2nd Baron of Djar-il-Bniet Lanza Gatto; Baron Lanza was a Chief Justice of Malta and Regio Proposito of Malta as well, was confirmed as a Baron.

Baron Cicco’s son Francesco Gatto, the Third Baron married in 1397 to an Heiress of the Barony of Buqana.
The Barony of Buqana was created to Guglielmo Murina in 1372, Guglielmo was a Governor and Keeper of the Castle in Malta, the Title was Granted as a Noble fief under Conditions of military service.

Guglielmo Murina was Governor of the Island in 1372, and is the first of this name mentioned in Abela's History of Malta.

During his administration, he instituted the practice of obliging all officials of each indiction on appointment, to make their oath by placing their hands in those of the Governor, as pledge of fealty.

Guglielmo Murina was also Keeper of the castle on the sea, as St Angelo was formerly called, and King Frederick of Sicily and Aragon, during his stay in Malta, confirmed on him the fief and Barony di Buqana.

Guglielmo died without male issue, but left an only daughter, heiress to the fief and Barony of Buqana, who married Manfredo, a Member of the Noble Sicilian family of de Castelli, a scion of the Spanish Royal House of Castile.

The only descendants of this marriage were Paola, who married the Baron Francesco Gatto, and they became the parents of Imperia, the wife of Antonio Inguanez.

Francesco Gatto succeeded as the 3rd Baron of Djar-il-Bniet and Buqana, created Baron of Budaq and received the Lordships (Signors) of Hemsija and Zabbaria by King Martin I of Sicily on the year of 1397. Francesco was a Governor of Malta and also Regio Proposito, died in 1442, succeeded by his daughter Imperia Gatto, who married a Spanish Baron Antonio Inguanez, closely related to the Royal Aragona Family of Sicily.

The same day, the fief of Chemisia was granted to him 'Jure Francorum', confirming a former grant of this fief, made by Don Guglielmo Raimondo di Moncado, at the time when this same Raimondo was in Possession of Malta.

Francesco stated that his ancestors had formerly been in possession of this fief, but had lost the original title deeds, which, with other property, had been wrested from them by Count Artale d'Alagona, and carried away to the 
Castello, now know as the Castle of St Angelo, and there retained by d'Alagona, who was at this time a rebel to the crown of Aragon.

This new concession and investiture, is said to have been given to him out of gratitude, for the good and acceptable services rendered to their Majesties.
The remainder may be read in the original privilege, dated Feb 14, 1397.


Francesco Gatto also enjoyed the honor of being in the service of his Royal master as Captain of the Galleys, which were then being equipped at Malta, in the name, and at the expense of King Martin. This office was granted to him for life in 1397, when he was made Commander in chief of the Royal Gallery.

Francesco Gatto was also made Regio Proposito, and Governor of Malta on the 16 Oct. 1403, for five years, with power to swear in the Judges and other Officials and assigned 18 Golden Ounces yearly on the Vice Segrezia of Malta, as Castellano, or keeper of the Castle.

Having no issue, but an only daughter, he obtained permission by Royal letter 1404, that in default of heirs, he might dispose of his fiefs in favour of the nearest kin.


Francesco died in the year 1442, when his only daughter, by name of Imperia and the last representative of the ancient Gatto family, became the sole heiress of the fiefs.

Baron Antonio Inguanez, was created and also inherited the following titles Baron di Ghariexem , Signor di Saccaja, Mugiarro and San Giorgio, and several others.
This union of Baron Antonio and Baroness Imperia, produced not only descendants to most of the Maltese, Sicilian, Roman, Neapolitan Nobility, but also Royalty such as H.M. Queen Paola of Belgian, the Orleans-Bourbons, Austria-Estes and so-forth.

The House of Inguanez was almost Hereditary Capitano della Verga from Baron Antonio Inguanez, his son the 4th Baron down to the 15th Baron in the late 18th Century.
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The family of Inguanez, settled in Malta, had been a noble and powerful family in the Province of Catalonia, where its members are know to have held high offices, and to have possessed the fief of Ortigos, and many others.


Angeraldo Inguanez accompanied by his son Antonio, who subsequently became the husband of Imperia Gatto.

Angeraldo held the office of Governor of Malta and Gozo during the space of three years, when having settled the affairs of the two islands, and handed over the governorship to his trusted friend, Francesco Gatto. On October 16, 
1403, he was on the eve of departing from Spain, when he was seized with a sudden illness, which terminated fatally.

