The falcon from Malta

The Prime Minister, former Presidents, ministers and other dignitaries could have spent their time, not to mention the Maltese taxpayer's money, more wisely than by participating in a ceremony with connotations of allegiance to the King of Spain and...

The Prime Minister, former Presidents, ministers and other dignitaries could have spent their time, not to mention the Maltese taxpayer's money, more wisely than by participating in a ceremony with connotations of allegiance to the King of Spain and going to the expense of providing a Peregrine falcon to boot.

The agreement to deliver a Peregrine falcon to the King of Spain on an annual basis was made between King Charles V and the then Grand Master of the Order of St John of Jerusalem and Rhodes. It did not involve the Maltese people other than to transfer their subservience from that of the King of Spain to that of the Order.

If anything, it is the Order of the Knights of St John that should pay the yearly tribute to the King of Spain. Malta's involvement in this affair ceased when the Knights surrendered Malta to Napoleon in 1798 and they were expelled to the Court of Russia.

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