Sant Fournier

COP Association

Fournier

The Family Fournier were Merchants from France with ancient lineage, having direct connections with the Papacy Avignon back in the 15th century with Pope Benedict XII (r1332-42) formerly Jacques Fournier. The Fourniers held titles in Southern France, dating back to Hugh Capet in the 10th Century.

Djar il-Bniet and Buqana

The Most Senior and oldest surviving Maltese Noble Title (recognised by the Royal commission and British Crown) today. First it was granted to a Michele Bava about 1330 whom had married a member of the Royal House of Aragona and had one surviving child born within the marriage that became an heiress.

San Vincenzo Ferreri

The Title of Marquisate di San Vincenzo Ferreri was created on the year of 1716 by King Philip V of Spain, Sicily and Naples, with reminder to his legitimate and natural male descendants in perpetuity. Mario Testaferrata de Robertis, was later created Marquis Testaferrata in 1717.

De Piro

1st Marquis De Piro ; Dr.Giovanni DePiro LL.D and 1st Baron of Budaq; created by the Philip the V of Spain on 6 November 1742, a special levy to be paid to the crown of Spain on the succession of the new Titleholder; by his grandson. Cosimo de Pyrrho was a personal slave granted freedom and favours from the Grand Master. This led to the Rise of the "de Piro" family.

Ghariexem and Tabia

The first recorded Cassia was a Judge Gaddao I Cassia in 1481. A highly regarded Judge of his day. This family were well inter-breed with other landed gentry families in Malta , and Sicily. Also claims to be descendants of the d`Aragona`s, who were Kings of Sicily and Aragon, Spain.

Castel Cicciano

The Fief of Castel Cicciano is situated in Naples was granted with the right of Civil and Jurisdiction over its inhabitants (Imperio mero e misto). The title was first granted formal recognition in Malta by Grand Master Perello on 21st August 1702 and on several occasions since that date.

Ghajn Qajjed

First Created in 1361 to the Pellegrino family, then the Calava family in 1531. The present holders, the title of Marquis of Ghajn Qajjed was created to Dr Gerolamo Delicata LL.D by the Grand Master de Rohan-Polduc in 1796 with remainder to his legitimate and natural first born descendants in perpetuity.

Grua

The fief of Grua was first granted to the Bocchio family in 1372, and later regranted to the Carbott family in 1794. Grand Master de Rohan-Polduc created the grant to Saverio Carbott-Testaferrata-Ghaxaq in 1794 with remainder to his male descendants from first born to first born in perpetuity.

Senia

The title granted to Vincenzo Fontani-Crespi on the year of 1795 by Grand Master de Rohan-Polduc of Count of Senia. The title was annexed to the estates of `Tas-Senja`, in the Marsa area, owned by the grantees mother. The estates was raised to the dignity of a feudal tenure.

Gnien is-Sultan

The title of Gnien-is-Sultan was first created in 1361 and granted to the Pellegrino family. The present creation was granted in 1792 to Filippo Apap. Created a Marquis by Grand Master de Rohan-Polduc with remainder to his legitimate and natural male descendants in perpetuity and in the absence of male issue to the first born female descendants.

Gomerino

The fief of Gomerino (originally Ghemieri) was granted to many family with a colourful history added to the fief`s prestige.The following families were granted or purchased the fief were Surdo in 1317; Solimella in 1318; Ragusa 1318; Santa Sofia 1398; Perello 1481 and the present grant to the Testaferrata

Budaq

The fief of Budaq (originally Budacco) had been granted or sold numerous times in its interesting history as a fief. This time the fief, went to Cesare Passalacqua , to his daughter and her husband Silvestro Fiteni. Silvestro Fiteni was Capitano della Verga 1644-52, and created a Knight of the Order of St John in 1656.

Preziosi

The title of Conte Preziosi was created in 1718 at Rivoli by King Victor Amedeus of Sicily and Duca di Savioe. This title can be inherited by all of the Ist Counts legitimate and natural descendants `virilis sexes`. This title could be enjoyed contemporaneously by all the grantee`s male descendants `ad usum longobardun`

Ciantar-Paleologo

In 1728, Ignatio Wizzini was the first Count ever to be appointed Jurat. He was also the senior Jurat of Valletta in 1742, but was replaced on the 19 December of that same year by Baron and Marquis Gio Pio de Piro. The title of Count Ciantar-Paleologo are two separate titles intially created.

San Marciano

The title of Baron di San Marciano was created to Diego Antonio Galea-Feriol in 1726 by Grand Master de Vilhena with the remainder of his descendants in perpetuity , each holder of the title having the right to nominate a successor , in default of nomination to his first born male descendant and in absent of male issue, to his female descendants.

Tabria

The barony of Tabria (Ta`Brija) was granted to the Barba family in 1315, Guerardo family in 1398, the Gatto family in 1407, del Carretto family in 1408, Landolino de Noto in 1453. As a fief it would have either died out, due to lack of family members and be re-granted or be sold as a fief.

Qlejja

The fief of Qlejja (Qlejjgha or Culeja) was granted or sold to many families. The grants were to the following families. Vaccaro 1398; Pace 1472; Falca 1486; Bordino 1510; Mombron 1514; Spadafora 1567 and the present grant to the Bonici in 1737.

