APH Malta OC

Language(s): Maltese and English (66% of Maltese can speak Italian and 17% of Maltese can speak French)

Birthday: September 21 (when Malta became independent from England)

Human Name: Elena Jean Melita Farruġa

Elena originates from the ancient Greek name Helen and is one of the most popular names on the islands. Jean (pronounced as the female version JEEN) is for Frenchman Jean Parisot de la Valette the Grand Master of the Order of Malta. Melita is what the ancient Greeks and Romans called Malta. And finally Farruġa is a variation of the name Farrugia, a family name first found in Malta, Calabria and Sicily. It derives from the Maltese word farruġ meaning young rooster.

Age (by appearance): 22 years old
 
Height: 5’2’’ (157.5 cm)

Weight: 115 lbs ( 51.75 kg)

Personality: 

Elena is a very sweet and kind individual. She is friendly to most everyone she meets (unless you get onto her bad side) and loves hitting up a conversation with someone, even if she just met them. Because she is somewhat isolated, she loves to have company. Sassy, silly, but also serious, she is very talkative and outspoken so she isn’t afraid to say what’s on her mind, especially when it comes to politics or religion. However, her eagerness to discuss and her strong opinions can usually lead to a loud, heated discussion. Her strong opinions and voice are due to the passion that she puts into everything she says and does. Along with this, she is a very hard worker. Elena is very diligent and determined to complete a task when given one, and make sure it is completed to the fullest.  This doesn’t mean that she isn’t fun and out-going, especially when it comes to partying. Her weekend nights can be filled with going to clubs, bars, or simply first-rate restaurants. But occasionally, seeing a show at the Theatre is a pastime she participates in instead, as opposite the two activities may be (partying and clubbing versus going to the Theatre). This reflects her more traditional ways.  When with friends she will open up and joke around a lot. However, all of this will be put aside when it comes to family, as Elena is very family oriented. When possible, she will spend nice quiet evenings with loved ones rather than going out on the town. She can also be very motherly, caring, and ready to help someone who is in need, which gained her the nickname “Nurse of the Mediterranean” during WWI. She also is very cautious with how she spends, invests, and saves money.
Though her appearance may not show it, Elena is very athletic and adventurous. She loves the outdoors and participating in activities such as hiking, horseback riding, and numerous watersports, including diving, a very popular sport on the islands. Watching football is one of her pastimes, and she has a hard time deciding whether she should support English or Italian teams during tournaments. She also loves playing boċċi (lawn bowling) and football, and isn’t afraid of getting down and dirty. Her small stature doesn’t stop her from pushing back when playing against others. This also is seen when having a confrontation, as she is very strong willed and knows when to fight for herself.
Elena is very religious. Religion has always been incredibly important to her. She will always attend worship on Sundays, and whenever she is celebrating a holiday or religious event, she dresses up in her finest clothes and celebrates, joining in on the festivities. As stated before, she is also very traditional.  This is shown through the way she dresses and presents herself. Also, her patriotism is reflected through her traditional ideals.
Some of her flaws include occasional mood swings and a short temper. This is especially seen when driving, as she has horrible road rage (and she refuses to accept that she isn’t the greatest driver). Her strong opinions and beliefs can sometimes make her very stubborn and she refuses to admit that she can be wrong sometimes. Also, the Southern Italian influences in her speech reveal themselves when she gets really upset, because she will most likely be rude and swear a lot, but she will feel slightly guilty about it afterwards.
Her loud and talkative habits can sometimes make her easily embarrassed, but she has a lot of pride so she does her best to not let it show. She also likes to run her mouth and is a bit of a gossiper, which can sometimes get her into bad situations. Concerning her speech, if Elena isn’t careful or she gets too caught up in a conversation, her English and Maltese will become harder to understand because she will start code switching between the two languages too frequently.
Overall, Elena is a happy, fun-loving individual who loves to joke around and be adventurous, but is very serious when she needs to be. She is welcoming and kind to tourists and visitors alike, and always eager to make new friends.

