Malta (island) built first fortifications in Malta. Malta was later ruled by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines and Arabs before it was occupied by the County of Sicily in 1091. The island then became part of the Kingdom of Sicily until it was given to the Order of Saint John along with Gozo and Tripoli in 1530. In 1565, the Order and the Maltese withstood a major Ottoman invasion which became known as the Great Siege of Malta. The Order ruled Malta for over 250 years and built many great pieces of architecture, including the capital city Valletta. In 1798 the French
Malta Majjistral local councils: Malta Majjistral Malta Majjistral, also known as the North Western Region, was a region of Malta between 1993 and 2009. It was located on the main island of Malta, bordering Malta Xlokk. The name referred to the Mistral wind, which is "Majjistral" in Maltese. The region was created by the Local Councils Act of 30 June 1993, and was integrated into the constitution in 2001. It was abolished by Act No. XVI of 2009, and it was divided into the Northern Region, Central Region and part of the Southern Region. The region included 3 statistical districts: Malta Majjistral