Froberg mutiny

Last updated
Froberg Mutiny
Part of the Napoleonic Wars
Fort Ricasoli wall.jpg
St. Dominic Demi-Bastion at Fort Ricasoli, where the mutineers blew up the magazine
Date4–12 April 1807
(1 week and 1 day)
Location 35°53′49″N14°31′42″E / 35.89694°N 14.52833°E / 35.89694; 14.52833
Result Mutiny suppressed
Belligerents
Naval Ensign of Russia.svg Rebels Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Naval Ensign of Russia.svg Caro Mitro   Skull and Crossbones.svg Flag of the United Kingdom.svg William Villettes
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lieutenant de Clermont
Units involved
Froberg Regiment rebels 39th (East Middlesex) Regiment
Royal Maltese Regiment
Froberg Regiment loyalists
Strength
200 soldiers Several regiments
Casualties and losses
1 killed
29–30 executed
Others captured
6+ killed
4 wounded
Malta relief location map.png
Red pog.svg
Location within Malta

The Froberg Mutiny was a mutiny within the British armed forces staged between 4 and 12 April 1807 at Fort Ricasoli on the island of Malta, then a British Protectorate, by the Froberg Regiment. The regiment had been formed using dubious methods, with personnel recruited from various nationalities in Albania and the Ottoman Empire. The troops, who had arrived on Malta in 1806, were unhappy with their rank and pay. The mutiny lasted for eight days, during which several people were killed and the fort was damaged. The mutiny was put down and the ringleaders were executed. It is considered the most serious mutiny of the Napoleonic Wars. [1]

Contents

Background

The Froberg Regiment was founded in December 1803 by the French royalist Gustave de Montjoie, who claimed he was the German Count Froberg. He was given permission by the Secretary at War to raise a regiment for service on Malta, which he did in Albania and the Christian parts of the Ottoman Empire. It consisted of men of various nationalities, including Germans, Poles, Swiss, Albanians, Bulgarians, Greeks, and Russians. Froberg's recruiting methods were problematic: according to Adam Neale in his Travels Through Some Parts of Germany, Poland, Moldavia and Turkey, "the most unprincipled deceit and falsehood were employed to obtain recruits". [2]

The regiment's 513 men arrived on Malta in 1806. The regiment was commanded by Major Schumelketel and Lieutenant Schwartz, the latter of whom had supervised the dubious recruiting process. Soon after their arrival, some of the men of the regiment began to complain: they had been promised high rank with good pay but were forced to work as privates at lower wages. While the men were quarantined at the Lazzaretto on Manoel Island, they demanded to be sent back to Corfu. After Schwartz threatened to stop their food rations they withdrew their demands , but the threat itself created more discontent. [2]

After the release from quarantine, the soldiers were allowed to go into the capital Valletta, where they quarrelled amongst themselves and with the locals. To prevent unrest, the Commander of the British Forces in Malta, William Villettes, confined them to Fort Ricasoli, a large fortification at the entrance of the Grand Harbour. In November 1806, Villettes appointed Lieutenant-Colonel James Barnes as the regiment's commander, which only increased their resentment. [2]

Mutiny

Land front of Fort Ricasoli Malta - Kalkara - Triq Santu Rokku - Fort Ricasoli 08 ies.jpg
Land front of Fort Ricasoli

The mutiny broke out on 4 April 1807 while Lieutenant-Colonel Barnes was in Valletta. It involved 200 Greeks and Albanians who killed Lieutenant Schwartz, Captain De Wattville, Gunner John Johnstone, and several privates. They also wounded Major Schumelketel and three other officers. They removed the British flag and replaced it with the Russian ensign, closed the fort's gates, and raised the drawbridge. [2] The mutineers took the regimental officers and their families hostage, and forced about 20 British artillerymen to aim the fort's guns and mortars at Valletta. [3] The revolt was led by a Greco-Bulgarian named Caro Mitro. [4]

Some men who had escaped from the fort informed the British of the mutiny. The Royal Maltese Regiment and the 39th (Dorsetshire) Regiment of Foot took positions on the glacis of the fort, while the guns of Fort Saint Elmo and Fort Saint Angelo were trained on Ricasoli. In a message, the mutineers demanded to be discharged and be sent home, with money and a pardon from Villettes. They threatened to open fire on Valletta, but Villettes refused their demands and ordered them to surrender. [2]

On the second day, more guns were trained towards Ricasoli, but no further action was taken since Villettes intended to starve out the mutineers in a siege. A second message from the rebels demanded food and provisions, again threatening to bombard Valletta, but their demands were again ignored. [2]