Appearance:

Although she is somewhat smaller, Elena is the average size of a Maltese woman, standing at 5’2’’ (157.5 cm) and weighing about 115 lbs. She has a fairly slim body, and the many different outdoor activities keep her healthy and fit. Participating in all of the activities and sports has also resulted in her being stronger than she looks.
She has dark brown, curly hair that is cut in an angled bob style, starting at around her neck and ending in the back with an undercut. She has three distinct curls. These represent the three main islands: Malta, Gozo, and Comino. The biggest curl located a little bit above her eyes also represents the Italian influence in her culture, as there is a lot due to Sicily only being about 50 mi (80 km) north of the islands. Her eyebrows are slightly thicker due to the British influence and previous rule. Her dark honey brown eyes represent the common Mediterranean characteristics and the unique Maltese honeybee, a sub species of the Western honeybee that originated on the islands. On her neck are three moles, representing the Megalithic temples and their three phrases: The Ġgantija phase, the Saflieni phase, and the Tarxien phase. She has a small tattoo of the Maltese Centaury, the national flower, on her ankle. She was inspired by the Knights of St. John of Malta, who had tattoos to show their allegiance. Her skin, like others residing in the Mediterranean, Southern Europe, etc. is a fair olive color (it is very similar to Romano and Spain’s skin color).

Elena can be seen wearing a simple skirt and shirt outfit. The shirt is based on the shirt of the Maltese national costume. Because of her traditional ideals, Elena decided to tie a dark red ribbon in her hair to represent the previous use of the ghonella. The Ghonella was worn by a majority of Maltese women for centuries. By World War II, the use of the ghonella fell immensely, and by the end of the 20^th century the ghonella was no longer in use. The blue skirt is made of native cotton with trims of Maltese lace. The skirt is two different shades of blue (the overall color blue and the lighter blue stripes), representing the "Azure Window" and "Blue Hole," two "geographical wonders" found on Gozo. She wears a Maltese cross necklace which she received from the Knights of Malta to show her traditional values. On her right hand is a cross ring. This ring represents religion and the 365 churches that can be found on the islands. On her left wrist is a handmade wire bracelet with a turquoise gemstone in the center. This represents Comino's famous Blue Lagoon, as well as the crafts village of Ta' Qali. And finally she has a pair of traditional sandals. Elena can also be seen wearing casual, modern day clothes such as tank tops, t-shirts, shorts and skirts, jeans and sandals.

Geography overview:

Malta is a country that is completely surrounded by water in the Mediterranean Sea. It is an archipelago consisting of six islands: Malta, Gozo, Comino, Cominotto, Filifla, and the St. Paul’s Islands. Only the three largest islands—Malta, Gozo, and Comino—are inhabited, and Comino is so small (3.5 square kilometres or1.4 sq mi in area) that only four permanent residents reside there. Malta lies about 50 mi (80 km) south of Sicily, Italy, and about 300 km north of Libya and northeast of Tunisia on the African continent. The area of the country is approximately 316 km ²  (122 square miles), and the 198 km of coastlines are home to many bays that are used as harbors. Due to the size and amount of residents, Malta is one of the smallest and most densely populated countries in the world.

History of Malta:

(There is a lot of history, so these are quick summaries.)

Prehistory:

The first settlers on Malta appeared in 5200 BC and were thought to be hunters or farmers who had arrived from Sicily, most likely the Sicani. At the time, this tribe was known to be the only inhabitants on the islands.
During 3500 BC, some of the oldest existing structures in the world—including the megalithic Ggantilia temples located on Gozo—were built. This was known as the Temple Period. Many of these temples have five rooms, which are all in the shape of a semicircle, and they connect at the middle. There is evidence that temple rituals included animal sacrifices, and further information suggests that these sacrifices were made to the goddess of fertility, a figure that was also common in other ancient Mediterranean cultures. However, this culture disappeared from the islands around 2500 BC, supposedly because the temple builders died from famine or disease.
During the Bronze Age, immigrants appeared on the Maltese islands, which for several decades prior had been depopulated. This culture cremated the dead and created smaller structures known as dolmens. It is assumed that this population of immigrants arrived from Sicily because the dolmen structures closely resemble small structures found in the largest island of the Mediterranean. 

