Maltese nobility

A system of nobility in Malta existed before 1975.

History
Main article: History of Malta

The feudal system was first established in Malta by Roger the Norman, who conquered the island in 1090. From 1530 to 1798 the island was ruled by the Knights Hospitaller (who became known as the Knights of Malta), and from 1800 to 1964 by the British. The Knights and the British both undertook to maintain the rights and privileges of the Maltese.

In the later nineteenth century the British government gave official recognition to several noble titles that had been created by the Grand Masters of the Knights of Malta and other fontes honorum. There were 29 title holders: nine marquises, ten counts and ten barons. The nobles were styled "The Most Noble" and took precedence among themselves according to the date of creation of their titles. In the Italian fashion, their heirs-apparent were styled marchesino, contino or baroncino, as appropriate.

Malta became an independent state in 1964 and a republic in 1974. Titles of nobility were abolished the following year.

List of noble titles
TitleCreatedCreated byRecognised by the BritishNotes
Count of Berberrua23 October 178311 May 1883No successful claim made
Baron of Benuarrat18 August 1737Grand Master Ramón Despuig30 April 1878
Baron of Budak23 April 1716Grand Master Ramón Perellós
Baron of Buleben25 April 1778Grand Master Emmanuel de Rohan
Marquis Cassar de Sain1749Grand Master Manuel Pinto da Fonseca18 May 1883
Count Chapelle10 January 1722Grand Master Marc'Antonio Zondadari30 April 1878
Count della Bahria16 May 1743No claim made since the count and his family died in the 1908 Messina earthquake
Count della Catena20 January 1745Grand Master Manuel Pinto da FonsecaThe 6th Count, Gerald Strickland, 1st Baron Strickland, was Prime Minister of Malta from 1927 to 1932
Baron della Grua30 December 1794Grand Master Emmanuel de Rohan
Count della Senia6 June 1795No successful claim made
Marquis della Taflia13 November 1790Grand Master Emmanuel de Rohan
Baron of Diar-il-Bniet4 January 1350King Louis of SicilyPremier Noble of Malta
Baron of Bukana4 November 1372Held with the barony of Diar-il-Bniet from 1404
Baron of Castel Cicciano1560King Philip II of Spain, as King of Naples and SicilyHeld with the barony of Diar-il-Bniet from 1880
Marquis of Fiddien15 June 1793Grand Master Emmanuel de Rohan
Count Fournier29 January 1770Empress Maria Theresa of Austria30 April 1878
Marquis of Ghain Kajet4 June 1796Grand Master Emmanuel de Rohan
Count of Ghain Toffieha7 January 1792
Marquis of Gnien-is-Sultan1 December 1792
Baron of Gomerino24 December 1710Grand Master Ramón Perellós
Count of Montalto8 July 1720Duke Francis I of Parma
Marquis Testaferrata-Olivier1748Grand Master Manuel Pinto da Fonseca11 May 1883
Marquis of Piro16 May 174318 May 1883No successful claim made
Count Preziosi10 October 1718King Victor Amadeus II of Sicily
Baron of Qlejjgah2 January 1737Grand Master Ramón Despuig
Marquis of St George2 January 1779
Baron of San Giovanni16 July 1777King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies30 April 1878
Baron of San Marciano14 June 1726Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena
Count Sant-Cassia22 December 1770Empress Maria Theresa of AustriaHeld with the barony of Ghariexem and Tabia from 1821
Baron of Ghariexem and Tabia14 April 1638Grand Master Giovanni Paolo LascarisHeld with the county of Sant from 1821
Marquis of San Vincenzo Ferreri10 November 1716King Philip V of Spain30 April 1878Held with the marquisate of Testaferrata
Marquis of Testaferrata13 July 1717King Victor Amadeus II of SicilyHeld with the marquisate of San Vicenzo Ferreri
Baron of Tabria11 December 1728Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena

References
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