The title Barone di Castel Cicciano forms part of the Nobility in Malta, and is perhaps the oldest documented barony in Malta unless one accepts the contentions about the noble fiefs of Djar il-Biet et Bucana and Ghariescem et Tabia.
A barony is a title of nobility which is created by a King or Fons Honorum. A fief consists of property granted at the pleasure of the King. In Malta some fiefs were regarded as noble fiefs and the holder of such a noble fief would therefore be called a “Baron” in accordance with local custom.
Origin of title
The title of Castel Cicciano was created as a Barony in Naples, Italy prior to 1560. The exact date of creation has never been established. However, on the 23 May 1560, this barony was purchased by Francesco Mego, a maltese, from Cristofero Grimaldi. This transaction was subsequently ratified on the 12 August 1560 by the Viceroy of Sicily (Perefan de Ribrera) in the name of King Philip.
This title has been sometimes referred to as Barone di Cicciano. The title was feudal enjoying the rights of cognitione primarum causarum civilium, criminalium, et secundarium causarum civilium, criminalium et commixtarum, mero mixtoque imperio ac gladii potestate, componendi delicta poenasque committendi, etc (See:- Correspondence and Report of the Commission appointed to enquire into the claims and grievances of the Maltese Nobility, May 1878, presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command of Her Majesty (C.-2033.): See full text of the 1878 reports at www.saidvassallo.com/SME/maltesenobility1878.htm )
Some of the Barons of Castel Cicciano were never addressed as Baron during their lifetime, but nevertheless are counted and numbered as Barons here. Other sources may not include some of the Barons listed below, and may consider the Barony to have been created more than once.
By 1695, this Barony came to be held by the Testaferrata family, a Maltese family who already enjoyed nobility in Messina (Sicily) at least since 1553 and in Rome (Italy) since 1590.
On the 8 February 1695, Beatrice Cassia wife of Paolo Testaferrata in a deed of donation made in Malta before Notary Benedetto Vassallo granted to their first born son Fabrizio Testaferrata the “Baroniam et Jurisdictionem Crminalem, Civilem et Mixtam Castri Cicciani Prvinciae Terrae Laboris Regni Neap is scilicet cum cognitione primarum causarum civilium, criminalium et commixtarum, mero mixtoque imperio ac gladii potestate, componendi delicta poenasque committendi, etc….”
The foregoing donation received, on the 11 July 1695, the royal assent which on the 28 September of that same year was entered in quinternionibus Regiae Camerae, in virtue of a decree of the 13 September 1695. That Royal assent was on the 14 October 1702, registered, in the Curia or Ufficio of the Universita’ of the city of Notabile, in the following terms:- “Praesentatum fuit et est praesens privilegium sive assensus Regius per III em et Nobilem Dominum Fabritium Testaferrata Baronem Capitaneum Virgae ac Justitiarum Notabilis Civitatis et Insulae Melitae in eo nominatum, fuitque de mandato in actis curiae sive officii Perillorum D.D. Juratorum Notabilis Civitatis praedictae, insinuatum atque registratum juxta decretationem prout in eo, eidemque Domino Baron restitutum”
Recognition by the Government of the Order of Saint John
As the title originated in Naples, it could not be held to form part of the Maltese Nobility. However, in 1725 the title was acknowledged in the person of the same Fabrizio Testaferrata by Grand Master Manoel de Vilhena, who after having issued on the 30 April 1725 an order regulating the use of the Titles of Illustrissimo and Nobile amended it by another decree dated 11 May 1725. By that second enactment the Grand Master also excepted Fabrizio Testaferrata calling him Barone di Cicciano and the Baronessa di Gomerino Beatrice Cassia Testaferrata.
