Heritage Malta Set to Launch New Exhibition on the 1749 Failed Slaves’ Conspiracy

Heritage Malta is thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of an immersive exhibition exploring the iconic 1749 Slaves Conspiracy, set to open at the Inquisitor’s Palace and the National Museum of Ethnography later in September.

The exhibition, entitled ‘Betrayal and Vengeance: The Slaves’ Conspiracy of 1749 in 19 Historical Drawings’, will commemorate the 275th anniversary of the failed slaves’ revolt of 1749. The exhibition analyses one of the most intriguing and tumultuous periods in Maltese history, through more than 58 news sheets exchanged between the Inquisitor and Apostolic Delegate Paolo Passionei and the Vatican between 1748 and 1751.

The exhibition will feature a collection of 19 contemporary drawings, each vividly depicting the intense and often brutal aftermath of the conspiracy. These rare illustrations, recently restored by Heritage Malta, will serve as the centrepiece of a narrative that delves deep into the political, social, and cultural dynamics of 18th-century Malta.

Visitors to the exhibition will be taken on a journey through time, exploring the dramatic events that were set in motion with the arrival of the mutinied Ottoman galley named ‘Lupa of Rhodes’ at the Grand Harbour on February 2nd, 1748. The exhibition will delve into how the subsequent attempts at escape and revenge by the galley’s owner, Mustafà, the high-ranking Pasha of Rhodes, could have dramatically altered the trajectory of Malta’s history.

In addition to the gripping story of the conspiracy itself, the exhibition will also offer insight into the broader themes of power, diplomacy, treason, and the complex relationships between the West and the East during this period. Historical documents, including contemporary reports, sermon sheets and more recent literature on the subject, will provide rich context and deepen visitors’ understanding of the era and the impact that this episode had on collective memory.

Heritage Malta encourages all those interested to mark the 20th of September on their calendars and to keep a close eye on the agency’s official channels for further updates and sneak peeks leading up to the exhibition’s launch.

Entrance to the exhibition will be included in the Inquisitor’s Palace and the National Museum of Ethnography experience. Persons with impaired mobility may find access to the exhibition hall challenging, given the historic building’s structural limitations.