[WATCH] After 219 years, de Valette’s dagger returns to Malta on loan

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For the first time in 219 years, Malta was given the opportunity to temporarily welcome back Grand Master de Valette’s prestigious dagger – but only after the Maltese Prime Minister gave his word that the artefact would be returned to the Louvre Museum, in Paris.

The dagger is being exhibited at the National Museum of Archaeology, under the strict watch of officials from both the Louvre and Heritage Malta. It was brought to Malta “on loan”, as part of the events marking Malta’s Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Getting the Louver to accept to loan out the dagger required that Malta reassures Paris that the dagger would be returned.

During the inauguration of the exhibition by Culture Minister Owen Bonnici, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat recounted his first official meeting with French President Francois Hollande, at the Élysée.

On the eve of the meeting, Hollande sent “a common friend” to meet with Muscat and scout the subjects that would be discussed during the meeting. Among the matters usually raised during such bilateral meeting, Muscat included de Valette’s sword and dagger to the list.

His advisories instantly warned Muscat that it would be a very long shot, and the loan by the Louvre would be unprecedented: the authorities would instantly object. Which in fact they did.

But a loan would be possible if the French President himself agreed to it.

Following a fruitful discussion between the two leaders the following day, Muscat turned to Hollande and said:  “… and then there is de Valette’s dagger.”

The Prime Minister recounted how, with a certain air of amusement, Hollande repeated the words in French… and a detailed file on the artefacts instantly appeared on the table.

The authorities had indeed objected to loaning out both the sword and the dagger: a scientific study had shown that the sword was in no condition to be moved; the dagger was still in good condition – but the authorities still objected.

So Hollande, turned to Muscat and said that he would be ready to give his authorisation, if he promised that the dagger would be duly returned to Paris.

“I did give my word,” Muscat said, to the amusement of those present as he urged representatives from the Louvre “to relax” and enjoy their stay in Malta.

The exhibition ‘de Valette’s Dagger’ explores different aspects of the dagger and the sword, which Grand Master de Valette received after the victory of the Great Siege of Malta in 1565.

‘de Valette’s Dagger’ will remain open at the National Museum of Archaeology till the 9th of July. The opening hours are from 9.00am till 6.00pm, last admission at 5.30pm everyday. Admission is included in the museum’s regular ticket price.

More information about Heritage Malta’s activities can be obtained from the agency’s website, www.heritagemalta.org