Vincenzo Borg

Vincenzo Maria Borg
C.M.G.

Bust of Vincenzo Borg, "Brared", at the St Helen's Basilica Museum
Born 11 January 1777
Birkirkara, Malta
Died 18 July 1837 (aged 60)
Malta
Burial place Collegiate Parish Church of Birkirkara
Residence Birkirkara
Nationality Maltese
Other names Brared
Occupation Merchant
Religion Roman Catholicism

Military career

Allegiance Malta
Service/branch National Congress Battalions
Battles/wars Siege of Malta (1798–1800)
Awards Pro Patria gold medal (1801)
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (1833)

Vincenzo Maria Borg (11 January 1777 – 18 July 1837), also known by his nickname Brared (or Braret), was a Maltese merchant who was one of the main insurgent leaders during the French blockade of 1798–1800.

Life

Residence of Vincenzo Borg in Birkirkara[1]

Brared was born on 11 January 1777 in the town of Birkirkara. He was one of the leading cotton merchants in Malta, and was a popular figure on the island.[2]

When the Maltese rebelled against the French occupation in 1798, Brared was chosen by the inhabitants of Birkirkara and Mosta as their leader. He was in charge of the largest battalion among the insurgent army,[2] and became one of the main leaders in the uprising, along with along with Emmanuele Vitale and Francesco Saverio Caruana.[3]

Ta' Xindi Farmhouse, Brared's field headquarters in 1798–1800

Throughout the blockade, capomastri under Brared's command built a number of batteries to bombard French positions and prevent a counterattack, including Għargħar Battery, Ta' Għemmuna Battery and several batteries at Sliema. Brared had his field headquarters at Ta' Xindi Farmhouse, today one of the few surviving landmarks of the blockade.[4]

On 4 February 1799, Brared suggested to Captain Alexander Ball that Malta be placed under British protection, and he hoisted the first British flag on the island. On 2 February 1801, Brared was awarded the gold Pro Patria medal in recognition of his role in the blockade. He quarreled with Ball in January 1804 due to alleged political intrigues,[3] and was placed under house arrest. He was made a knight of the Order of St Michael and St George on 9 February 1833.[2]

Brared died on 18 July 1837, and was buried in the parish church of his hometown Birkirkara.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "200-year-old History in an old musty archive". The Malta Independent. 11 March 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Schiavone, Michael J. (2009). Dictionary of Maltese Biographies Vol. 1 A-F. Pietà: Pubblikazzjonijiet Indipendenza. p. 289. ISBN 9789993291329.
  3. 1 2 Sammut, Joseph C. (1992). "Maltese Blockade Medals" (PDF). Proceedings of History Week: 76–87. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 April 2016.
  4. ↑ Spiteri, Stephen C. (May 2008). "Maltese 'siege' batteries of the blockade 1798–1800". Arx – Online Journal of Military Architecture and Fortification (6): 4–47. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 May 2016.
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