Malta Key Dates – Aeroflight

6-8000 BC		Many prehistoric megaliths erected on Malta.
C. 900 BC		Malta colonised by the Phoenicians. Subsequently controlled by the Carthaginians and then the Greeks.
C. 218 BC		Malta captured by the Romans. Malta later formed part of the Byzantine Empire.
870 AD		Malta overrun by Arab (Saracen) forces.
1090 AD		Malta taken by the Norman Kingdom of Sicily.
1530		Malta given to the Knights Hospitallers of St John by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V.
1565		The Knights on Malta hold out against a Turkish siege.
June 1798		Malta is occupied French forces under Napoleon Bonaparte.
1800		British forces capture Malta from the French.
1814		Malta is recognised as a British colony in the Treaty of Paris.
1921		Malta receives dominion government.
1933		Malta reverts to the status of Crown Colony.
1941-1942		Malta is besieged and fiercely bombarded by German and Italian aircraft.
15 April 1942		George Cross medal awarded to the island for gallantry in World War 2.
September 1947		Internal self-government for Malta established.
21 September 1964		Malta achieves full independence within the British Commonwealth.
1965		Malta becomes a member of the United Nations.
1971		The Maltese Labour party takes power. A policy of non-alignment is adopted. Close relations with China and Libya are developed.
13 December 1974		Malta becomes a Republic.
31 March 1979		Withdrawal of the last British military presence from Malta.
August 1980		Ties with Libya ended due to territorial dispute.
1987		The pro-western Maltese Nationalist party regains power.