A seal dated to the eight century was found, belonging to Nicetas, "archon" and "droungarios" of Malta, ("Greek:" "+ Νικήτᾀ δρονγγ'[αρίῳ]ς [=καὶ] ἄρχοντ[ι] Μελέτ᾿[ης]") with historians deducing that Malta may have been ruled by a high-ranking naval official, in command of a small fleet.