Filippo Castagna (, 19 November 1765 – 26 January 1830) was a

Maltese Maltese may refer to: * Someone or something of, from, or related to Malta * Maltese alphabet * Maltese cuisine * Maltese culture * Maltese language, the Semitic language spoken by Maltese people * Maltese people, people from Malta or of Maltese ...

politician of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Castagna was born in

Għaxaq Għaxaq (, ) is a village in the Southern Region of Malta, with a population of 5,538 as of November 2021. The surrounding areas are predominantly used for agriculture. The village's name likely originates from the surname of a local noble fam ...

on 19 November 1765. During the

French occupation of Malta The island of Malta was occupied by France from 1798 to 1800. The Knights Hospitaller surrendered to Napoleon Bonaparte following the French landing in June 1798. In Malta, the French established a constitutional tradition in Maltese history (as ...

in 1798, he was chosen as a representative of the municipality of

Żurrieq Żurrieq ( ) is a town in the Western Region of Malta. It is one of the oldest towns in the country, and has a population of 11,823 inhabitants as of March 2014. Żurrieq is one of the 10 parishes to be documented in 1436 and is dedicated to S ...

, Safi,

Kirkop Kirkop () is a village in the Western Region, Malta, Western Region of Malta. Located near the Malta International Airport, it has been inhabited since pre-history. The parish church is dedicated to Saint Leonard. The football team of the village ...

and

Gudja Gudja is a village in the Southern Region, Malta, Southern Region of Malta, with a population of 3,148 as of March 2017. The village is located on high grounds, south of the capital Valletta. It is administered by the Gudja Local Council. A numb ...

. When a rebellion against French rule broke out in September 1798, Castagna supported the rebel cause and he was involved in the capture of

Saint Thomas Tower Saint Thomas Tower (), also known as Fort Saint Thomas (), is a large bastioned watchtower in Marsaskala, Malta. It was built in 1614, the third of six Wignacourt towers. An artillery battery was added to the tower in the early 18th century. Sain ...

from the French. On 18 February 1799, he was elected as a representative of Gudja to the rebel ''Consiglio Popolare''. He was also appointed as inspector of

fortifications A fortification (also called a fort, fortress, fastness, or stronghold) is a military construction designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from La ...

by the British Civil Commissioner

Alexander Ball Rear-Admiral Sir Alexander John Ball, 1st Baronet (22 July 1757 – 25 October 1809) was a Royal Navy officer and colonial administrator who served as the civil commissioner of Malta from 1799 to 1801 and again from 1802 to 1809. He was born in ...

. After the French surrendered and Malta became a

British protectorate British protectorates were protectorates under the jurisdiction of the British government. Many territories which became British protectorates already had local rulers with whom the Crown negotiated through treaty, acknowledging their status wh ...

, Castagna was appointed as the ''luogotenente'' of

Senglea Senglea ( ), also known by its title Città Invicta (or Civitas Invicta), is a fortified city in the Port Region of Malta. It is one of the Three Cities in the Grand Harbour area, the other two being Cospicua and Vittoriosa, and has a popu ...

and

Cospicua Cospicua (Italian language, Italian) or Bormla (Maltese language, Maltese, ), occasionally also known by the Latin language, Latin name Cottonera, is a double-fortified harbour city in the Port Region, Malta, Port Region of Malta. It served as th ...

. In November 1801, he was part of a delegation of six representatives who travelled to

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

to present the needs of the Maltese people to the British government. Civil Commissioner Charles Cameron described him as being popular, wise and having moderate views. After the death of Emmanuele Vitale in 1802, Castagna was appointed Governor of Gozo, and he held this position until it was abolished in 1814. Castagna retired in 1814 and he moved to a house in St George's Bay in

Birżebbuġa Birżebbuġa (; sometimes shortened to B'Buġa) is a seaside town in the Southern Region, Malta, Southern Region of Malta, close to Marsaxlokk. It is approximately from the capital Valletta, and has a population of 9,736 as of March 2014. The ...

. He died on 26 January 1830 after a long illness, and he was buried inside the Għaxaq parish church.

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Castagna, Filippo 1765 births 1830 deaths 18th-century Maltese politicians 19th-century Maltese politicians French occupation of Malta Governors of Gozo Maltese rebels People from Għaxaq Crown Colony of Malta people