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 its not highlighted. Thank you

 

 

Name (Include titles, knighthoods, styles): Ash de Vella-Clary, a descendant of the Counts de Vella-Clary.

 

Age: 24

 

Do you live in Malta?: No

 

Your profession? National Resolutions Officers (complaints officer)

 

Your association to the Maltese Nobility?: Descendant of the Counts de Vella-Clary and possible relation to Desiree Bernadotte (nee Clary), Queen of Sweden.

 

Do you consider your noble connections of any essence today, why? Only in the tracing of ancestry and in the keeping of historic records. Otherwise does not have an impact on daily life in Melbourne, Australia.

 

Today, does your noble connections prove to be a hinder or a benefit? The only benefits I have experienced due to my heritage is when asked about the background of my unusual name. As there is no active feudal system in Australia the benefits are very few. There is one hindrance I have experienced- very few people can spell my surname.

 

Do you know your family history, its rise to nobility and thereafter? I have found my family history very easy trace to back to my great great grandfather Count Mario de Vella-Clary, who along with his son Count Guido de Vella-Clary, were meticulous in their record keeping. Unfortunately beyond that there appears to be very little information regarding prior descendants.

 

Do you believe under the Republic of Malta, the nobility were considered as high-class trash?, when did life improve? I have no knowledge of the level of respect given to the nobility in Malta, however I would assume that in previous times, as with most countries, nobility were treated with a mixture of contempt and reverence- depending on whether the “commoners” liked them or not.

 

Do you believe in a class system today? I do not believe that a class system is vital in today’s society. I am a firm believer that every one is created equal. I do believe that those who have remarkably contributed to society and their community being honoured and respected for their generosity, however being given a title purely by birth is not something I agree with. Hence why I have never pursued any claim to my families titles.

 

Do you believe Malta should pride itself in our glorious past? From the little I understand about Malta I believe Malta should be extremely proud of its past and where it is now. Malta has a lot of very positive features, a lot are the direct result of those who have been before and they should be remembered for their efforts.

 

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? It is my opinion that the nobility have a lot to offer the EU, however the only way they may be able to assist more than any other person is financially. Certainly the fact that someone may be a Count de somewhere or a Marquee of somewhere else should mean their opinion out-ways our non-titled countrymen and women. It is my belief, and experience, that just because one has a title and a noble heritage does not mean one is not human, fallible and guaranteed to be the most academically gifted

 

Generally, how are the Nobility accepted by the general population, in your belief? It has been my experience that, in Australia at least in this era, those with titles and are of the nobility are treated with mild bemusement and considered relics of a time gone. Whilst it may serve to generate an amusing anecdote at a dinner party, Australian’s love the underdog and pay very little heed to those who have a prefix to their name.

 

Do the Maltese Politicians respect the Nobility? Should the Nobility be given similar rights to the pre-republic times? Having never been to Malta I am not aware of the Maltese culture surrounding the nobility. I do feel that traditions should be upheld so that those who are of the present time can be aware of those who came before and be educated about and learn from our past in order to be more prepare for the future, however I am against the nobility being given preferential treatment simply due to a so called birth right.

 

What other benefits do you believe in today’s terms; the Maltese government should give the Maltese nobility? I believe those who have been granted a title and are considered to be of the nobility should be respected and referred to as such however, as stated previously, favouritism due to one’s parent’s achievements is not something I am in favour of.

 

Do you pride yourself in your families past? Very much so. I believe my family has made large contributions to their society and, if a relationship to Desiree Clary can be proved, to Europe on a much larger scale.

 

Do you ensure that your family are aware of its past? I have been educated as much as possible in my family’s history and have ensured that my siblings and other family members are also aware. Any offspring I have will similarly be educated and it is my wish that they also preserve the memory of my ancestry.

 

Do you have any family heirlooms, which associate the glorious past? Along with various papers and official documents, I have a copy of my family’s coat of arms and a cygnet ring bearing the same image.

 

Any interesting stories of your family that you can recite here? None that I am aware of however should I discover any pearls I will certainly forward them through

 

Any other details you like to add? Other than to thank you for the opportunity to discover more about my family, nothing to add. I look forward to reading more about the nobilities of the world and discovering more about my family.

 

 

Thank you for taking the time.

Best Regards

Charles Said-Vassallo

www.maltagenealogy.com

 

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