Benwarrad

Created 18 August 1737 by Grandmaster Ramon Despuig. Present Baroness Maria Angela Kitson Attard Montalto, 8th Baronness of Benwarrad. Saverio Gatto, 1st Baron of Benwarrad. The Fief of Benwarrad (originally Benuarrat) was granted to the Attardo , di`Alagona families before 1360, Pellegrino 1361;

Bahria

The title of Count was recognised to the Bahria estates owned by the grantee. These estates, purchased by Navarra family from the Calava family in 1599, were raised to the dignity of a feudal tenure. The title is inheritable by any stranger in blood who may come into ownership of the Bahria estates.

Catena

The title of `Count of Catena` was annexed to the grantee`s estate which was raised to the dignity of a feudal tenure. This title may be inherited not only by the first count`s descendants but also by any stranger in blood who may come to own the Catena estates.

Taflia

The title of Taflia was first granted to Giovanni Battista Mompalao as a life title, becoming extinct on his death in 1787. On the Year of 1790, Grand Master de Rohan-Polduc regranted the title to Saverio Alessi with remainder to his legitimate and natural descendants in perpetuity to all descendants equally.

Beberrua

Initially created in 1465 to the Perollo Family and re-granted in 1783 to Dr. Luigi Maria Gatto, LL.D, a Major of Cavalry under the Knights of St John, a Jurat, Lt-Colonel of Malta Provincial Battery, Royal Malta Fencible Regiment and Colonel commanding 1st division.

Fiddien

The title of Fiddien was first created in 1287 to the Santa Sofia family, then re-granted to the Torres in 1520 and to the Mallia Tabone family in 1785. The creation of this title in 1785 was granted to Salvatore Mallia Tabone by Grand Master de Rohan-Polduc, firstly as a life time title, then in 1793 granted extended to the first male descendants only.

Buleben

The fief of Buleben was first created to the Perrello family in 1465, and later regranted to the Azzopardi family in 1777.The title was initially granted `ad personam` without the right of succession.

Sant

A modern creation into Nobility , the Family of Sant were ennobled in Vienna in 1770 by Maria Theresia , Empress of Austria, Queen of the Kingdoms in Italy, with the remainder to his male descendants in order of Primogeniture.

San Giorgio

The Marquisate of San Giorgio was created in 1778 by Grand Master de Rohan-Polduc to Dr Antonio Barbaro LLD, Intially granted life only , the Marquis later petitioned the Grand Master for the grant to be extended to his eldest son. This request was granted in 1779.

Mont`Alto

The title of Mont`Alto was granted to Dr Bernardo Piscopo-Macedonia LL.D, a jurat of Notabile in 1720 at Piacenza by Francis I Farnese, Reigning Duca di Parma.The feudatory of the old and noble fief of Mont`Alto in the Duchy of Parma, given to Bernardo Piscopo and his direct descendants were also entrusted with this prerogative.

San Giovanni

The fief of San Giovanni was first created in 1657 at Messina to Dr Vincenzo Abela LL.D by King Philip IV of Spain, as King of Sicily with remainder to his heirs of his body each holder having the right to nominate his or her successor.

Testaferrata Olivier

The Title of Marquisate Testaferrata-Olivier is one of the formations along with the Marquisate di San Vincenzo Ferreri, Testaferrata, Cassar-Desain, which were granted in 1717 to Mario Testaferrata de Robertis at Chambray by Victor Amadeus, King of Sicily, and Duca di Savoy.

Cassar Desain

The Title of Marquisate Cassar-Desain is one of the formations along with the Marquisate di San Vincenzo Ferreri, Testaferrata, Testaferrata-Olivier, which were created in 1717 to Mario Testaferrata de Robertis at Chambray by Victor Amadeus, King of Sicily, and Duca di Savoy.

Ghajn Tuffieha

One of the leaders of the Maltese uprising against the French in 1798, The grant conferring the title of Conte of the feud magistrale (i.e. belonging to the Grand Master) of Ghain Tuffieha was made by Grand Master Rohan to Ferdinando Teuma Castelletti to be held by the grantee and his issue.

Cassia

The first recorded Cassia was a Judge Gaddao I Cassia in 1481. A highly regarded Judge of his day. This family were well inter-breed with other landed gentry families in Malta , and Sicily. Also claims to be descendants of the d`Aragona`s ,who were Kings of Sicily and Aragon, Spain.

Association of Foreign Title Holders Malta

Foreign titles together with the “32 titles” formed under the British rule, also form part of the Nobility in Malta. The sources of these foreign titles are varied and include titles granted by foreign reigning sovereigns, sovereign pontiffs and by the heads of foreign ex-regnant Royal Houses. While there is no question regarding the validity of titles granted by reigning popes and sovereigns, the validity of titles granted by the heads of former regnant Houses very much depends on the latter possessing the legal right to do so. This right can be acknowledged by a number of disparate bodies, including higher courts of law, State institutions, other reigning monarchs or their royally-recognised representatives.

Sant Manduca

The Sant Manduca family stem from the Count Sant family, three distant branches marrying heiress, one being the Baroness of Ghariexem e Tabia, forming the Sant Cassia family, the heiress of Fournier, forming the Sant Fournier family, and a member of the Noble family of Manduca.

Baron de Pausier

The original patent of creation has been produced by Lazzaro Sant Fournier, who claims this title as the first-born descendant in the grantee`s primogenial line. It is, however, to be observed that he descends through Luigia Fournier his mother, wife of Baldassare Sant, and grand-daughter of the first titled person.

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