From the original volumes of the Archives of the Order:
The Definitive lists of Titles of Nobility in Malta
(A completely different version to the successions of Maltese nobility reported after 1878).
INTRODUCTION – Volume 627 vs Commissioners’ Report The “bible” by which titles of Nobility in Malta have been gauged for the last 130 odd-years, is the Report of the Royal Commissioners published in 1878 (additions thereto were made in 1878 by the British Secretary of State and in 1883 by an ‘ad hoc’ committee). The purpose of that report was to identify those titles which were granted or recognized by the government of the Maltese Islands by the Order of Saint John, before the annexation of Malta to the British Dominions in 1800. The report therefore examines the titles obtained between 1530 and 1798 which continued to be used after the Order abandoned Malta. Present-day claims to these titles are based on the premise that they are an unaltered continuation of the original grants, investitures and recognitions made by the Grand Masters. On the other hand, two definitive lists of nobiliary titles are found in the unpaginated Volume 627 of the Archives of the Order of St. John, to wit:-
fol. (pencil) 27 et seq. marked “Baronie” (6 pages, 8 titles), last record 20 August 1797,
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fol. (pencil) 315 et seq. marked “Titoli di Contee, Marchesati e Baronie conceduti dalli G. Mri e dalli Principi Esteri, e Registrati in Cancell per decreti de G. Mri, come pure di Accademici aggiunti nelle Regie Accademie” including pages marked “Titoli di Baronie e Contee” and “Titoli di Baronie” (11 and ½ pages, 50 entries), last record 13 June 1796.
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the fiefs of “Djar il-Biet et Bucana” refers not to one barony but to two distinct baronies.
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the title of “Barone della Tabria” is described as having been succeeded by Giuseppe Testaferrata Viani, not Anna Viani Testaferrata.
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The title of “Barone di Gomerino”, another Testaferrata title, is described as having been granted as a title distinct from the property by that name and goes on to describe how the title was succeeded by Ercole Martino Testaferrata in 1737, following a deed made in 1734. On the other hand, the Report was reluctant to uphold a claim based on this succession.
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In regard to the title of Budac, we find a note saying “Morto il do Bne Giovanni Pio de Piro non costa, che veruno abbia preso la predetta Investitura”. On the other hand, the Report was reluctant to uphold Giuseppe de Piro’s claim that the rule of succession by primogeniture was to prevail over a nomination in favour of Monsignor Grech Delicata.
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The report failed to mention that the tribute for the title of “Conte della Catena” was originally a bouquet of flowers but was later changed to a horse, which is more burdensome.
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Classified amongst titles of nobility in Volume 627, we find a recognition of a descent from the Imperial Emperors of the East, a registration of the title of Patrician of Rome and even a registration of a Degree in medicine. In addition we find one of the grantees being described as a holding the title of Knight if the Holy Roman Empire. According to the Commissioners’ Report, the titles of Patrician and Knight of H.R.E. claimed by the Testaferrata family, were not considered to have ever been regarded as valid titles of nobility by the Grand Masters. There is also a clear distinction between two titles of Count, one held by the Wuzzini family the other by the Ciantar family.
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Different Maltese titles created by the grand masters are all indicated in Volume 627 with their own peculiar remainders; some are personal, others limited to males only. Very few of the titles listed may be interpreted to benefit succession through females without the direct intervention by the grand masters.
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The title of Count Fournier is not described as having been granted in Hungary. The laws of the latter country allows transmission of nobility titles through female lines. On the other hand the Report says that this titke was granted in Austria.