On the third day, the mutineers sent one of the hostages, an officer, to the British with a message from the mutineers, which was once again ignored. The officer told the British authorities of the conditions in the fort but had to return since his wife was still a hostage. Shortly afterwards, the rebels began fighting among themselves and a faction which was ready to surrender hoisted the white flag, but another faction took it down. Seeing there was disagreement among the rebels, Villettes sent a delegation to negotiate with the mutineers but they still refused to surrender. [2]

On the fifth day, 8 April, the families of the officers held hostage were released since the mutineers were running out of food. The rebels sent an ultimatum threatening to destroy the fort unless provisions were sent. When it expired, they sent another in which they threatened to kill all the remaining hostages. Meanwhile, there was more infighting between the rebels and a group of Germans and Poles managed to open the gates of the fort. While most of the mutineers escaped and surrendered, twenty others remained inside behind the re-closed gates. [2]

On 10 April, the remaining mutineers fired on Valletta, though they caused no injury. Villettes then ordered that the fort be stormed. A party of 40 men under Lieutenant de Clermont, who was himself part of the Froberg Regiment, scaled the fort and took control of it, taking no losses in the process. The fort fell but six rebels retreated into the gunpowder magazine, threatening to blow it up. After two days, they blew up the magazine's 600 barrels of gunpowder and killed three British sentries. In the ensuing confusion, the six rebels managed to escape to the countryside. [2]

Aftermath

Floriana Parade Ground, where the rebel leaders were executed Edward Gennys Fanshawe, Piazza Maggiore, Florian, and Grand Harbour, from our house, Malta, Jany 1858.jpg
Floriana Parade Ground, where the rebel leaders were executed

Four of the six rebels who escaped after blowing up the magazine were captured after two days and were hanged immediately. Villettes put the ringleaders on trial: 24 [2] or 25 [5] were found guilty and condemned to death. [2]

The executions were carried out at the Floriana Parade Ground in the presence of the rest of the Froberg Regiment, which was now imprisoned. The first fifteen mutineers were divided into three groups of five: each group was hanged by the following group. The last group was not hanged, but instead executed by firing squad with the remaining prisoners. Some did not die immediately and tried to escape, and although most were recaptured and executed, two ran away and died after jumping off the bastions. [5] Meanwhile, the mutineers' leader Caro Mitro together with his friend Nicola d'Anastasi had managed to escape, but they were captured on 25 or 26 April by Maltese soldiers near Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq. They were hanged on the same day and were buried in a trench beneath the Bastioni della Salnitriera. [4]

Qalet Marku, where the mutineers' leader Caro Mitro was captured on 25-26 April 1807 Malta - Naxxar - Tul il-Kosta (St. Mark's Tower peninsula) 01 ies.jpg
Qalet Marku, where the mutineers' leader Caro Mitro was captured on 25–26 April 1807

A board of inquiry was set up between 20 and 22 April, and their investigation uncovered the dubious recruiting of the regiment. They ordered it to be disbanded in June 1807. About 350 men were discharged and repatriated to the Balkans; others, who wanted to remain in British service, were reassigned to the regiments of De Roll, Chasseurs Britanniques, and De Watteville. [6] The government also published an eight-page report about the mutiny, entitled Rapporto di quanto è accaduto nel Forte Ricasoli dalli 4 fino alli 11 d'Aprile 1807 (Report of what happened at Fort Ricasoli from 4 to 11 April 1807), which was probably written by Vittorio Barzoni. [4]

Count Froberg (Gustave de Montjoie), the regiment's founder, was in Constantinople when he heard about the mutiny. He fled the city, knowing that his recruitment methods had been uncovered, but, according to Neale, a group of Cossacks captured him in a remote village and "literally cut [him] to pieces". [2]

The fort itself was badly damaged; besides the magazine, most of St. Dominic Demi-Bastion had been destroyed. The damaged demi-bastion was never rebuilt to its original design, [7] but repair works to the damaged parts of the fort cost over £4523. [8] The fort was again badly damaged in World War II, and today it is in a dilapidated state and threatened by coastal erosion. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mutiny</span> Disobeying of superiors

Mutiny is a revolt among a group of people to oppose, change, or remove superiors or their orders. The term is commonly used for insubordination by members of the military against an officer or superior, but it can also sometimes mean any type of rebellion against any force. Mutiny does not necessarily need to refer to a military force and can describe a political, economic, or power structure in which subordinates defy superiors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Ricasoli</span> Historic fort on Malta

Fort Ricasoli is a bastioned fort in Kalkara, Malta, which was built by the Order of Saint John between 1670 and 1698. The fort occupies a promontory known as Gallows' Point and the north shore of Rinella Bay, commanding the entrance to the Grand Harbour along with Fort Saint Elmo. It is the largest fort in Malta and has been on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1998, as part of the Knights' Fortifications around the Harbours of Malta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Saint Elmo</span> Star fort in Valletta, Malta

