedni f’idejh u ma qagħadx bi kwietu qabel niżżel il-kavallieri għarkupptejhom wara sitt xhur ta’ kumbattimenti. Fuq deċiżjoni tal-istess sultan, l-Ordni tħalliet titlaq minn Rodi b’mod ċivili u dakinhar anki numru ta’ nies minn Rodi ngħataw il-libertà li jsegwuhom. Ftit kien jaf Suleiman, kemm xi snin wara, huwa kien ser jiddispjaċih bil-kbir talli wera tant irġulija mal-kavallieri.

Il-Kavallieri jsibu ruħhom Malta

Infatti, wara li l-kavallieri għamlu seba’ snin iterrqu u jsalpaw minn art għall-oħra, mingħajr l-ebda post li setgħu isejħulha darhom, huma ġew mogħtija l-gżejjer tagħna mill-Imperatur Charles V. Kien l-14 t’Ottubru 1530 meta huma middew l-ewwel passi tagħhom fuq l-art li eventwalment kellha tifforma parti tant importanti mill-istorja tal-Ordni.

Anki Malta nzertat li kellha pożizzjoni ġeografika sinifikattiva ħafna bħal dik ta’ Rodi, hekk kif din kienet tinsab f’nofs il-Mediterran bejn l-Ewropa u l-Afrika. Naturalment, il-kavallieri ma damux ma bnew fuq dan il-potenzjal sabiex jibdlu lil Malta f’fortizza. Filwaqt li n-nobbli ta’ Malta kienu jgħixu fl-Imdina, il-kavallieri ppreferew jistabbilixxu ruħhom il-Birgu, l-aktar minħabba l-viċinanza tal-baħar. Dak iż-żmien, il-Birgu kien jikkonsisti biss f’raħal ċkejken tas-sajjieda li kellu kastell antik. Imma l-paġna ta’ dan il-post ma damitx ma nqalbet ta’ taħt fuq meta l-kavallieri bdew jibnu l-palazzi tagħhom u l-parroċċa tal-Birgu nbidlet fil-Knisja Konventwali tal-Ordni.

It-Torok jaħilfu li jeqirdu l-Ordni darba għal dejjem

Fi ftit tas-snin, l-Ordni reġgħet issaħħet u l-qawwa tal-flotta tagħha bdiet tintuża biex mill-ġdid tattakka x-xwieni tal-Ottomani li kienu jsalpaw fl-ibħra tal-qrib. Il-ġarra ġejja u sejra fl-aħħar tinkiser u l-istorja rrepetiet ruħha, hekk kif mill-ġdid, it-Torok daħħluha f’rashom li jrażżnu lill-Ordni – issa, darba għal dejjem.

Il-kavallieri kienu ilhom jisimgħu mingħand l-ispiji tagħhom li l-Ottomani kienu qed jippjanaw attakk kbir għal fuq Malta u min-naħa tagħhom, huma bdew jippruvaw jagħmlu dak kollu li jistgħu biex jippreparaw il-gżira sabiex tilqa’ għal dan l-assedju. Madanakollu, hekk kif il-kavallieri sabu l-flotta massiċċa tat-Torok ma’ wiċċhom fl-għodwa tat-18 ta’ Mejju tal-1565, huma baqgħu bla kliem.

Poeta jikteb djarju waqt li qed jieħu sehem fl-assedju

Minn hemm bdew il-battalji ħorox bejn il-kavallieri u l-Ottomani li damu għaddejjin sa erba’ xhur wara. Fatt kurjuż huwa illi fost is-suldati li kienu qed jipparteċipaw f’dan l-assedju flimkien mal-Ordni, kien hemm ukoll min niżżel xi noti dwar dak li kien qed iseħħ.

Fost dawn, kien hemm Francesco Balbi di Correggio, poeta li kien jikteb bit-Taljan u bl-Ispanjol. Waqt l-assedju, huwa kellu 60 sena, u kien għażel li jservi bħala suldat minħabba li kien qed jgħix f’povertà kbira. Ta’ kittieb li kien, waqt dawn it-taqtigħat storiċi, huwa żamm djarju fejn kważi ġurnata b’ġurnata jirrakkonta d-dettalji ta’ dak li għaddew minnu hu, sħabu u l-bqija tal-kavallieri, l-Maltin u t-Torok. Meta l-assedju spiċċa, huwa ra kif għamel biex ippubblika d-djarju tiegħu u llum xogħlu huwa meqjus bħala wirt storiku importanti ferm.

