The title Baron della Culeja is a title of Nobility in Malta. It was granted in 1737 by a Grandmaster of the Order of Saint John during its rule over the Maltese Islands. The remainder of this title contains a power to nominate a successor. “Culeja” is spelt in various forms incuding “Qlejjgha” and “Qlejja”.
An 1870 publication implies that the power to nominate was availed of in 1809 resulting in the title being held outside the primogenial line. Later publications do not make reference to this nomination.
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 conferred by patent dated the 2nd June 1737, by Grand Master Fr. Raimondo Despuig, upon the nobleman Ignazio Bonnici, with succession to one of his issue, male or female, and with power to each of the holders of the title to name as his successor one of the descendents of the grantee. The terms of the patent of creation being identical with that contained in the charter of the "Barone della Tabria" reading thus:- et post tui obitum uni ex filiis vel filiabus legitimis et naturalibus ex te legitime procreatis vel procreandis, quem vel quam omni futuro constitutus seu respective constituta, malueritis eligendum vel eligendam. Et in casu tui vel tuorum in infinitu decessus absque ulla nominatione vel elctione successoris in dicto titulo, ex nunc censeatur nominatus et electus primogenitus, nisi erit ad sacros ordines promotus et in religione professus, et in defectu marium, foemina primogenita..
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 Culeja.
PRECEDENCE ENJOYED BY THE HOLDER OF THE TITLE OF BARONE DELLA CULEJA
Some two years after this creation, the same Grand Master Depuig introduced in 1739 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)
On the basis of this enactment it follows that in 1737 all of Ignazio Bonnici’s male-to-male descendants (“Il discendente per linea mascolina”) were made automatically entitled to a precedence.
The latter enactment was amended in 1795 by the then Grand Master Rohan as follows:
Hosplis Magr. Hierlem. Sti. Sepulchri, et Ordinis Sti Antonii, Viennensis Essendo una massima universalmente ricevuto, che il maggior lustro della Nobilta’ principalmente dipende dalla sua maggiore antichita’, niente che il piu’ giusto e ragionevole che il piu’ antico Nobile preceda il piu’ moderno. Siamo pertanto venuti nella determinazione di Ordinare che nel regolarsi la precedenza tra le persone Nobile di questo nostro Dominio, cosi’ primogeniti che cadetti indistintamente, si abbioa ad avere unicamente riguardo alla maggiore o minore antichita’ del titolo che nobilito le loro famiglie, e cio tanto se il titolo sara’ stato concesso da Noi o Nostri predecessori, che se lo avessero ottenuto da Principi esteri, purche’ pero sara’ stato questo debitamente registrato nella Nostra Cancelleria e Gran Corte della Castellania; nel consorso pero’ di ugual data quello nella di cui persona concorreranno piu’ titoli dovra’ essere preferito, all’ altro che ne avesse meno, secondo la graduazione stabilita nel Chirografo Magisteriale del Nostro Predecessore Gran Maestro Despuig di Gl. Em. Del 16 Sept 1739, quale in quelle parti che non contradicono la questa nostra disposizione intendiamo di pienamente confermare. Datum in Palatio die xvii Martii 1795 (f.) Rohan
In view of the latter enactment the Barone della Culeja and his male-to-male
descendants were to rank before the holder of any title created after 2 June
1737 and respective descendants. Therefore, it follows that the Barone della
Culeja ranks before all the Counts and Marquises which were created by the Grand
Masters after 1737 even though all the latter titles purport a higher rank. The
same position holds in regard to the respective male-to-male descendants.
Conversely, the Barone della Culeja ranks after the older barons and the holders
of noble fiefs.
Grand Master Rohan is also credited with codifying various laws in Malta.
Amongst these, we find in the Code enacted in 1783 which states that the
determining criteria of primogeniture in Malta operate in the following order:-
Line (the first line excluding all the others), Degree (the closer degree of
relationship excluding the remoter) Sex (the male sex being preferred to the
female), and Age (the elder being preferred to the younger). For examples of
these rules’ application see Barone della Grua
and Conte della Catena.
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. These read as follows:-
“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.
REPORTED SUCCESSION IN FAVOUR OF VINCENZO AND FRANCESCO GAUCI BONICI
In 1870 the Marchese Giorgio Crispo Barbaro published a compendium of the “Maltese Nobility and the Maltese Gentry holding Foreign Titles”. In that publication Giorgio Crispo Barbaro describes the title of Baron of Culeja as being held by Francesco Gauci. - See full text of the Crispo Barbaro’s book at http://www.saidvassallo.com/SME/1870%20barbaro.pdf
Giorgio Crispo Barbaro explains that in 1814 Francesco Gauci Bonici succeeded his elder brother Vincenzo, son of Anna Gauci Ducos. In the corresponding genealogical table contained in the same Compendium, Vincenzo is shown as having in May 1809, succeeded his uncle Ignazio Bonici, grandson of the original grantee. Moreover Ignazio is shown to have had two daughters of his own namely Vincenza and Eugenia.
