Barony of Djar-il-Bniet e Buqana

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The Barony of Djar-il-Bniet e Buqana is the most senior and oldest surviving title of Maltese nobility. It was granted by feudal tenure in perpetuity to Cicco Gatto, Keeper of the Royal Castle in Malta, Commander of the Royal galleries by King Louis of Sicily on January 4, 1350 at Messina, Sicily.^[1]

Contents 1 1350-1500 2 1500-1600 3 1600-1800 3.1 Alessandro Inguanez 3.2 Natural descent 4 1800-1900 5 1900-1960 6 1960 to present 7 Notes 8 References

[edit] 1350-1500

The 1st Baron of Djar-il-Bniet, Cicco Gatto (died 1372) was governor of the Castello a Mare (Fort St Angelo) in 1350. He is credited with quelling a rebellion on the island of Gozo and inducing the inhabitants to submit to the House of Aragon. The fief of Djar-il-Bniet fell after the extinction of the Bava family during the reign of King Louis of Sicily and was conferred on Cicco Gatto and his heirs. Louis also granted Gatto’s son Francesco Lanza and his heirs exemption from payment of dues to the Royal Court, placing them on equal footing with the citizens of Messina. Following Lanza's death, his son Francesco succeeded the title on February 14, 1397, and was invested by Martin I of Sicily. The 2nd Baron was Lanza Gatto, who was a chief justice of Malta and Regio Proposito. Baron Cicco’s other son Francesco Gatto, the 3rd Baron married an heiress of the Barony of Buqana in 1387. The Barony of Buqana was given to governor Guglielmo Murina in 1372 by King Frederick III. Guglielmo's daughter married Manfredo, a member of the noble Sicilian family of de Castelli. Their daughter Paola married Baron Francesco Gatto, and they became the parents of Imperia, the wife of Antonio Inguanez.

The 3rd Baron Francesco Gatto (d. 1442) received the lordships of Hemsija and Żabbar from Martin I of Sicily in 1397 was appointed governor of Malta and also Regio Proposito in 1403. He died in 1442 and was succeeded by his daughter Imperia Gatto who married the Spanish Baron Antonio Inguanez, a close relative to the royal Aragona family of Sicily. Baron Antonio Inguanez inherited the titles of Baron di Ghariexem, Signor di Saccaja, Mugiarro and San Giorgio. Antonio and Imperia produced not only descendants to most Maltese, Sicilian, Roman, Neapolitian Nobility, but also royalty in Western Europe such as Queen Paola of Belgium, the Orleans-Bourbons, and Austria-Este.^[2]

Prior to settling in Malta the Inguanez had been a powerful noble family in Catalonia, where its members held high offices and possessed the fief of Ortigos. Angeraldo Inguanez (d. 1403) accompanied by his son Antonio, who subsequently became the husband of Imperia Gatto. Angeraldo was governor of Malta and Gozo for three years before handing the governorship to his friend Francesco Gatto on October 16, 1403. Before his death, Angeraldo also intrusted Francesco Gatto with the guardianship of his only son Antonio. The orphan Antonio married his guardian's daughter Imperia Gatto, whose dowry included a house in the town of Notabile, with several fiefs and other properties. Antonio Inguanez accompanied King Alfonso of Sicily in the siege of Barbary and was appointed despotic governor of Malta and Gozo, as successor to his father-in-law Francesco Gatto. Their governorship became almost hereditary, being mortgaged to him and to his son by King Alfonso in 1437.

In 1432 King Alfonso visited Malta on his triumphant return from Barbary and was the guest of Francesco Gatto and Antonio Inguanez at the family house in Mdina (which is still in the possession of their descendants). As a reward for his services during the war in Barbary, the estate and garden of Saccajja near Mdina, was confirmed to Antonio on October 25, 1442. The united arms of Gatto and Inguanez were placed over the Fort St Angelo by King Alfonso, Francesco Gatto and Antonio Inguanez. Antonio Inguanez was very devout, and founded four benefices which exist today. He and Imperia had many children which caused a great division of his properties. He died in 1458, after which his son acquired the fiefs of Djar il Bniet, Buqana, and Budaq. Antonio’s son Angeraldo Gatto Inguanez was consigliere regio in 1439 and governor of Malta in 1469. Nothing more is know of him except that he married and had a son named Antonio Angeraldo Inguanez, who received his investiture from Palermo in 1472. In 1487 Antonio's wife received investiture of the fiefs on behalf of their son Giacomo Angeraldo Inguanez, who was a minor at the time.

[edit] 1500-1600

King Charles V sent an authoritative letter to the Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller giving Giacomo Angeraldo Inguanez and his kindred permission to sell their property and fiefs if they wished to leave Malta. Besides the two Baronies of Buqana and Djar il Bniet, Giacomo possessed the estates of Budaq. Antonio's second son of Marco Inguanez, succeeded his brother in 1589 and sold the estates of Budaq. Although Antonio had nominated his son Alessandro Inguanez as heir, but at the time of Antonio's death Alessandro's whereabouts were unknown.

[edit] 1600-1800

Alessandro's brother Marco took advantage of his absence, and owing to the uncertainty respecting his existence, usurped the Baronies in 1608, and held them until his death in 1612.

