De Valette's sword and dagger (2)

I was pleased to see that France's greatest honour, the Commandeur de la Légion d'Honneur, was bestowed to former President Eddie Fenech Adami, who I greatly admire as a statesman and who truly deserves the honour. Yet I regret to note that the French...

I was pleased to see that France's greatest honour, the Commandeur de la Légion d'Honneur, was bestowed to former President Eddie Fenech Adami, who I greatly admire as a statesman and who truly deserves the honour.

Yet I regret to note that the French government's gesture reminds us that the Louvre museum still has the bejewelled sword and dagger given to Grand Master Jean de Valette by Philip II of Spain, which were stolen by Napoleon's troops when they occupied Malta in 1798.

Much as I admire Dr Fenech Adami, I would have preferred it had France honoured Malta by returning these exhibits, which are of great historical significance, to Malta since they were a recognition of De Valette's heroic role in the Great Siege of 1565.

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