Fort Saint Elmo is a star fort in Valletta, Malta. It stands on the seaward shore of the Sciberras Peninsula that divides Marsamxett Harbour from Grand Harbour, and commands the entrances to both harbours along with Fort Tigné and Fort Ricasoli. It is best known for its role in the Great Siege of Malta in 1565.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand Harbour</span> Natural harbour in Valletta, Malta

The Grand Harbour, also known as the Port of Valletta, is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. It has been substantially modified over the years with extensive docks, wharves, and fortifications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siege of Delhi</span> Conflict of the 1857 Indian Rebellion

The Siege of Delhi was one of the decisive conflicts of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The rebellion against the authority of the East India Company was widespread through much of Northern India, but essentially it was sparked by the mass uprising by the sepoys of the Bengal Army, which the company had itself raised in its Bengal Presidency. Seeking a symbol around which to rally, the first sepoys to rebel sought to reinstate the power of the Mughal Empire, which had ruled much of the Indian subcontinent in the previous centuries. Lacking overall direction, many who subsequently rebelled also flocked to Delhi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">42nd Regiment of Foot</span> Scottish regiment in the British Army

The 42nd Regiment of Foot was a Scottish infantry regiment in the British Army also known as the Black Watch. Originally titled Crawford's Highlanders or the Highland Regiment and numbered 43rd in the line, in 1748, on the disbanding of Oglethorpe's Regiment of Foot, they were renumbered 42nd, and in 1751 formally titled the 42nd (Highland) Regiment of Foot. The 42nd Regiment was one of the first three Highland Regiments to fight in North America. The unit was honoured with the name Royal Highland Regiment in 1758. Its informal name Black Watch became official in 1861. In 1881, the regiment was amalgamated with 73rd (Perthshire) Regiment of Foot under the Childers Reforms into The Royal Highland Regiment , being officially redesignated The Black Watch in 1931. In 2006, the Black Watch became part of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pennsylvania Line Mutiny</span> Mutiny of Continental Army soldiers

The Pennsylvania Line Mutiny was a mutiny of Continental Army soldiers, who demanded higher pay and better housing conditions, and was the cause of the legend and stories surrounding the American heroine Tempe Wick. The mutiny began on January 1, 1781, and ended with a negotiated settlement on January 8, 1781. The negotiated terms were finally concluded by January 29, 1781. The mutiny was the most successful and important insurrection of Continental Army soldiers during the American Revolutionary War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Batetela rebellion</span> Rebellion in the Congo Free State

The Batetela rebellion was a series of three military mutinies and a subsequent low-level insurgency which was attributed to members of the Tetela ethnic group in the Congo Free State between 1895 and 1908.

HMS Dominica was a schooner that the British purchased in 1805 in the Leeward Islands. Her crew mutinied in 1806, turning her over to the French, who immediately sent her out as the privateer Napoléon. The British recaptured her four days after the mutiny and returned her to their service. In British service she captured some six small privateers. She was broken up in 1808.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louisbourg Garrison</span>

The Louisbourg Garrison was a French body of troops stationed at the Fortress of Louisbourg protecting the town of Louisbourg, Île-Royale on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. They were stationed there from 1717 to 1758, with the exception of a brief period (1745–1749) when the colony was under British control.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hospitaller Malta</span> Period in the history of Malta from 1530 to 1798

Hospitaller Malta, known in Maltese history as the Knights' Period, was a de facto state which existed between 1530 and 1798 when the Mediterranean islands of Malta and Gozo were ruled by the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. It was formally a vassal state of the Kingdom of Sicily, and it came into being when Emperor Charles V granted the islands as well as the city of Tripoli in modern Libya to the Order, following the latter's loss of Rhodes in 1522. Hospitaller Tripoli was lost to the Ottoman Empire in 1551, but an Ottoman attempt to take Malta in 1565 failed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fortifications of Valletta</span> Defensive walls in Valletta, Malta

The fortifications of Valletta are a series of defensive walls and other fortifications which surround Valletta, the capital city of Malta. The first fortification to be built was Fort Saint Elmo in 1552, but the fortifications of the city proper began to be built in 1566 when it was founded by Grand Master Jean de Valette. Modifications were made throughout the following centuries, with the last major addition being Fort Lascaris which was completed in 1856. Most of the fortifications remain largely intact today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rising of the Priests</span> 1775 revolts against Knights Hospitaller rule on Malta

The Rising of the Priests, also known as the Maltese Rebellion of 1775 and the September 1775 Rebellion, was an uprising led by Maltese clergy against the Order of Saint John, who had sovereignty over Malta. The uprising took place on 8 September 1775, but was suppressed by the Order within a few hours. The rebels were then captured and some were executed, exiled or imprisoned.

