Conspiracy of the Slaves

Quick Facts: Who was Conspiracy of the Slaves?

Subject:

Conspiracy of the Slaves

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A failed 1749 slave rebellion in Malta aimed at assassinating the Grand Master.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Conspiracy of the Slaves (Maltese: il-konġura tal-ilsiera or il-konfoffa tal-ilsiera; Italian: congiura de schiavi) was a failed plot by Muslim slaves in Hospitaller Malta to rebel and assassinate Grand Master Manuel Pinto da Fonseca of the Order of St John, in an attempt to facilitate the capture of Malta by the Ottoman Empire in June 1749. The plot is believed to have been instigated by Mustafa, Pasha of Rhodes, an Ottoman official who had been captured following a revolt by Christian slaves on his galley Lupa in January 1748. He was enslaved upon the galley's arrival in Malta in February 1748, but he was given comfortable living quarters due to his high rank and he was formally freed in May 1749 following French intervention due to the Franco-Ottoman alliance. The revolt involved a planned takeover of the Grand Master's Palace and other key locations in Valletta and Birgu, an uprising among slaves on board the Hospitaller galley squadron, and naval support from the Barbary states and the Ottomans. The uprising was to take place on 29 June 1749, but plans leaked to the Hospitallers in advance, and the plot was foiled before it could be implemented.

Career & Major Achievements

Some 150 people – including Muslim slaves and Christian neophytes – were arrested and interrogated under torture in the subsequent trials. 35 were executed between July and October 1749, while 3 others died in custody and 72 were condemned to the galleys. Due to French influence, Mustafa was not punished for his role in the plot, and he returned to Constantinople in 1751. During the mid-18th century, Malta was ruled by the Knights Hospitaller. At the time slavery was practiced throughout both Christian and Muslim-ruled territories around the Mediterranean, and the majority of slaves on the Maltese Islands were Muslim men who had been captured at sea by the Hospitaller fleet or by Malta-based corsairs.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Some were forced to work as galley slaves while others worked on land as labourers and had a variety of duties ranging from manufacturing to domestic roles. The slave population typically stood at around 2,000 people, although some sources claim that in 1749 there were up to 9,300 slaves in Malta. The proportion of slaves was higher in Malta's main urban area around the Grand Harbour, where slaves constituted about 10% of the population. Although there were laws which prevented slaves from interacting with the Maltese people, these were not regularly enforced and some slaves worked as merchants and sold wares in the streets and squares of the capital Valletta. At night publicly-owned slaves were confined to prisons known as bagnios: the main one was the Gran Prigione in Valletta, while similar prisons existed in the cities of Birgu and Senglea.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1748: 1748 Milestone — The plot is believed to have been instigated by Mustafa, Pasha of Rhodes, an Ottoman official who had been captured following a revolt by Christian slaves on his galley Lupa in January 1748.
2. 1749: 1749 Milestone — The Conspiracy of the Slaves (Maltese: il-konġura tal-ilsiera or il-konfoffa tal-ilsiera; Italian: congiura de schiavi) was a failed plot by Muslim slaves in Hospitaller Malta to rebel and assassinate Grand Master Manuel Pinto da Fonseca of the Order of St John, in an attempt to facilitate the capture of Malta by the Ottoman Empire in June 1749.
3. 1751: 1751 Milestone — Due to French influence, Mustafa was not punished for his role in the plot, and he returned to Constantinople in 1751.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Conspiracy of the Slaves

True or False: “The Conspiracy of the Slaves was successfully executed on June 29, 1749, leading to the capture of Malta by Ottoman forces.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The plot was foiled before it could be implemented because plans were leaked to the Hospitallers in advance.

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