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Created 23 May 1560, Dr.Francesco Mego LL.D, 1st Baron of Castel Cicciano, by Philip I of king of Sicily and Naples (Philip II of Spain).
The association between this legal post of Uditore and the nobility was somewhat remote. In fact, during the entire period under review there was only one title-holder, Francesco Mego, who held this important appointment. It was during the Grand Mastership of La Valette that Mego became Uditore. He was one of the Rhodians who went into exile with the Knights and subsequently settled in Malta. In December 1563, Auditor Mego signed the historic 'bando' or proclaimation, enforcing all Barons and feudatories to provide armed men and horses in virture of their Knight-Service
In 1560, Mego managed to 'buy' the Barony of Castel Cicciano and, nine years later, he was granted an annual fief of 150 scudi by the Chapter-General of the Order.
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.
With regards to Malta, those Barons and holders of fiefs who remained on the island after the arrival of the knights, or returned from Sicily, retired to Mdina where, a few years before the Seige, La Valette issued a bando, through his Uditore Mego, Baron di Castel Cicciano, ordering them to fulfil their feudal obligations by providing the necessary men and horses. They still formed part of the cavalry, but they had no say in its leadership. Although they are not mentioned specifically during the Seige, their horses were amongst the cavalry which sacked the Turkish camps in August 1565.In the Acts of Notary Giuseppe Mamo (21st August 1580) reference is made to the Acts of Notary Vincenzo Bonaventura de Bonetis wherein is recorded that the fief of Castel Cicciano situated in the Provence of Naples on the 23rd of May 1560 purchased by Francesco Mego from Cristoforo Grimaldi. The Royal Assent to this transaction was granted on the 12th August of the same year by Perefan de Riberia, Duke of Adcata, Viceroy in the name of his Majesty , King Philip 1 of Sicily and Naples II, of Spain.
(Count.C.A. Gauci-The Genealogy and Heraldry of the Noble Families of Malta, 1981)
Francesco Mego, 1st Baron di Castel Cicciano, was a Uditore of the Grand Master La Valette, and died 1572.
His Son Gio Antonio Mego, became the 2nd Baron, but died without issue in 1580.
His sister’s son became the 3rd Baron-Francesco Scerri, a Judge and Assesore of the Corte Capitano . Throughout this period there was only one office-holder who could claim to have had a direct title of nobility. He was Barone Gregorio Xerri of Castel Cicciano, who occupied the office for twenty two years during the first quarter of the seventeenth century. By coincidence, the last 'Secreto' during the same century was another Baron di Castel Cicciano, Paolo Testaferrata, who acquired the title through marriage.
He married twice, firstly to Imperia Surdo, and secondly to Garita Xuereb. Fathered Children by both of them, died 1581.
The need to sell the family estates does not appear to have affected those who had been enfeoffed by the order. On the contrary, there are indications that they enjoyed moderate wealth, especially the Mego and the Xerri families. On the 31 August 1560, Francesco Mego gained his title by purchasing the Barony di Castel Cicciano from Cristoforo Grimaldi for the substantial sum of 1500 ducats. Nine years later, Mego, who was both Vice Chancellor and Auditor of the Order, was granted a basic annual fee of 150 scudi by the Chapter General of the Religion.
The Xerri family (who sebsequently acquired the Barony di Castel Cicciano) emerged from debt to relative prosperity. In 1576 (Four years before he obtained his title), Francesco Xerri owned the sum of 700 scudi to Grand Master de la Cassiere. However, when the Baron died in 1581, it appears, from an inventory of his 'beni', that he was , or was rather had been , a man of considerable substance. His son, Gregorio, who inherited the Barony was the one who benefited from the financial recuperation of his family. In 1582, he bought the fertile estates of Djar iz Zara from Vincezo Xuereb for 613 Scudi. Xerri died on the 10 June 1625 and, through his will, he erected a Cumolo di Carita which had to be finaced from his estate. In 1630 this yielded 500 scudi annually, which included only 9 scudi for his large house at Notabile. This sum accounted for one-eleveth of the rent acquired through the major territory know as tal-baccar. His estate also inculded eleven other holdings.