 Phoenician Period:

Around the year 750 BC, Phoenician traders, who were possibly from Tyre, joined the natives on the island and inhabited the area that is known today as Mdina. They used the island as a stop on their trade routes and referred to it as Maleth, which means “shelter.”

 Carthaginian Period:

The fall of Phoenicia in 332 BC led to the islands coming under control of Carthage, a former Phoenician colony that had been founded on the north coast of Africa. The Carthaginians ruled for over two and a half centuries. During this rule, inhabitants of the island mostly grew olives, carobs, and produced some textiles.

Roman Period:

In 218 BC, Carthage relinquished the islands to the Romans, who seized control during the Second Punic War. Malta thrived under Roman rule and by 117 AD it was distinguished as a Municipium and Foederata Civitas. In 60 AD, while on his way to Rome, St. Paul shipwrecked on the island and brought Christianity to Malta.

Vandals and Byzantines:

After the Roman Empire split into the Eastern and Western divisions in 395 AD, Malta fell under control of the Byzantines, a Greek speaking empire. The Byzantines had control from 395 AD to 870 AD. There is evidence that suggest that Germanic tribes, including the Vandals, took control of the islands for a brief period of time before the Byzantines reclaimed Malta.

Middle Ages:

Muslim Rule:

In 870 AD, the Arabs conquered the islands. They looted the island, destroying many important buildings and leaving the island almost completely uninhabited until the Muslims from Sicily recolonized it in 1048-1049 AD. It is undetermined whether the settlement of these Muslims was due to a demographic expansion in Sicily, or due to a civil war that broke out among Muslim rulers residing in Sicily in 1038. The Muslims introduced some different fruits and cotton to the islands, and most importantly they introduced the Siculo-Arabic language, which would later evolve into the Maltese language. Although Christians were allowed freedom of religion, they had to pay jizya, a tax for non-Muslims.

Norman Rule:

In 1091 AD, the Norman leader Roger I of Sicily was welcomed by native Christians. This period was very productive. Malta became a part of the Kingdom of Sicily, and the Catholic Church was reinstated as the state religion. The men in Malta were militarized during this period, as the island was known for its strategic importance. From 1194 until 1266, the kingdom was passed to the House of Hohenstaufen. During this time, Western culture and religion began to become more of an influence. For 72 years, Malta was a part of the Holy Roman Empire. It was also declared a country.

 Aragon Rule:

The Aragonese gained control of Malta in 1282. Until 1409, different relatives of the kings of Aragon ruled over the island, and then it was passed to the Crown of Aragon. In 1479, the marriage of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile unified Spain and made Malta a part of the Spanish empire under their grandson, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. Charles V granted the islands to the Knights of the Order of St. John.

 Knights of St. John:

In 1530, Charles V gave Malta to the Knights Hospitaller. For 250 years, these knights, known as the “Knights of Malta” left their mark on the island. Led by Frenchman Jean Parisot de la Valette, Grand Master of the Order, the knights resisted a siege by the Ottomans in 1565. As a result, the city of Valletta, named in honor of Valette, was constructed. The knights’ presence resulted in numerous completions of many different projects, both cultural and architectural. A few examples include watchtowers, churches and cathedrals, as well as artwork, sculptures, and more. Their legacy also gave Malta the eight-pointed Maltese Cross. This cross was officially adopted by the Order of the Knights of St. John in 1126. The eight points express the eight obligations of the knights, which are “to live in truth, have faith, repent one’s sins, give proof of humility, love justice, be merciful, be sincere and whole hearted, and to endure persecution.” Today, the Maltese Cross remains the symbol of the Maltese Military.