Bis-saħħa ta’ Balbi, illum, wara 450 sena, aħna nistgħu nsegwu pass pass kif żvolġa dan l-avveniment, kif ittieħdu d-deċiżjonijiet, l-iżbalji u l-istrateġiji effettivi li seħħu u diversi esperjenzi oħra.

Blog ta’ Heritage Malta dwar l-Assedju l-Kbir

Sabiex taqsam dawn il-ġrajjiet interessanti mal-pubbliku, hekk kif dis-sena qed jiġi kkommemorat l-450 anniversarju mill-Assedju l-Kbir, Heritage Malta organizzat blog elettroniku fejn wieħed jista’ jaqra silta kuljum tal-aħbarijiet li jkunu ġraw f’dik il-ġurnata partikolari. F’dan il-blog, ma jonqsux ukoll xi fatti mhux tas-soltu u oħrajn kemxejn kurjużi. Fl-istess blog, il-pubbliku se jkun jista’ jiskopri wkoll informazzjoni dwar numru ta’ oġġetti relatati mal-Assedju l-Kbir li bejn l-4 ta’ Settembru u s-6 ta’ Diċembru 2015, se jkunu qed jiffurmaw parti minn esebizzjoni internazzjonali li se tittella’ minn Heritage Malta fil-Kmamar Statali tal-Palazz tal-Gran Mastru l-Belt. Barra minn hekk, il-qarrejja ta’ dan il-blog se jkunu wkoll infurmati dwar id-diversi attivitajiet oħra relatati ma’ dan il-perjodu storiku li ser ikun qed jittellgħu minn żmien għall-ieħor.

Waħda min dawn l-attivitajiet li ġġib l-isem 1565:First and Last Hope se tiġi organizzata fil-Forti Sant’Iermu bejn is-26 u t-28 ta’ Ġunju 2015. Hawnhekk, diversi atturi popolari Maltin ser ikunu qed jagħtu l-ħajja mill-ġdid lil uħud mill-avvenimenti li seħħu waqt l-assedju, filwaqt li jinvolvu anki lill-pubbliku preżenti.

Il-blog tal-assedju qiegħed jinkludi wkoll xi filmati relatati ma’ dan iż-żmien. Intant, bħalissa, wieħed jista’ jsegwi filmat qasir li jirrakkonta d-destin kiefer tal-Kappella ta’ Sant’Anna li tinsab fil-Forti Sant’Iermu.

Il-poplu Malti qed jiġi mħeġġeġ isegwi dan il-blog sabiex jagħraf dak li għaddew minnu missirijietna u b’hekk japprezza aktar il-ħila ta’ niesna, il-kapaċità militari tal-Ordni, l-istorja tal-fortifikazzjonijiet u mitt ħaġa oħra. Fl-istess ħin, huwa qed jiġi mistieden jaqsam ħsibijietu dwar dak li jkun qed iseħħ billi jħalli l-kummenti tiegħu fil-blog stess.

Tista’ tibda tinvolvi ruħek mil-llum stess billi tidħol www.heritagemalta.org/1565

(Dan l-artiklu ġie ppubblikat fis-sensiela MINN RITRATT (13 il-Parti) fit-Torċa tal-14 ta’ Ġunju 2015)

minn Charles B. Spiteri

L-għarusa Louise Keel, ta’ 46 sena minn South Wales, se jkollha lill-pupu li semmiet Bert, bħala l-‘pageboy’ tagħha.

Hi tbikkmet meta saret taf li ma jistax ikollha tfal u għalhekk nefqet aktar minn €1,194 fuq il-pupu li għandha b’xagħar innukklat, biex iserviha kif tixtieq hi fit-tieġ li se jsir fir-Rebbiegħa li ġejja. Louise, li hi reġistrata bħala nieqsa mid-dawl u tuża siġġu tar-roti, se tiżżewweġ lill-għarus tagħha Brian.

Bert hu magħmul minn materjal ta’ silikon speċjali, li jressqu viċin ferm lejn l-umanità, kemm fil-ġilda tiegħu kif ukoll f’xagħru u għajnejh. Louise xtratu wara li t-tobba għarrfuha li ma jistax ikollha tfal tagħha.