Ignazio junior was the primogenial descendant of the original grantee Ignazio senior. It follows that his daughter Vincenza should have succeeded Ignazio junior.
On the other hand, Francesco Gauci Bonici was only descended in a junior line from the original grantee. In Crispo Barbaro’s publication, it is reported that Francesco had a son of his own (Francesco junior). (This boy later went on to have his own descendants).
It is apparent that Giorgio Crispo Barbaro is implying that Ignazio Bonici was not succeeded by his eldest daughter Vincenza but had made use of the power to nominate in favour of his sister’s eldest son to the title. Giorgio Crispo Barbaro does not state how this nomination was made.
For Genealogy of Francesco Gauci Bonici see http://www.maltagenealogy.com/libro%20d'Oro/gauciapap.html and http://www.maltagenealogy.com/libro%20d'Oro/ghajnqajjed.html
For Genealogy of Vincenza daughter of Ignazio Bonnici see http://www.maltagenealogy.com/libro%20d'Oro/qlejjgha.html
Later publications do not make any reference whatsoever to either the (implied) 1809 nomination in favour of Vincenzo, or the later succession of his brother Francesco Gauci Bonici. – See controversies below.
SUCCESSFUL CLAIM OF VINCENZA GALEA TO THE TITLE OF BARONE DELLA CULEJA. NO CLAIM BY FRANCESCO GAUCI BONICI
In 1876, the British Secretary of State for the Colonies commissioned a report 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 )
In 1878, the title was not claimed by Francesco Gauci Bonici but by Vincenza Bonnici wife of the Barone Pietro Paolo Galea.
The Commissioners described Vincenza Galea as having inherited the title from her father, Barone Ignazio Bonnici, junior, who left no male issue. No one having called in question her claim, and she having fully proved by documents, her descent from the person first ennobled, she was included in the Royal Commissioners’ list, and designated as “Vincenza Galea, Baronessa della Culeja”
CONTROVERSIES
The implied nomination in Crispo Barbaro’s Compendium contrasts with the findings of the Royal Commission.
The remainder of the Grant states where certain circumstances arise, the title does back up and through the family tree in order to establish the primogenial descendant of the grantee.
On the one hand, by applying the rules of Primogeniture as codified by Grand Master Rohan, Vincenza Galea correctly succeeds the title as a result of these circumstances.
On the other hand, others argue that once a title has entered a junior line, it remains in it until that line is extinguished. Thus by applying this argument, the title should be held by the Marquises of Ghajn Qajet who are the descendants of Francesco Gauci Bonnici and his mother Anna Bonnici. This argument was dismissed by the Privy Council as a weak attempt to destroy the rules of primogeniture. See Conte di Catena and similar controversies.
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, this title was considered before the title of Barone di Benuarrat granted by Grand Master Despuig to Saverio Gatto on the 18 August 1737, and after the title of Barone della Tabria granted by Grand Master Vilhena to Isidoro Viani on the 11 December 1728.
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 presumed successor of this title is by custom entitled to be styled Baroncino della Culeja. (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 della Culeja. (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 Primogenial descent of the Barons of Culeja is as follows:
Original creation (1737)
· Ignazio Bonnici, 1st Barone della Culeja
· Francesco Bonici, (Ignazio’s eldest son)
· Ignazio Bonnici, (Francesco’s eldest son)
· Vincenza Galea (Ignazio (junior)’s eldest daughter)
· Emmanuele Testaferrata Bonici Ghaxaq (Ignazio (junior)’s younger daughter’s eldest son)
· Daniele Testaferrata Bonici Ghaxaq (Emmanuele’s eldest son)
· Alfio Testaferrata Bonici Ghaxaq (Daniele’s eldest son)
· Agnes Gera de Petri Testaferrata (Daniele’s younger son’s eldest daughter)
For full Genealogy of the Barons of Culeja please see http://www.maltagenealogy.com/libro%20d'Oro/qlejjgha.html
PRIMARY REFERENCES (GRANT/S):
1. Grant of title of Barone della Culeja granted by Grand Master Despuig, to Ignazio Bonnici on the 2 Juen 1737. (Recorded in the Archives of the Order, National Library, Malta Ref. AOM 541, ff. 188r-188v)
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