1839 July 26

...island; the victors called it Melitacon whence its name Melita or Malta.- The Greeks however had been in possession little more than 200 hundred years when the Carthagenians, after a severe struggle conquered its heroic defences and claimed it for their own.- At length Malta becoming immensely enriched under the dominion of Carthage began to excite the cupidity of the Romans to whom it eventually fell, but the power of the Romans beginning to decline they found it difficult defend a distant colony & Constantine became undisputed master of it.- In 454 the Vandals took possession of Malta but their reign was short indeed as they were 10 years after driven from it by the Goths - In 553 Belisarius having landing placed it under the dominion of Justinian.