Bl-għajnuna tas-sieħeb tagħha Brian, ta’ 48 sena, huma xtraw il-pupu permezz tal-internet, li kien qed jirreklama ‘pupi mwielda mill-ġdid’. Hu twil 76.2 ċentimetru, b’xagħar safrani nnukklat u mnieħer gustuż buttuna. Regolarment tlibbsu sew u tieħdu magħha biex titma’ lill-papri fi ġnien viċin.

L-għarus Brian qal: “Jien u Louise naħdmu sew bħala koppja. Iltqajna permezz tal-kompjuter u bnejna relazzjoni ta’ mħabba. Hi diġà kellha numru ta’ pupi meta ltqajt magħha. Għalhekk drajt bihom madwarna. Bert għandu l-karatteristiċi tiegħu. Hu gustuż ferm u sa għandu l-kont Twitter tiegħu b’aktar minn 80 segwaċi.”

Brian kompla jgħid li: “Meta għedt lil Bert li jien u Louise se niżżewġu, xejn ma deher ferħan – għax jaf ikun għajjur, iżda fl-aħħar aċċetta li jkun parti mill-familja tagħna.”

Fid-dar, Louise għandha l-apparat kollu li tinħtieġ għat-trabi – bandli, ‘rocking chairs’, fliexken tal-xorb u kutri. Kull filgħaxija qabel torqod, hi toqgħod tkanta kantalieni tal-irqad lill-pupi tagħha.
 

In the air, the Battle of Britain raged furiously over London and the South East. It was a hard-fought, relentless struggle to the death. The Royal Air Force and the Lutwaffe were at each other’s throats’, each well aware of the consequences of victory or defeat.

The pilots of the RAF were bravely, and at a cost, repelling the German air-raids. It was with good reason that Prime Minister Winston Churchill broadcasted to the world that “so much is owed by so many to so few”.

It was Sunday morning on the streets of London. March had given way to April, bringing with it the promise of spring. Kath and Scott were strolling along the Strand. Every time they came in front of a theatre, now closed during wartime, they stopped, looked at the magnificent facade and old posters publicizing a previous show or a play and then continued on their leisurely walk.

They crossed over to Waterloo Bridge, rested their arms on the cold black iron railings and looked eastwards across the river. “That tall slim column there, it’s called Cleopatra’s Needle”, she told him.
“It does look like something Egyptian to me”, he replied amused.

“It is, if you want to know”. Kath was doing the honours of a tourist guide. They looked at the other side of the bridge. “And that dome there, it’s St. Paul’s Cathedral. It was hit and damaged only last week”, continued Kath as she pointed to the dome in the distance.

Kath was a London girl, now driving an ambulance as an ATS, having joined a few months previously to contribute in the war effort. Scott was born and bred in Glasgow, had never been to London, and now was a fighter pilot with the 11th Squadron of RAF Fighter Command based at Croydon Air Force Base.

He pushed himself up on his elbow and looked at her. “Kathy, you’re the person I thought I’d never find. Now I’m frightened. For the first time I know what I could lose.”
“But you won’t lose me”, Kath replied.

“I hope not. But hope seems a little flimsy sometimes”, replied Scott as he smiled at her.

They were quiet. She looked at him uneasily and saw that he was smiling. It was then that she saw his eyes were a clear bright blue. How could she not have noticed them before? They were, undoubtedly, his best features in face that was pleasant but quite unremarkable. She smiled back at him, a little more confidently.

At that moment, Kath too felt scared of ever losing him. He looked at her again. She was beautiful – tall, slim, long-auburn hair that glistened whenever the sun caught it, skin as fresh and clear as porcelain and a personality that would charm the birds out of the trees.

Both were on a 24 hour leave period before going back to continue their bit for God, King and Country. They had met only two months before at the ‘Horse and Crown’ in Piccadilly. She was with her friends when three RAF men walked in and asked if they could sit down besides them. Kath and Scott locked eyes on each other. No one professes to believe in the possibility of love at first sight – most would say that it is a myth – yet it happened to both of them. They were convinced, immediately, that Cupid had struck.

From then on, Kath and Scott saw each other every time they could manage it. As he was new to London, she wanted to show him the sights of her lovely old capital. They had walked from Russell Square, down Southampton Row, along the Strand, Waterloo Bridge, into the Strand again and on to Charing Cross station. This is the part of her London that she loved so much – the stomping ground of Barbara Cartland’s Victorian characters. How she loved reading her romantic books. It was like living in London a century ago.

