The title Barone della Marsa is a title of Nobility in Malta. It was granted on three occasions by the Grandmasters of the Order of Saint John during their rule over the Maltese Islands. All three grants are extinct.
Since 1975, titles of nobility are no longer recognized in the Republic of Malta by Act 29 of 1975 dated 17 October 1975.
Origin and Nature of title
The title of Barone della Marsa was conferred by Grand Master Manoel de Vilhena, by a patent of the 12th June 1725, to the nobleman Ferdinando Castelletti, and to such of his male or female children and successors as the holder of the title in perpetuum should appoint. By the death of Ferdinando without issue the title was extinguished.
By another diploma of, bearing date the 4th December 1753, the title of Barone della Marsa was granted anew to Giovanni Antonio Azzopardi Castelletti and to one of his descendents, in the same terms as the preceding patent. This second grant was also determined by the death without issue of Giovanni Antonio.
The title of Barone della Marsa was conferred by Grand Master Fr. Emmanuel de Rohan, by a patent dated the 10th March 1775, upon Gio Francesco Dorell Falzon (the third and last grant). This grant was made in the following terms: - Tibi Magnifico ac Nobili D. Joanni Francisco Dorel Falzon tuisque descentibus masculis tribuimus concedimus et donamus, hujusmodique Baronis titulo insignimus, ac Baronem dicti feudi della Marsa constituimus, et ita nominari posse et debere.... The aforesaid Barone Dorell having left on his death no issue, the title of Barone della Marsa, became for the third time extinct.
In all three cases no land was attached to this title of nobility. The title was merely honorific and did not give rise to any right of possession of the land called Marsa.
Precedence enjoyed by the holder of the title of Barone della Marsa
In 1739, the then Grand Master Depuig introduced the concept of according a form of precedence to a holder of a title of nobility. The relative law is reproduced hereunder:-
Hosplis Mgr et Hierlem Sti. Sepulchri. - Per togliere le differenze di precedenze tra le persone che saranno promosse alla giurazie dell’ Universita’ della Notabile e della Valletta, vogliamo, ordiniamo e comandiamo che tutte siano precedue dagli infrascritti, e che fra queti si regoli la precedena call’ ordine seguente cioe’: Primieramente, chi fu Capitano della Verga della Sudetta Citta’ Notabile e nostra Isola di Malta.; Secondo. Il Titolato che ha un titolo fondato sopra un feudo in realta’ esistente qui, benche’ non lo possegga.; Terzo. Il titolato che non ha un titolo fondato sopra fondo realmente esistente nel nostro Dominio, registrato che sia il titolo nella Cancelleria nella nostra Religione e nella Gran Corte della nostra Castellania, e pagato per i rispettivi registramenti il diritto di scudi cento sedici di questa moneta, da dividersi per meta’ tra la Cancelleria e la Castellania sudetta.; Quarto. Il discendente per linea mascolina da chi fu Capitano della Verga, se vive colle proprie rendite, e se i di lui ascendente intermedie vissero pure colle proprie rendite.; Quinto. Il discendente per linea mascolina da un titolo con titolo fondato sopra un feudo qui realmente esistente, se vive colle proprie rendite, e se i suoi ascendenti intermedie cosi vissero; Sesto. Chi fu primo Giurato della Notabile; Settimo. Chi fu primo Giurato della Valletta; Ottavo. Il piu’ anziani di Giurazia di quella Universita’ della quale sara’ creato giurato.; Nono. Chi fu Giudice d’Appello Criminale o Civile della Gran Corte della Castellania e della Corte Capitanale e Governatoriale; Diecimo. Il Dottore di Leggi ed il Dottore di Medicina.: - Dichiariamo che fra le persone d’un stesso grado si deve attendere l’anzianita’ del titolo primordiale e che chiunque fu Giurato, se sara’ fatto Console di Mare, fra i quali s’attendera l’anzianita d’ufficio. Dat. In Palatio, die xvi. Septembris 1739 (f. Despuig)
The aforesaid enactment was later amended in 1795 by Grand Master Rohan. Rohan was the penultimate Grand Master to rule Malta. This amendment is of no relevance to the Barony of Marsa because by then all three grants were already extinct.
