Vincenzo Borg
| Vincenzo Borg C.M.G. | |
|---|---|
Bust of Vincenzo Borg, "Brared", at the St Helen's Basilica Museum with the Maltese Blockade Gold Medal. 1 2 Sculpted by Salvu Psaila. 3 4
| |
| Born | 11 January 1777 Birkirkara, Hospitaller Malta |
| Died | 18 July 1837 (aged 60) Malta |
| Burial place | Collegiate Parish Church of Birkirkara |
| Other name | Brared |
| Occupations | Merchant and lieutenant |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | Malta |
| Branch | National Congress Battalions |
| Conflicts | 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 (Maltese: Ċensu Maria Borg, 1773 – 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. He was a lieutenant from 1801 until he was deposed in January 1804.
Life
Ċensu Borg, nicknamed Brared,[1][2] was born in 1773 in the town of Birkirkara.[3] He was one of the leading cotton merchants in Malta, and a popular figure on the island.[4] As part of his business, he used to sell products called brared (singular: barrada) and thus originated his nickname.[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,[4] and became one of the main leaders in the uprising, along with Emmanuele Vitale and Francesco Saverio Caruana.[5] He financed a number of soldiers throughout the blockade.[2]
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.[6]
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.[7][5] On 2 February 1801, Brared was awarded the gold Pro Patria medal in recognition of his role in the blockade.[5] He became the lieutenant of Birkirkara and Mosta from 1801 to 1804.[2] He quarreled with Ball in January 1804 due to alleged political intrigues,[5] and was placed under house arrest. He was made a companion of the Order of St Michael and St George on 9 February 1833.[2][4]
Brared died on 18 July 1837, and was buried in the parish church of his hometown Birkirkara.[2][4]
References
- Back to citation Cassar Pullicino, J. (1956). "Social Aspects of Maltese Nicknames" (PDF). Scientia. 22 (2): 69. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015.
- Back to citation occurrence 2.0 Back to citation occurrence 2.1 Back to citation occurrence 2.2 Back to citation occurrence 2.3 Back to citation occurrence 2.4 Back to citation occurrence 2.5 Morana, Martin (2012). Ara x'int tgħid: glossarju enċiklopediku ta' termini storiċi, toponimi, qwiel u idjomi, tradizzjonijiet Maltin, kurżitajiet oħra (in Maltese). Martin Morana. p. 40. ISBN 9789995703608. OCLC 830362895.
- Back to citation Sammut, Mikea (2021). "Vicenzo Borg 'Brared' and the Beginning of the Maltese Insurrection against the French". Arkivju. 12: 3–16.
- Back to citation occurrence 4.0 Back to citation occurrence 4.1 Back to citation occurrence 4.2 Back to citation occurrence 4.3 Schiavone, Michael J. (2009). Dictionary of Maltese Biographies Vol. 1 A-F. Pietà: Pubblikazzjonijiet Indipendenza. p. 289. ISBN 9789993291329.
- Back to citation occurrence 5.0 Back to citation occurrence 5.1 Back to citation occurrence 5.2 Back to citation occurrence 5.3 Sammut, Joseph C. (1992). "Maltese Blockade Medals" (PDF). Proceedings of History Week: 76–87. Archived from the original on 17 April 2016.
- Back to citation Spiteri, Stephen C. (May 2008). "Maltese 'siege' batteries of the blockade 1798–1800" (PDF). Arx – Online Journal of Military Architecture and Fortification (6): 4–47. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 November 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- Back to citation "200-year-old History in an old musty archive". The Malta Independent. 11 March 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
Further reading
- Information about the house of Brared next to St Helen Church. Zammit, Andrea (2009). Our Architects: A Private Archive Unveiled. Book Distributors Limited. ISBN 978-99909-050-8-3. Archived from the original on 17 December 2016.
- "Character of Vincenzo Borg". The Appeals of the Nobility and People of Malta: To the Justice, Public Faith, and Policy of the British Government, for the Fulfillment of the Conditions Upon which They Gave Up Their Island to the King, Namely Their Ancient Rights Under a Free Constitution. Lloyd. 1811. pp. 1–15.