It was cold. She put her collar up to her ears, tucked an escaping tress of long hair into her hat, took Scott’s hand in hers and said – “I could stay here forever love, but it’s time for you to catch the 4.15 from Charing Cross station to Croydon, so it’s better that we move on, shall we love?”

They had agreed to get married during their next leave together in a month’s time, set up house, start a life together, see the war through, have children and live happily ever after.

Now they walked hand in hand to the station. From some noisy pub in one of the small side streets, they heard the lovely voice of Vera Lynne singing the popular notes of the most popular song of the time. 

“We’ll meet again,
Don’t know where, don’t know when,
But I know,
We’ll meet again, some sunny day!”

The notes floated achingly across the lonely street and disappeared into the evening. It was an emotional song of hope, peace and love. An elderly woman walking with a man in front of Kath took out a handkerchief from the pocket of her coat. The man besides her bit his lip. Kath felt the tears welling up. ‘How many will not meet again’, she thought.

As the departure of the train was being announced on the tannoy, Scott hugged Kath tightly and kissed her passionately. “We shall meet again Kath,” he said. “It’s a promise that I’ll keep”. He lifted his bag from the ground and left for platform 5 as the train started to move away.

Only a few hours after arriving at his Croydon base, an alert sounded signifying that enemy planes were coming across the Channel. Scott and his men scrambled to their Spitfires and were in the air in no time, eager to meet the enemy planes before they reached London and start their bombing.

He was still a young man, a full life still lay before him, yet he believed that whatever it is his destiny was already written in a big book in heaven and that was that. He was not afraid. If his time had come, there is nothing he could do about it. He was however determined to make it back and marry Kath.

The Spitfires engaged the German planes as soon as they had crossed the Channel. A terrible dog-fight was being fought over the Sussex countryside. It was a battle of life or death. Buddy Jones saw Scott besides him, shells were bursting around them and machine-gun bullets were flying all over. He saw Scott’s plane bucker and shudder, and thought that it was going out of control. He thought he would bale out. Then six Jerries came at them again. Jones pulled his plane around and flew into the sun. He didn’t see Scotty again. 

Down at the Air Force Base in Croydon, Sgt Johnson was on the Tower, intensely checking the Spitfires returning from their engagement. He was watching them descending on the runway, one by one, and taxing on to the main hangar. Besides him, his eyes as sharp as a hawk, was Base Flight Commander Hawkins, also ticking the boys coming home to base after the battle, praying that none of his men will be missing.

“Buddy Jones has come in Sir”, said Sgt Johnson. “And Tiny Wharton, Hank Kirkwood, Scarface, Smiley, Peters …………” Flt Commander Hawkins was still anxious. “And the others Johnson, what about them?” he bellowed. “They’re behind Sir, but coming in slowly – Paddy’s about to land, Albert there behind him and Foxy Foster’s just appeared now ……. It appears all are back except Scotty. I’ll try radio contact again Sir.”

The Commander grimaced. Scotty’s still not back. He felt that the young fighter pilots were his sons. It would be hard if he lost one of them. “Damn those Nazi pigs, damn them!!” he uttered bitterly. A few minutes later he was shouting commands again. “Johnson, try again to get Scotty, see what’s happening, fast Johnson, fast,” bellowed the Commander, now in an angry mood.

A few seconds later Sgt. Johnson burst in. “I got him Sir, he’s over Dover now, but coming in slowly, he’s hit on the starboard wing and on the tail, and he’s injured Sir, but hobbling on towards base, he says he’s determined to make it ……….”

“OK Johnson, get the ambulance people on the runway, tell them to be on the alert, they might need to speed him on to St. Mary’s directly. And the fire people, we might need a rescue operation as soon as he comes in, fast Johnson fast.” shouted the Commander.

Johnson did not need any instructions; he knew what he had to do. Ambulance, fire and rescue teams had to be in hand to give assistance. Scotty and his Spitfire are probably in very bad shape. “I’m now in contact with his radio Sir, it appears there’s some music coming on!” said Johnson in exasperation. “Music? Is it a message?” shouted the Commander. “What music Johnson? What the heavens is Scotty playing at? Is he mad or something?”

“It’s a song Sir,” replied Johnson. “He’s singing Vera Lynn’s song “We Shall Meet Again”, continued the Sergeant now chuckling in relief. “He’ll make it back Sir, you mark my words!!”