[edit] Alessandro Inguanez

Baron Alessandro Inguanez, the eldest son of Baron Inguanez, was denounced before the local Tribunal on several charges of heresy in 1608. 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 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 disembarked near Alexandretta and was captured by some fifteen Turks. He became a slave in the home of Bascia de Rey, where, after nearly two months, he converted to Islam with the help, so he claimed, of three hundred bastinado. Morato (Alessandro's assumed Muslim name) managed to escape and boarded a Flemish vessel in harbour, but he was recaptured when the Turks threatened to burn the ship. He was nearly executed, but was given another chance to repent. After serving his master faithfully, Morato was adopted by Bascia de Rey and married a Muslim woman named Fatima. But apparently, he still felt an alien in the Muslim environment and eventually escaped with the aid of two missionaries and a French consul.

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

[edit] Natural descent

The line of Inguanez became extinct with the death of the 14th Baron Marc’Antonio who died childless after two marriages. His brother Francesco, was born illegitimate by his father and an heiress of the Ghariexem ( junior branch of the Inguanez family). The decree of the fief of Djar-il-Bniet in 1351 carried the right of hereditary succession, provided that the heirs were legitimate descendants to avoid illegal possession of feudal lands. Archdeacon Lancia Inguanez who had inherited Ghariexem e Tabia from his father, granted the fief to his illegitimate son Antonio.

On December 25, 1760 Baron Inguanez died without issue and illegally nominated his cousin Gio Francesco d’Amico as successor. The legality of this nomination was contestable, since these fiefs were bequeathed to the Inguanez family by Francesco Gatto who stipulated that if the main branch of this family became extinct, his estate would pass first to his nearest descendants then to the church. To strengthen their claim Gio Francesco d’Amico immediately adopted the Inguanez surname. However, the Grand Master reclaimed the fiefs and instructed his secreto Count Preziosi and the Uditori, to inquire into the claim of d’Amico-Inguanez. The heirs of Francesco Inguanez protested that it was their inheritance, not some distant cousin such as the d’Amicos. (The d’Amicos were illegitimate descendants of a lady from Sicilian nobility). The present claimant is Principe Giuseppe Said (1949-, De Jure "27th" Baron di Djar-il-Bniet e Buqana). The Grand Master considered granting the natural descendants succession but it ended up becoming a personal choice as per will of Lancia Gatto.

The Grand Master granted the d’Amico-Inguanez family succession to the ancient titles, but the descendants of the 13th Baron continued to style themselves De jure Baron and Baroness di Djar-il-Bniet without hindrances from the d’Amico descendants. Legend has it that a supporter of the Tanti-Inguanez placed a spell on the title holders of Djar-il-Bniet e Buqana who were descendants of the d’Amico family, making them unable to produce heirs legitimately.^[3]

Though the source of this “spell” became known, as many died unmarried or childless. Upon hearing about these rumored spells the Grand Master realised his mistake, but died before he could change his decision. Francesco dei Baroni Ingunaez was unsuccessful in claiming the estates, which went to his distant cousin, Gio Francesco d’Amico, who succeeded as the 15th Baron and Capitano della Verga (c1764-75). Gio Francesco had one son who died unmarried in 1782. The estate then passed to the previous holder’s uncle who assumed the surname Inguanez and married into the Bonici family who held the Barony of Ghariexem e Tabia.

[edit] 1800-1900

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 also died unmarried in 1880. The title then went to Maria Teresa sister’s grand-daughter, the 20th Baroness Maria Francesca Carmen Sceberras-d’Amico-Inguanez (1880 - 1947).

[edit] 1900-1960

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 CMG, but failed to produce an heir and died in 1947. The titles yet again was succeeded by Maria Francesca sister’s eldest son, Alexander Chesney-Sceberras d’Amico-Inguanez, as the premier Baron of Malta. Alexander represented the Maltese nobility at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Alexander was a grandson of General F.R. Chesney; he was a major in the Worcestershire Regiment and was awarded the Military Cross and the Belgium Croix de guerre for service in World War II.^[4] Alexander died unmarried in 1960 and was succeeded by his sister Frances.

[edit] 1960 to present

Frances Chesney followed as 22nd Baroness of Djar-il-Bniet and the 18th Baroness di Castel Cicciano. She died unmarried in 1981, bringing the title yet again in abeyance. In 1983, the title was resurrected by the next living heir, Dr. Carmelo Apap-Bologna Sceberras d’Amico-Inguanez as the premier title holder of Malta and 23rd Baron. The present Baron is a descendant of the 17th Baron of Djar-il-Bniet, and third cousin twice removed to Frances Chesney. He is a member of the marquisate of the Gnien-is-Sultan family and is related to most of the Maltese Nobility. He attempted to gain Ghariexem e Tabia from a distant ancestor, who he suggested was senior heiress to the actual successor. After extensive research, it was discovered in the will of the late Baron that the titles would be split between two daughters with no recourse as each received extensive estates in Malta and Sicily. Baron Carmelo’s claim was denied as it was biased to the descendants of the Barony of Ghariexem e Tabia, and although he was heir to both Djar il-Bniet and Castel Cicciano, Castel Cicciano went to another branch. The Sicilian title of Montagna di Marzo went to the next male descendant of the Sceberras family, who still carries the title. Baron Carmelo has two sons and two daughters who will carry the Baronies on to another generation securing it within the Apap-Bologna family as the jewel of Malta.

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

Said Vassallo, C.M., Charles Said-Vassallo's Research site and Maltese Nobility web site.

1. ^ Gauci,C.A., The Genealogy and Heraldry of the Noble Families of Malta, Gulf Publishing Ltd, Malta, 1981
2. ^ Giles Ash, S., The Nobility of Malta, Publishers Enterprises Group Ltd, 1988
3. ^ John Mary Vassallo, Spells and Inquisitions in Malta, Malta 1956
4. ^ Gauci,C.A., The Genealogy and Heraldry of the Noble Families of Malta, Gulf Publishing Ltd, Malta, 1981