King Alfonso of Aragon, needing money, forgot all promises given by rulers not to Malta to any Lord, and pledged the Islands to Don Antonio Cardona, a Sicilian viceroy, For a loan of 30,000 gold florins of Aragon. Our forefathers did not like this and made Cardona's representative in Malta swear on the four Gospels to respect all their privileges.
For five years all went well, but on January 21, 1425, our Islands passed into the hands of another viceroy, Don Gonsalvo Monroy. This new master disregarded all the rights of the Maltese and made all hate him. Soon, they rose against him, took over the government, and sent him out of Malta. They seized all he had and Costanza, his wife, together with his friends had to take refuge in the castle of St. Angelo, where the Maltese surrounded them and kept them prisoners.
On hearing this, King Alfonso threatened to starve the Islanders, and he stopped provisions from Sicily. So, the Maltese chose two priests to go to the King and ask him to join Malta to Sicily, promising to pay within four months, the pledge of 30,000 florins due to Monroy. They also asked him to forgive the rebels and to give Government the right to make the necessary taxes. The King, regretting what had happened in Malta, promised better viceroys, and on May 13, 1427, incorporated Malta to Sicily but did not grant any other requests. The Maltese rose again, and prevented supplies of food from reaching St. Angelo. In reply, the King took stronger measures, threatened severe penalties for dis­obedience,
and sent an envoy 'Nicola Specially' to study the position. On arrival, the envoy took the government in his hands, and reported that the poor Maltese could never pay the pledge in four months. A new agreement was reached in Palermo between Monroy himself and Malta's representatives; 5,000 florins were to be paid to his wife within a month, while four noblemen were to be kept in St. Angelo as hostages, amongst the privileges that the Maltese were given. There was that of allowing them to resist, even by force of arms. The breaking of any privilege. To pay the pledge, the poor Maltese had to give up all the gold and jewels they had, and the Church offered some of its sacred vestments and ornaments. Monroy died in 1429: his wish was that the 20,000 florins already paid be returned to the Maltese and the remaining 10,000 florins pardoned!

INVASION OF THE MOORS - 1429

In the central position of Malta, the Saracens saw a wonderful place from which to attack Venice and Genoa, their two formidable Christian enemies So, the King of Tunis sent a fleet of some 100 gal­leys with 18,000 men. To attack and invade Malta. Only about 4,000 men were here to resist them, the moors started their attack by laying siege to Mdina and fought with devilish cruelty.
On the other hand, the Maltese, though weak after the plague and suffering terribly, showed great courage, filled with love for their Religion and their land, they fought with all their might.
The Moors carried away 3,000 people out of a total population of 16,000 to 18,000, and when the Island was almost conquered, the Maltese made one last, desperate attack; as a result they drove the Moors back to their ships and away from our shores. This invasion brought still more misery to Malta, but King Alfonso pitied the Maltese, and freed them from all duties on imports
Legend says that during this last attack St.Paul appeared riding a white horse and terrified the moors with his bare sword, a painting in Mdina Cathedral reminds us of this event

The Maltese had presented several protests and sent many delegations to the Sicilian Kings to defend the rights of the population. This was done through Malta's representative Council, called 'Consigloi Popolare' this worthy Assembly was the guardian of the rights, liberties and faith of the people.
Heads of families elected their representatives from among the priest, nobles, craftsmen, businessmen and honoured citi­zens. Voting was done by word of mouth, and the election was held once a year, on the feast of St. John Baptist (June 24). Then, the Council chose officers to look after the needs of the Islanders, to get sufficient supplies of foodstuffs from abroad, and to send ambassadors to Sicily.
For other duties, there was the Council' of the University' composed of representatives of the towns and cities, under the HAKEM, or Governor, who was also the Chief Justice. Four Giurati (men under oath) and eight officials looked after the health of the people, regulated prices, and inspected weights and measures. With these Councils the Maltese, even in those early times, enjoyed a good system of representation, and could have their voice and their rights respected