De Soldanis and the Maltese pre-Enlightenment

Abstract

Let me start by making a small comment. I do not know whether it was intentional on the part of the organisers to hold this conference in this hall named after Erin Serracino Inglott. It is well known how much Erin admired de Soldanis and I am sure he would have been an attentive member of this distinguished audience tonight. But, to come to our subject, the.aims of this talk are two. First, I want to show my appreciation to the department of Maltese of the University who have done me the honour of inviting me to give this talk Secondly, having already contributed my share to the study of Vassalli, it is imperative for me to assess the importance of de Soldanis on the Maltese cultural stage. After all, he furnished Mikiel Anton with more than one idea and justice must be done with him. In truth, who was de Soldanis or, as he preferred to sign his name, Francesco Agius?