Interview with a Maltese Noble or of Noble Descent.

 

Don Giovanni Costanzo dei Duchi di Paganica.

 

We hope you can be as detailed as possible in this questionnaire. We aim to publish about once a month with a photograph of each interview upon publication. Ensure that you can send a photograph. The aim of providing a standard questionnaire associated to the Maltese nobility, which will form part of our living history. Use as much space as possible and ensure it is not highlighted. Thank you

 

My mother and I.

Date: 5^th November 2005.

 

Link: Dukes of Paganica.

 

Name (Include titles, knighthoods, styles): Don Giovanni Costanzo dei Duchi di Paganica.

 

Age                            27, single.                                               

 

Do you live in Malta?   No, live in London and parents live between London and Naples. Coming to Sydney next January for a Holiday..(lol).

 

Your profession?        Chemical Engineer.

 

Your association to the Maltese Nobility?    Never, not even in Italy as no one ever approached us in Italy.

 

Do you consider your noble connections of any essence today?  Is yes, why?         No, though it’s interesting to have such a background, but not to fall upon as a way of life.

 

Today, do your noble connections prove to be a hinder or a benefit?          We grew up believing we were lucky, with property as we are not like most people who rent or are paying off their mortgages.

 

Do you know your family history, its rise to nobility and thereafter?           We do, though our Maltese connections we know nothing of. Our lines are of the junior line of the famous Dukes of Paganica.

 

Do you believe that under the Republic of Malta, the nobility were considered as high-class trash?  When did life improve?   Never affected as we didn’t live in Malta, but in Italy it hasn’t affected our family at all. Everything is documented and so the law protects your assets.

 

Do you believe in a class system today? Of course I do, it’s a national progression of human nature, can’t be helped as everyone is different so class is formed.

 

Do you believe Malta should pride itself in our glorious past? Yes but only to teach its people of the hard work done by our Maltese leaders over time.

 

If not why?

 

For our future, do you consider the Nobility in Malta to become an essential tool to our heritage, especially under EU? Can the Nobility as a whole serve any purpose?  Not any more, because the nobility isn’t what it use to be in the present as to the past, unless your within the circles.

 

In your view, generally-speaking, how are the Nobility accepted by the general population? Poorly as much of the upper class were nobles and they suffered a lot with taxes imposed over time in Europe and general wage rises for the common folk made it difficult to employ a many of them as kitchen hand, chefs, cleaners, farmers, nurses, maids, etc. Now its impossible unless you’re a company and running an enterprise.

 

Do the Maltese politicians respect the Nobility? Should the Nobility be given similar rights to the pre-republic times?  In Italy, the nobility are respected in the villages and towns. Our politicians only respect such person if and when they need them. Other then that Politicians couldn’t care less, same as in any country.

 

What other benefits do you believe, in today’s terms, the Maltese government should give the Maltese nobility? The titled and their heir should be able to use their styles on legal documents but shouldn’t be above the law. We are all equals afterall.

 

Do you pride yourself in your families past? Yes very much so, our family unit is coming together slowly as we are trying to establish if our line is now the senior branch to claim the ducal title and its heirlooms.

 

Do you ensure that your family are aware of its past? We have our inheritance of vast tracts of land which we still maintain also townhouses. We do have many letters from our Ducal cousins and other nobility and Italian royalty.

 

Do you have any family heirlooms which associate with the glorious past? We have family paintings, manuscripts, jewellery and property. Also the family plot is as big as a Palazzo in Naples which provides an interesting tale of members of the family. That tomb and its surrounds is beautifully built showing its prestige of the day.

 

Any interesting stories of your family that you can recite here? Our family are from Italy ad then we went to Malta for a century or so, then back to Italy and now England. We travelled where we could find a good dowry to bring into the family to ensure that the younger members were provided for.

Though our branch are the younger branch of the Costanzo family until the beginning of the 20^th century we suddenly evolved as the only members left to succeed to the Ducal inheritance. Our property since World War II has decreased a lot since taxes were introduced and junior members also took a share.

 

Any other details you like to add? Thank you for this opportunity.

 

Giovanni Costanzo.

 

 

Thank you for taking the time.

Best Regards

Charles Said-Vassallo

www.maltagenealogy.com

 

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