The first enactment reads as follows:-
Per I Titoli - Prammatica - S.A. Srma Padrone in virtu' della presente Prammatica, perpetuo valitura, volendo rimediare agli abusi, et inconvenienti da qualche tempo a questa parte introdotti in materia di Titoli, ordina e comanda che da oggi in avanti nessun Avvocato, Notaro, et Attuario di questo nostro dominio, ardisca dare il Titolo di Illustrissimo, ne' di Nobile, nelle scritture, contratti, ed atti pubblici, a veruno dei nostri Vassalli, eccettuato il Capitano della Verga pro tempore, e li due Magistrati delle nostre Citta' Notabile e Valletta, et il Milite Barone Marc Antonio Inguanez nostro Feudatorio, con la Baronessa sua consorte, e loro discendenti, sotto pena, in caso di contravvenzione, in quant' alli Avvocati di sospensione, ed in quanto alli Notari et Attuarj della prescrizione dell' officio, et altre pene arbitrarie a detta A. Serma. Die XXX mensis Aprilis 1725, data et pubta. fuit, et ego pns Prammatica in locis pubblicis, solitis et consuentis, Has Civitates Vallette Victoriose Sengle et Burmule sono Tubi, Populi parte congregata audiente, et intelligente, Actuario Hujus Mag. Cur Castelle legente, et Jose Vella Precone, alta et intelligibile voce preconizante, unde:-
The second enactment reads as follows:-
S.A. Sema Padrone, ordine e commanda che nella suddetta Prammatica s'intendono pure eccetuati il Barone di Cicciano, D. Fabrizio Testaferrata e la Baronessa del Gomerino D. Beatrice Cassia Testaferrata sua madre, e tutti i suoi figli maschi e femmine, con loro mariti e legittimi discendenti. Oggi li 11 Maggio 1725. Ita referent. - F.N. Nalvanus de Vajus, AUD
After Fabrizio’s death in 1744, the title was again recognized by Grand Master Ximenes on the 20 August 1775 in favour of Pasquale Sceberras Testaferrata, son of Michele Sceberras by his wife Clara Testaferrata, daughter of the said Fabrizio Testaferrata. In a notice of appointment (bull) to which the Grand Master’s signature was attached, Pasquale Sceberras Testaferrata was referred to as follows:
“Don Paschali Sceberras Testaferrata, castri Cicciani cum mero mixtoque imperio Baroni”. Another recognition occurs in the bull of the 27 August 1776, as well as those of the following years till 1797, during the government of Grand Master De Rohan. Throughout this 22 year period the said Pasquale was uninterruptedly entrusted with the office of Capitano della Verga.
According to the 1878 Report, the aforesaid enactments and appointments were tantamount to the Government of the Order of Saint John accepting the title of Barone di Castel Cicciano as one of the titles forming part of the Nobility in Malta.
THE ROYAL COMMISSION APPOINTED TO ENQUIRE INTO THE CLAIMS OF THE MALTESE NOBILITY
After the Capitulation of the Order of Saint John the new French Rulers formally abolished all titles of nobility. (General Napoleon Bonaparte issued two orders dated 13 and 16 June 1798 prohibiting the use of any title “Ordre (1) Quartier General de malte, le 25 Prairal, an VI (13 Juin 1798): Le General en Chef ordonne……(Article 2.)… Toutes les armoires seront abbatues dans l’ espace de 24 heures. Il est defendu de porter dest livrees, ni aucune marque et titre distinctif de noblesse. Ordre (2) Au Quartier General de malte, le 28 Prairal, an VI (16 Juin 1798): Bonaparte Membre de l’Istitut National, General-en-Chef ordonne…(Article Cinquieme)….Dix jours apres la publication du present ordre, il est defendu d’avoir des armoires soit dans l’interieur, soit a l’exterieur des maisons, de cacheter des lettres avec des armoires, ou de prendre des titres feodaux. ……(Article Douzieme)….Tous les contrevenants aux articles cidessous, seront condamnes pour la premier fois, a une amende du tiers de leurs revenus; pour la seconde fois, a trois mois de prison; pour la troisieme fois a un an de prison; pour la quatrieme fois, a la deportation de l’ile de Malte, et a la confiscation de la moitie de leurs biens. Il devra toujours y avoir 10 jours d’intervalle entre la recidive.”
Another Order was issued by Bosredon Ransijat, President of the Commission du Gouvernement dated 18 Messidor Year 6 (6 July 1798), where it was enacted that all honorary titles should be burnt on the 14th of that month and that every holder of a title should carry his patent at the Arbre de la Liberté.
The French in turn lost Malta in 1800 to a contingent raised by Captain Ball and Admiral Nelson. Malta later became a British Protectorate after the Treaty of Paris of 1814.
In time, the use of nobiliary titles was resumed. However, it appears that this use was unregulated. Eventually, the British Secretary of State for the Colonies commissioned a report in 1876, on those titles alleged to have been conferred to Maltese families before the annexation of Malta to the British Dominions, namely 1800. The Commissioners’ Report and Supplemental Report were published in 1878 together with relative correspondence. See full text of the 1878 reports at www.saidvassallo.com/SME/maltesenobility1878.htm )
SUCCESSFUL CLAIM OF ALESSANDRO SCEBERRAS TO THE TITLE AS DATED TO 11 JUNE 1695
In 1878, this title was claimed by Alessandro Testaferrata Sceberras Damico Inguanez who is described in the 1878 Report as the first born son descending from the only surviving line of Fabrizio Testaferrata. Alessandro’s claim was upheld, however the Royal Commissioners noted that Alessandro’s lawful surname (his patronymic surname ) was “Sceberras”.