Before his death, Angeraldo had intrusted to his friend Francesco Gatto, the guardianship of his only son, the young Antonio, and as in those days a journey to Sapin was by no means an easy means undertaking. The orphan Antonio settled in Malta and married his guardian's only daughter, Imperia Gatto, who brought in dowry a house in the town of Notabile, with several fiefs and other property.

Antonio Inguanez accompanied King Alfonso of Sicily and Aragon as his vassal to the wars and was after the seige of barbary appointed despotic governor of the Islands of Malta and Gozo, as successor to his father in law Francesco Gatto.

During the reign of King Alfonso, Antonio Inguanez continued in high favour and many were the honours and privileges granted to him and his descendants.

The Governorship of Malta and Gozo became almost hereditary in his family, it having been mortgaged to him and to his son, by King Alfonso in the year 1437 and confirmed by the same King in 1441.
Antonio Inguanez was Governor of Malta in 1427, and for several other years, holding the governorship in pledge from the King, until the city of Malta redeemed it with its own money.
He was also appointed commander in Chief, with power to pardon or punish as he might determine.

In the year 1432, King Alfonso visited Malta, on his triumphant return from Barbary, withered Antonio had accompanied him as his faithful vassal and during his stay in the Islands, he was the guest of Francesco Gatto and Antonio Inguanez at the familly house in Mdina, which is still in the possession of their descendants.

The leather canopy and dais, erected in one of the rooms he occupied on this occasion, has not since crumbled to dust, as the late Baroness Maria Teresa D'Amico Inguanez, who died in 1880, remembered to have seen it when a child.

As a reward for services to King Alfonso during the war in Barbery, the estate and garden of Saccajja near Mdina, was confirmed on Antonio free from all obligations. This grant is dated Oct. 25, 1442.

The united arms of Gatto and Inguanez were placed over the Castle of St Angelo by King Alfonso, as a mark of gratitude, and as a testimony for the services to the House of Aragon, by Francesco Gatto and Antonio Inguanez.


Antonio Inguanez was very devout, and founded four benefices, which exist to the present day. By his wife Imperia, he had sired many children, which caused a great division of his properties.

He died in 1458, when his first-born son became invested with the Noble fiefs of Djar il Bniet, Buqana, and Budaq.

Angeraldo Gatto Inguaez, Antonio's son was Consigliere Regio in 1439 and Governor of Malta in 1469. Nothing more is know of him, but that had married and had an only son.

Antonio Angerao Inguanez, son of Angeraldo, received his investiture from Palermo dated 1472.

On the year 1487, the wife of Antonio Angerao recieved on behalf of her son the investiture of the fiefs, at the time Giacomo Angerao was a minor. Giacomo Angerao Inguanez was an Ambassador extraordinary to the University, on the same business concerning public government, and a letter still exists, proving his having received all necessary assistance for his service to the crown.

Giacomo Angerao also obtain from his most serene Majesty King Charles V, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, King of Castile and Aragon, an authorative letter to the Grand Master of the Holy Order of St John of Jerusalem, and Prince of this Island, giving him and his kindred full permission to sell their property and fiefs in the events of their wishing to leave Malta, and settle elsewhere.

Besides the two Baronies of Buqana and Djar il Bniet, Giacomo possessed the estates of Budaq as appears from several deeds of leases, and also from his codicil, found among the acts of the Notary Matteo Surdo, dated 13 August, 1542.

Antonio, second son of Marco Angerao Inguanez, succeeded his brother in the investiture of the fiefs of Buqana and Djar il Bniet in 1589. He was also lord of the estates of Budaq, which he sold, as appeared from a deed of sale. Also Antonio was Capitano della Verga from 1597-99.

Antonio nominated as his heir, his eldest son Alessandro Inguanez, Alessandro, at the time of his father's death was living abroad and his whereabouts was quite unknown.