Lieutenant-General William Anne Villettes, was a senior officer of the British Army during the early nineteenth century. His career saw service in the Mediterranean, particularly during the Invasion of Corsica in 1794 and at the Malta Protectorate after British occupation in 1800. He died in 1808 while serving as military commander in British Jamaica and is buried at Half Way Tree.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">French invasion of Malta</span> 1798 invasion, part of the Mediterranean campaign

The French invasion of Malta was the successful invasion of the islands of Malta and Gozo, then ruled by the Order of St. John, by the French First Republic led by Napoleon Bonaparte in June 1798 as part of the Mediterranean campaign of the French Revolutionary Wars.

During the Indian Rebellion of 1857 a column of troops led by the commander of the 24th Regiment of Foot was sent to disarm Bengal Native Infantry units believed to be at risk of mutiny in Rawalpindi and Jhelum. At Rawalpindi, the 58th Bengal Native Infantry was disarmed peacefully, however the two companies of the 14th Bengal Native Infantry resisted the attempt by force of arms. These two companies were quickly defeated by the British, loyal native troops and the local population. In Jhelum, also garrisoned by the 14th, the concurrently timed disarmament was much more violent. Thirty five British soldiers of the 24th Regiment of Foot were killed along with a number of Loyal Indian troops, by mutinous sepoys of the 14th Bengal Native Infantry. When the mutineers realised that they, except the Sikhs, were to be disarmed, they mutinied and made a vigorous defence against the force that had arrived from Rawalpindi to disarm them. The following night a significant number of mutineers managed to slip away but most were subsequently arrested by the Kashmir authorities, into whose territory they had escaped.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1977 Bangladesh Air Force mutiny</span> Failed Bangladeshi Air Force mutiny of 1977

The 1977 Bangladesh Air Force mutiny was an attempted coup staged on 2 October 1977 by members of Bangladesh Air Force and the Signal Corps of Bangladesh Army. The mutiny was led by Sergeant Afsar Ali Khan of the air force, who was a member of the Communist Party of East Bengal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maltese Light Infantry</span> Military unit

The Maltese Light Infantry was a light infantry battalion of the British Army which existed from 1800 to 1802 in Malta, then a British protectorate. It consisted of eight companies of Maltese soldiers, and it saw action in the French Revolutionary Wars. It was the second Maltese unit in British service, after the Maltese Cannoneers.

The Royal Regiment of Malta was an infantry regiment in the British Army which existed from 1804 to 1811. It was raised in Malta, then a British protectorate, with the intention of being sent in overseas expeditions. The unit was raised following the success of the Maltese Light Infantry at the Siege of Porto Ferrajo in 1801.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monghyr Mutiny</span> Mutiny against the East India Company

The Monghyr Mutiny occurred among European officers of the East India Company stationed in Bengal in 1766. The mutiny arose after the East India Company's governor of Bengal, Robert Clive, implemented an order to reduce the batta field allowance paid to its army officers. The batta had been doubled while the troops were in the service of the Nawab of Bengal Mir Jafar. Clive's order came into effect on 1 January 1766 and brought the allowances into line with those paid by the company in the rest of India. At this time the company army in Bengal was divided into three brigades under the command of Sir Robert Fletcher, Richard Smith and Robert Barker.

References

  1. Chartrand, René (2000). Emigré and Foreign Troops in British Service (2), 1803–15. Osprey Publishing. p. 18. ISBN   9781855328594.[ permanent dead link ]
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Dandria, David (1 February 2015). "The 1807 Froberg regiment mutiny at Fort Ricasoli". Times of Malta . Archived from the original on 14 March 2015.
  3. The Scots Magazine and Edinburgh Literary Miscellany. Vol. 69. Edinburgh: Archibald Constable & Company. 1807. pp. 468–469.
  4. 1 2 3 Ganado, Albert (16 October 2016). "The Froberg mutiny at Fort Ricasoli in 1807". Times of Malta . Archived from the original on 16 October 2016.
  5. 1 2 The New Annual Register, Or General Repository of History, Politics, and Literature, for the Year 1807. London: G. Robinson. 1808. pp.  345–346.
  6. "Regiments of the Malta Garrison – Levy Count Montjoy Froberg". maltaramc.com. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  7. "St Dominic Demi-Bastion – Fort Ricasoli" (PDF). National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2015.[ dead link ]
  8. Bonnici, Hermann (2004–2007). "Fort Ricasoli" (PDF). Arx – Online Journal of Military Architecture and Fortification (1–4): 35. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  9. "Restoration work at Fort Ricasoli". Times of Malta . 7 November 2002. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  10. Grima, Noel (9 September 2015). "Ricasoli Soldier: The Froberg rebellion at Fort Ricasoli". The Malta Independent . Archived from the original on 19 October 2015.