 Napoleonic/French Conquest:

In 1798, the Knight’s reign over Malta ended when Napoleon I of France captured Malta while one his way to Egypt. The Knight’s power declined over time and the Order becoming disliked. Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Malta as part of a strategic attempt to conquer Egypt and then India and the Far Eastern colonies of the British Empire. With a desire to gain control of the fortifications and harbors of Malta, Napoleon managed to get numerous inhabitants and knights on his side. A massive and popular movement against the Order of St. John was executed, and the Order surrendered power within days. After Napoleon departed from the island, the remaining French forces were highly disliked by the Maltese, due to the face that the French forces were hostile towards Catholicism and essentially a threat to their traditional way of life. Only months after the French took over, the Maltese revolted and forced the French to withdraw behind the fortifications of Valetta and the three Cities. The French remained there until 1800 when they submitted to the British forces that had been called in to help Malta gain its freedom.

British Rule:

After helping to make the French depart the island, the British forces were uncertain whether they should keep possession of Malta. In 1802 the Treaty of Amiens established that Malta would be passed back to the Order of St. John, but some inhabitants of the island requested to remain under British protection. Napoleonic wars resumed and the British committed to defending Malta, and in 1814, as part of the Treaty of Paris, Malta became an official part of the British Empire. It became a strategic stronghold and a stepping-stone for Britain’s Eastern expansion. During the first World War, Malta had the role of being a supply station and base for recovery of those injured, earning it the title “Nurse of the Mediterranean.” During World War II, the bravery of the Maltese was acknowledged by King George V and he awarded the population of Malta with his George Cross for heroism and devotion. Today, the George Cross is seen in the upper left corner of the Maltese flag.

Maltese Independence and Republic:

On September 21, 1964, after intense negotiations with Britain, Malta gained independence. Under the 1964 constitution, Queen Elizabeth II was retained as the Queen of Malta and therefore the Head of State. On December 13, 1964, Malta declared itself as a republic within the Commonwealth, with the President of Malta as the head of state. British forces stayed in Malta until March 1979, when their military bases were closed on the island. The Maltese adopted the British systems of administration, education, and legislation. In 2004, Malta formally joined the EU, and in 2008, Malta adopted the Euro as its currency.

Sources: visitmalta.com timesofmalta.com adventurouskate.com Wikipedia

Interesting facts about Malta:

-Malta was once known as Melita, which means the island of honey, by ancient Greeks and Romans

-Tourism, electronics, shipbuilding and repair form the major industries in Malta.

-The island of Comino is pretty much uninhabited with the exception of one hotel.

International Relations:

(WIP. I am still in the process of writing this section.)

Malta has foreign embassies with the following countries:

Australia, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, China, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Holy See, India, Ireland, Israel, Morocco, Italy, Libya, Netherlands, Palestine, Portugal, Poland, Russia, Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Spain, Tunisia, United Kingdom, United States

North America:

~United States of America/Alfred F. Jones

~Canada/Matthew Williams

Europe:

~North Italy/Feliciano Vargas

~South Italy/Lovino Vargas

~United Kingdom/Arthur Kirkland

~Spain/Antonio Fernandez Carriedo

~France/Francis Bonnefoy

~Greece/Heracles Karpusi

North Africa and Middle East:

~Egypt/Gupta Muhammad Hassan

~Turkey/Sadiq Annan

~Libya

~Tunisia

Asia:

~China/Yao Wang

~Japan/Honda Kiku

Oceania:

~Australia

 
Headcanons:
(WIP)

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Let me know what you think of Elena! c:

(pronounced EL-EN-UH not like Alaina)

And if you have any critique, please note me! ^-^


Malta and art:
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*please don't trace this character or claim as your own. Thank you!