Interview with a Maltese Noble or of Noble Descent

Interview with a Maltese Noble or of Noble Descent.

As part of the questionnaire, we hope you can be as detailed as possible. We aim to publish about one 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’s not highlighted. Thank you

The lady is a traditional Uzbeck dancer and ethnically Turkik. The structure behind is the wall of a Yurt inside which she danced for us in full costume.

Name (Include titles, knighthoods, styles): Mr Roger Vella Bonavita (Sives: The Noble Roger Vella Bonavita, Contino di San Paolino d’Aquilejo.)

Age: 65

Do you live in Malta?: NO

Your profession? Historian

Your association to the Maltese Nobility?: Nel Regno di Napoli Contino di San Paolina di Aquilejo

Do you consider your noble connections of any essence today, why? Not really

Today, does your noble connections prove to be a hinder or a benefit? Neither

Do you know your family history, its rise to nobility and thereafter? Yes

Do you believe under the Republic of Malta, the nobility were considered as high-class trash?, when did life improve? “High class” but hardly trash! Life improved for me when I sought voluntary political exile as a migrant to Australia in 1982. Life improved for the Maltese after the elections of 1987.

Do you believe in a class system today? No I don’t

Do you believe Malta should pride itself in our glorious past? Yes very much so!

If not why?

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? The Maltese Nobility is not an ‘essential’ tool to our heritage; however it provides an element of romance and interest. More importantly it underlines the essentially European nature of our heritage and in that sense it contributes to our right to be part of the European Union

Generally, how are the Nobility accepted by the general population, in your belief? I doubt the general population occupies any of its waking hours thinking about the nobility.

Do the Maltese Politicians respect the Nobility? Should the Nobility be given similar rights to the pre-republic times? Again I doubt the politicians give the nobility any thought. What is gone is gone.

What other benefits do you believe in today’s terms; the Maltese government should give the Maltese nobility? The government should perhaps recognise the committee of privileges and permit those whose titles are recognised to use them.

Do you pride yourself in your families past? Yes I do.

Do you ensure that your family are aware of its past? Yes I do

Do you have any family heirlooms, which associate the glorious past? Yes I do

Any interesting stories of your family that you can recite here? One of my ancestors, Judge Vincenzo sat in judgement on Don Gaetano Mannarino and it appears saved him from the gallows. The Bonavitas were deeply involved in the capture of Malta by Napoleon. One of them was actually executed without trial the day the French fleet appeared off Malta. A young Bonavita was taken to Egypt by Napoleon as a hostage where he was killed during the campaign there. Judge Sir Ignazio Bonavita reformed the criminal code in the 19^th century. Lt. Giovanni Bonavita RMA was in charge of a detachment sent to protect the Palazzo Francia in Kingsway during the June 1919 Riots. He refused to order his troops to fire on the Maltese on the grounds that the rioters were not threatening the lives of anyone. He was never promoted.

Any other details you like to add? Since my title is one of those no one wants to know about really I don't think anything I have to say is of much relevance.

I think the government of Malta should recognise the titles of those who have the right to them under the terms of the jurisdictions that created them. For the purpose of establishing which titles are to be recognised and which not and who are entitled to use them, there should be a committee of privileges recognised by but not appointed by the government and therefore at no expense to the public purse. I suspect my own title will be disallowed. But I maintain that having been created by HM the King of Naples (for which we paid good money!) only he can vary the terms and conditions to which my title is subject.

Best wishes

Roger

Thank you for taking the time.

Best Regards

Charles Said-Vassallo