In spite of his father's will, which made ample provisions for his eldest son's succession. Marco his brother, took advantage of his absence, and owing to the uncertainty respecting his existence, usurped the Baronies in 1608, and held them till his death, which occurred in 1612

Baron Alessandro Inguanez, in 1608 was the eldest son of the deceased Baron Inguanez, was denounced before the local Tribunal on several charges of heresy. The case was particularly interesting since the title of Baron of Djar-il-Bniet e Buqana legally belonged to the accused, but his father had nominated Alessandro's brother as the universal heir, perhaps in view of the circumstances of the case. In 1606, at the age of eighteen, Alessandro embarked on a privateer, on a Levant expedition. About eight months later he and his companion disembarked near Alesandretta, in search of fruit and water. Alessandro was ambushed and captured by some fifteen Turks. He became a slave in the Household of Bascia de Rey, where, after nearly two months, he was persuaded to convert to Islam with the help (so he claimed) of three hundred bastinados. Morato (Alessandro's assumed Mohammedian name) managed to escape and boarded a Flemish vessel in harbour, but he was recaptured when the Turks threatened to burn the ship. The Young Maltese nobleman was nearly executed for his audacity, but was given another chance to repent. 
After serving his master faithfully, Morato was adopted by Bascia de Rey and married an Eleven-year Mohammedian called Fatama. But apparently, he still felt an alien in the Moslem environment and, eventually, managed to escape with the aid of two missionaries, a French consul, and a number of handsome bribes.

Back in Malta, Alessandro was denounced and brought before the Inquisition, in spite of the fact that he belonged to one of the principal local families, he was charged with having apostatized, and having actually practiced the Moslem religion. It was only the special circumstances of the case that enable Inguanez to receive a relatively mid penalty. He was fined only 30 scudi, had to confess and receive communion at least six times annually, and was made to fast every Friday on bread and water whilst reciting the psalms

The direct Line of Inguanez, became extinct with the Marc’ Antonio 14th Baron, who died childless after two marriages Marc’ Antonio, had a Brother (Francesco), who was born illegitimate by his father with an heiress of the Gheriexem (Junior branch of the Inguanez Family). Francesco dei Baroni Ingunaez was unsuccessful in claiming the Estates and Feudal titles from the Grand Master.

The Estate went to a distant cousin and next of Kin (Legitimate). Though the claimants tried for several generations to claim what was rightfully theirs. The present claimant is Principe Giuseppe Said, the De-Jure 27^th Baron of Djar il-Bniet e Buqana.

Gio Francesco d’Amico succeeded as the 15th Baron also sometime Capitano della Verga (c1764-75), Gio Francesco only had one son who died unmarried in 1782.

The Estate, then succeeded by the Last holder’s uncle who assumed the surname of Ingaunez and married a member of the Bonici Family, who were holders of the Gheriexem e Tabia Barony.

Their eldest son, Vincenzo d’Amico-Inguanez, succeeded as the 18th Baron, and died unmarried in 1850 and was succeeded by his sister, Maria Teresa, who in turn died unmarried as well in 1880.

The title went to Maria Teresa sister’s Granddaughter. Francesca Sceberras d’Amico Inguanez, Baroness di Djar-il-Bniet, also Baroness di Castel Cicciano.

Maria Francesca Represented the Maltese Nobility at the Coronation of King Edward VII in 1903, King George V in 1911, and King George VI in 1937. She married Coloniel Alexander Chalmers McKean C.M.G, but failed to produce an heir, dying in 1947.


Maria Francesca sister’s eldest son, Alexander Chesney-Sceberras d’Amico-Inguanez, as the Premier Baron of Malta, yet again, succeeded the titles. Alexander represented the Maltese Nobility at the coronation of Queen Elisabeth II in 1953, also was a Major in the Worcestershire Regiment and was awarded the M.C and the Belguim Criox de Guerre for service in World War.

Alexander also died unmarried in 1960, and succeeded by his sister Frances, who succeeded as the 22nd Baroness of Djar-il-Bniet and the 18th Baroness di Castel Cicciano. Frances, also dying unmarried in 1981, which brought the title yet again in abeyance.

In 1983, the Title of Barony of Djar-Il-Bniet and Buqana, was called out of abeyance to be succeeded by the next living heir. Dr Carmelo Apap-Bologna Sceberras d’Amico-Inguanez M.D as the Premier Title Holder of Malta and 23rd Baron.

The Present Baron is a descendant of the 17th Baron di Djar-il-Bniet, and is third cousin, twice removed to Frances Chesney, 22nd Baroness.

Baron, Dr Carmelo Apap-Bologna Sceberras-d’Amico-Inguanez MD, is a member of the Marquisate of Gnien-is-Sultan family and is closely related to most of the Maltese Nobility.

Lastly, Baron Carmelo has two sons, and two daughters, which will carry the Baronies on to another generation securing it within the Apap-Bologna family as the Jewel of Malta.