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 )
UNSUCCESSFUL CLAIM OF ALESSANDRO SCEBERRAS TO THE TITLE GRANTED IN 1725
In 1878, this title was claimed by Alessandro Sceberras who described himself as “Alessandro Testaferrata Sceberras Damico Inguanez”
The Commissioners decided that the claim of Alesandro Sceberras cannot be admitted because the 1725 was already extinguished by the death of Ferdinando Castelletti without issue. (Although this is not reported by the Commission, it is clear that Alessandro Sceberras based his claim on the very wide meaning of “successors as the holder of the title in perpetuum should appoint”).
The 1878 Report also describes how Alessandro Sceberras made an unsuccessful attempt for the honours customarily attached to the fiefs of Djar il-Bniet and Buqana. 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.
However, Alessandro Sceberras was successful in claiming the title of Barone di Castel Cicciano. (See: History of “Baron of Castel Cicciano”)
NO CLAIM TO TITLE GRANTED IN 1753
There is no record of any claim to the grant dated 1753. However, as seen above nobody could make a claim to this title because Giovanni Antonio Azzopardi Castelletti died without any descendants. This is in fact stated by the Commissioners’ Report.
UNSUCCESSFUL CLAIM OF MARIA APAP TO THE TITLE GRANTED IN 1775
In 1878, this title was claimed by the Marchesa Maria Francesca Sceberras Bologna, widow of the Marchese Dr. Filipo Apap.
Apap Bologna explained that as her own father Paolo Sceberras was the testamentary heir of the Barone Dorell Falzon, she was entitled to succeed the title.
The Commissioners denied her claim explaining that as the Barone did not have any children of his own, he did not, and could not, transmit to his testamentary heir, Paolo Sceberras, the title of “Barone della Marsa”. Consequently Paolo Sceberras never conveyed that title to his daughter Maria Apap.
Moreover, the Commissioners also explained that as Maria Apap was a female, she could never be comprised in the grant, even if she descended from the said Dorell, because the title could only be enjoyed by the male issue of Dorell. (In fact the grant provides for “tuisque descentibus masculis”)
CONTROVERSIES
Although all three grants are extinct, the Commissioners’ reasons for dismissing the respective claims of Alessandro Sceberras and Maria Apap are regarded by some as authoritative precedents for the purpose of interpreting other titles of nobility granted by the Grand Masters during their rule over the Maltese Islands. The arguments are as follows:-
· The reasons prove that the implied terms of the grant cannot be widened to accommodate a claimant who is not within those terms.
· The reasons prove that one has to establish a relationship between the original grantee and the claimant, and not merely a relationship between a claimant and a supposed “possessor”.
· The reasons prove that the wrongful “possession” of a title of nobility does not justify ulterior “possession” in favour of the possessor’s descendants.
· The reasons prove that where only males are contemplated by the grant, as in the 1775 grant, one cannot extend these terms to include females.
OTHER ENTITLEMENTS
For the purposes of precedence amongst the Nobility in Malta, this title ranked according to antiquity of creation.
According to the 1878 Report, this title was considered before the title of Barone di Buleben granted by Grand Master Rohan to Gaetano Azzopardi on the 23 July 1777 and after the title of Conte della Catena granted by Grand Master Pinto to Pietro Gaetano Perdicomati Bologna on the 20 January 1745.
GENEALOGY
The published genealogy of the Barons of Marsa shows the following:
1st creation (1725)
· Ferdinando Castelletti (Extinct)
2nd creation (1753)
· Giovanni Antonio Azzopardi Castelletti (Extinct)
3rd creation (1775)
· Gio Francesco Dorell Falzon (Extinct)
PRIMARY REFERENCES (GRANT/S):
1. Grant of title of Barone della Marsa by Grand Master Vilhena to Ferdinando Castelletti on the 12 June 1725. (Recorded in the Archives of the Order, National Library, Malta Ref. AOM 529 ff. 140r-140v)
2. Grant of title of Barone della Marsa by Grand Master Pinto to Giovanni Antonio Azzopardi Castelletti on the 4 December 1753 (Recorded in the Archives of the Order, National Library, Malta Ref. AOM 557, ff. 175r-176v)
3. Grant of title of Barone della Marsa by Grand Master Rohan to Gio Francesco Dorell Falzon on the 10 March 1776 (Recorded in the Archives of the Order, National Library, Malta Ref. AOM 579, ff. 345r-346v)
SECONDARY REFERENCES (HISTORY):
(1) 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
(2) 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
(3) 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
(4) 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
2.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE SEE:-
Said Vassallo, C.M.,Charles Said-Vassallo's Research site and
Maltese Nobility web site
http://www.maltagenealogy.com