Alessandro had also claimed that the title of Barone di Castel Cicciano was created on the 11 June 1695. The Royal Commissioners accepted this date but added that “on a more careful investigation, it may be found that the claimant’s family had ben in possession of the title from a more distant period. This observation is based on the fact that, in the petition by which the royal assent to the aforesaid donation was applied for the following words, allusive to the fief of Castel Cicciano exist: As it appears from the royal grant and the purchase thereof made by the ancestors of the said Beatrice Cassia”; and by other circumstance that Beatrice Cassia in 1695, and before that year, Pietro Cassia her father, were already in possession of the fief.”
The 1878 Report also describes how Alessandro Sceberras made unsuccessful claims to the title of Barone della Marsa granted to conferred to Ferdinando Castelletti by Grand Master Manoel de Vilhena by a patent of the 12th June 1725 and to the title (fief) of Djar il-Bniet et Bucana which was previously enjoyed by the Inguanez family. In regard to the former claim, the Commissioners held that the title of Marsa as granted in 1725 had long become extinct. In regard to the latter, the Commissioners held that as the fiefs of Djar el Bniet et Bucana were in fact held by his aunt Maria Teresa D’Amico his claim could not be accepted.
CONTROVERSIES
Although the title forms part of the Maltese Nobility, some argue that the title remained subject to the laws of Naples. Naples became part of United Italy in 1863. Italian Nobility law was amended in 1926 by Royal Decree no. 1489 dated 16 August 1926 and again in 1943 by Royal Decree no. 651, dated 7 June 1943. After the Second World War, Italy became a Republic.
Baron Alessandro Sceberras died on the 15 October 1880 leaving two daughters. However, his half brother Antonio claimed the “primogenitura and the title of Castel Cicciano”. A primogenitura is a property held in entail under special conditions. A judgment was given by the Lords of the Privy Council on the 4 August 1888 on the primogenitura but ‘as to the barony, to remit the case for further consideration to the Court of Appeal in Malta; discharging in the meantime, without prejudice to any question, the judgment, as to the baron, of that Court.”
Published sources show that this title was in fact succeeded through Alessandro’s female descendants long after Italy became a Republic, implying that the title was no longer considered as Neapolitan or Italian.
OTHER ENTITLEMENTS
For the purposes of precedence amongst the Nobility in Malta, this title ranks according to antiquity of creation. According to the 1878 Report, it is considered as having been created in 1695. It therefore ranks before the joint title of Barone di Gomerino granted by Grand Master Perellos to Paolo and Beatrice Testaferrata on the 24 December 1710 and after the fief of Ghariescem et Tabia granted by Grand Master Lascaris to Giacinto Cassia on the 16 April 1638.
As from the year 1886, the holder of this title of Nobility became entitled to be styled “The Most Noble”. (See: History of “The Most Noble” at http://www.saidvassallo.com/SME/maltesenobility.htm
The holder of this title was accorded a precedence in Malta The presumed successor of this title is by custom entitled to be styled Baroncino di Castel Cicciano. (See: Value of the Maltese usage of “Marchesino, Contino and Baroncino”) at www.saidvassallo.com/SME/deimarchesino.htm
Other descendants of the various holders of this title are by custom entitled to be styled dei Baroni di Castel Cicciano. (See Value of the Maltese usage of “dei Marchesi, dei Conti and dei Baroni” at www.saidvassallo.com/SME/deicontiebaroni.htm
PRESENT DAY
Since 1975, titles of nobility are no longer recognized in the Republic of Malta by Act 29 of 1975 dated 17 October 1975.
