PART 4: The Effects of the French Revolution

What good came from the French Revolution?

• All French people were treated equally and given the same rights by law

• Taxes in France were collected in a fairer way, with all the French people paying taxes according to how much they earned

• Education was extended to everyone and not only those who could afford to pay for their children’s education

• The Catholic Church of France lost much of the power it had before the Revolution and most of its riches were confiscated and used to help the poorest members of French society

Did the French Revolution affect the Order of St. John positively or negatively

Negativity

Why did the French Revolution affect the Order of St. John negatively?

1. The Order was very connected to the ancient regime in France, where kings and nobles had more power, and nobles and clergy had more privileges

2. Many of the Knights were French (3/8 of the Langues are French: France, Auvergne, Aragon) with the result that some of the younger Knights sympathized with the idea of the Revolution (loss of members)

3. The Order supported the Kings escape in 1791, and criticized the Revolution when the king was beheaded, and because of this, the Order became seen as the enemy of the Revolution

4. The Order had its largest share of foreign lands in France and with the abolition of the monarchy in 1792, these lands were confiscated by the French Republic (since the Order was seen as an enemy:no3) and therefore, the Order lost 20% of its annual revenue

How did the principles of the French Revolution bring about change in Malta?

When Napoleon took control of Malta in 1793, he brought with him the French revolutionary ideas

These ideas are known as Napoleons reforms in Malta. Under which 4 main headings of these reforms fall under

1. Political and Administrative Reforms

2. Social Change

3. Educational Change

4. Changes in Church-State relations

Explain the Political and Administrative Reforms

• The Orders property was taken over by the French government

• A new government was set up in Malta, made up of both French and Maltese people

• Malta was divided into 12 municipalities (like local districts) → each managing its own area

Explain the Social Reforms

• Everyone was now equal under the law

• Aristocratic (noble) titles (e.g. “Sir” or “Count”) and slavery were abolished

• People were allowed freedom of the press and freedom of conscience

• Political prisoners were set free

Explain the Educational Reforms

• Primary schools were opened in towns and villages

• 60 students from well-off families were sent to study in France

• The old University in Malta was as replaced by a new École Polytechnique (more focused on science + technology)

Explain the Reforms of Church-state relations

• The Church’s power was reduced (religious groups were only allowed to keep 1 convent)

• The Inquisition was closed and the Inquisitor had to leave Malta

• Court cases could no longer be appealed to Rome - decisions had to stay in Malta

Who is this?

Grandmaster Hompesch → the grandmaster during when Napoleon took control of Malta

Who is this

General (at the time) Napoleon Bonaparte at the time of the invasion of Malta