GENEALOGY
The published genealogy of the Barons of Castel Cicciano shows the following succession:
1st creation (1560)
· Francesco Mego, 1st Baron of Castel Cicciano (died 1572)
· Gio. Antonio Mego (Francesco’s son), 2nd Baron of Castel Cicciano (died 1580)
· Francesco Scerri (Francesco’s daughter’s son), 3rd Baron of Castel Cicciano (died 1581)
· Gregorio Scerri (son of Francesco Scerri), 4th Baron of Castel Cicciano (died 1623)
· Margherita Surdo (daughter of Gregorio Scerri), 5th Baroness of Castel Cicciano
· Maddalena Cassia (daughter of Margherita Surdo), 6th Baroness of Castel Cicciano
· Gio. Antonio Cassia (elder son of Maddalena Cassia), 7th Baron of Castel Cicciano (died 1658)
· Pietro Cassia (youger son of Maddalena Cassia), 8th Baron of Castel Cicciano (died 1686)
· Beatrice Testaferrata (younger daughter of Pietro Cassia), 9th Baroness of Castel Cicciano
2nd creation (1695)
· Fabrizio Testaferrata (eldest son of Beatrice Testaferrata), 1st Baron of Castel Cicciano (died 1744)
· Clara Sceberras (eldest daughter of Fabrizio Testaferrata), 2nd Baroness of Castel Cicciano
· Pasquale Sceberras Testaferrata (eldest son of Clara Sceberras), 3rd Baron of Castel Cicciano (died 1812)
· Antonio Sceberras Testaferrata (eldest son of Pasquale Sceberras Testaferrata), 4th Baron of Castel Cicciano (died 1843)
· Pasquale Sceberras Testaferrata (eldest son of Antonio Sceberras Testaferrata), 5th Baron of Castel Cicciano (died 1869)
· Alessandro Sceberras, (eldest son of Pasquale Sceberras Testaferrata), 6th Baron of Castel Cicciano (died 1880)
SUCCESSION AFTER ALESSANDRO SCEBERRAS
· Maria Francesca Chalmers, (eldest daughter of Alessandro Sceberras) 7th Baroness of Castel Cicciano (title claimed by her father’s half brother Antonio Sceberras) (died 1890)
· Alexander Chesney Sceberras D’Amico, (eldest son of the younger daughter of Alessandro Sceberras), 8th Baron of Castel Cicciano (died 1960)
· Frances Mary Chesney Sceberras D’Amico (eldest daughter of the younger daughter of Alessandro Sceberras), 9th Baroness of Castel Cicciano (died 1981)
PRIMARY REFERENCES (GRANT/S):
(1) Deed of donation dated 8 February 1695 between Beatrice Testaferrata and Fabrizio Testaferrata.
(2) Royal Assent dated 11 July 1695 approving the deed of Donation.
SECONDARY REFERENCES (HISTORY):
(1) Enactment by Grand Master Manoel de Vilhena dated 30 April 1725 regulating the use of the Titles of Illustrissimo and Nobile. Enactment dated 11 May 1725 concerning the Barone di Cicciano Fabrizio Testaferrata and his mother the Baronessa di Gomerino Beatrice Cassia Testaferrata.
(2) Order by Grand Master Ximenes dated 20 August 1775 concerning the Barone di Castel Cicciano Pasquale Sceberras Testaferrata,
(3) Order by Grand Master Rohan dated 27 August 1776 concerning the Barone di Castel Cicciano Pasquale Sceberras Testaferrata. Various Orders by Grand Master Rohan till 1797 concerning the same Pasquale Sceberras Testaferrata;
(4) Correspondence and Report of the Commission appointed to enquire into the claims and grievances of the Maltese Nobility, May 1878, presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command of Her Majesty (C.-2033.): (See: Full text at www.saidvassallo.com/SME/maltesenobility1878.htm
(5) Report of the Committee of Privileges of the Maltese Nobility on the claims of certain members of that body with the Secretary of State’s Reply, August 1883, presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command of Her Majesty (C-3812) (See: Full text at www.saidvassallo.com/SME/maltesenobility1878.htm
(6) Copies or Extracts of Correspondence with reference to the Maltese Nobility (In continuation of C3812, August 1883), presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command of Her Majesty May 1886 (C-4628a) (See: Full text at www.saidvassallo.com/SME/maltesenobility1878.htm
(7) John Montalto, “The Nobles of Malta 1530-1800” (Midsea Books, Malta, 1980)
TERTIARY REFERENCES (PUBLISHED GENEALOGY):
(1) Crispo Barbaro "The Nobles of Malta, and The Maltese Gentry holding Foreign Titles as at present existing by Geo. G.C.’A. Crispo Barbaro Marquis of St. George” Malta:- A.D. MDCCCLXX (The Anglo-Maltese Press, Malta, 1870)" (See: Full text at http://www.saidvassallo.com/SME/maltesenobility1870.htm
(2) Charles Gauci "The Genealogy and Heraldry of the Noble Families of Malta" (Gulf Publishing, Malta, 1981)"
(3) Charles Gauci A Guide to the Maltese Nobility" (PEG Publications, Malta, 1986)
(4) Charles Gauci "The Genealogy and Heraldry of the Noble Families of Malta VOLUME TWO " (PEG Publications, Malta, 1992)
(5) Charles Gauci "The Genealogy and Heraldry of the Noble Families of Malta VOLUME ONE " (PEG Publications, Malta, 2002)
OTHER:
1. TABULAR VIEW OF PUBLISHED INCONSISTENCIES RELATING TO THE ORIGIN OF NOBILIARY TITLES CONNECTED TO MALTA http://www.saidvassallo.com/SME/maltesenobilityoverview.htm
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE SEE:- Said Vassallo, C.M.,Charles Said-Vassallo's Research site