His son by his first marriage, Gregorio became the 4th Baron, also was a Jurat of Notabile, Tesoriere, secreto and Capitano della Verga (1584-1623). Gregorio died in 1623, succeeded by his eldest Daughter, Margarita Scerri’s Husband in her Right.
Dr Ascanio Surdo LL.D, Became the 5th Baron via his wife, was also created a Hereditary Patrician and Senator of Rome in 1590. He was Nominated with Royal Assent by his Kinsman and father-in-Law.
He died in 1663.
Their eldest daughter, Madalena Surdo succeeded to the Title as Baroness and married in 1613 to Giacinto Cassia, the 1st Baron of Ghariexem e Tabia, where the House of Cassia had the combined titles till 1686. (see house of Cassia)
Beatrice Cassia, succeeded to the Barony in 1686 as the 9th Baroness, and married Paolo Testaferrata in 1674.
They were jointly created the Baron and Baroness di Gomerino in 1710 (see Gomerino)
The Testaferrata’s held this title till the 11th Holder, who married a Sceberras, where this family still hold to this very day.
After the destruction of the Cathedral at Mdina, the chapter met and approved the plans to have it rebuilt and it was also decided to buy and demolish all the houses adjacent to the site to provide an extension of the 'piazza' in front of the new Cathedral. One of the houses needed belonged to Baron Paolo Testaferrata, who refused to sell his property despite an offer of 650 scudi. Baron Paolo did not want to neotiate and after an interval of several months, an angry mob pulled down part of his house. In 1694 it was recorded that the Baron was willing to give his house, to extend the piazza. In the event Paolo never sold the house to the Cathedral, it was evenually purchased by a third party who subsequently sold it to the Chapter in the first decade of the eighteenth century.
Fabritio, the second Baron di Castel Cicciano was in 1714 appointed Desositario in addition to being the administrator of the Grand Master's property. Baron Fabritio remained in office for the next twenty-nine years. With the appointment of Paolo Passionei as the new Inquisitor in 1743, Fabritio asked to be relieved of the duties of his post while retaining the rights and prerogatives to which he was entitled. These included that of keeping the reversions of the office in his own family, even in default of male heirs. Unfamiliar with these tradional prerogatives, Passionei proposed a certain Canon Grech to succeed Fabritio, who had no male heirs.
In August 1744 Fabritio died. His daughter Clara, who married Michele Sceberras, became the Baroness di Castel Cicciano, whilst the Gomerino was bequested to Fabrito's brother Ercole. The appointment of Signor Ercole Testaferrata, as Depositario in succession to Fabritio, was made directly by the Holy Office on 10 October 1744, and showed the importance that Rome attached to this post being held by a Testaferrata. His nomination created no problems because 'he has his brother's surname'. Passionei resented Ercole's appointment not only because he had never recommended him, also because Ercole's own brother had refused to renounce the patient in his favour on the grounds of Ercole's infirmities, old age and lack of certain personal qualities. The Holy Office was also asked to reconsider its decision in view of Ercole's precarious financial postion. According to the Inquisitor, the real wealth of the Testaferratas was in the entail which had all been inherited by the Sceberras family, and Ercole was dependant on his wife's dowry as his own income was earmarked for the payment of outstanding debts. But despite these protests Ercole was confirmed in his appointment, untill he dies on 11 October 1748.
Sir Pasquale Sceberras-Testaferrata, succeeded as the 14th Baron, marrying an Heiress to the Barony di Djar-il-Bniet e Buqana (see Djar-il-Bniet for further history) which carried both titles jointly together untill the death of Frances Chesney in 1981.
The title of Castel Cicciano lay in abeyance till a descendant of Sir Pasquale Sceberras-Testaferrata, 14th Baron di Castel Cicciano, Baron di Montagna di Marza succeeded to it in the same year.
Carole Ann Sceberras-Trigona is the Present holder and 19th Baroness. Her Heir is her uncle Ronald Frederick Sceberras-Trigona, who is the present Baron di Montaga di Marza. Carole’s father and brother died before 1981 and was Carole next of kin.
Its interesting to note, that the Title of Djar-il-Bniet e Buqana, went to the 15th Baron’s sister descendants, to the Apap-Bologna family. One may argue, the titles were permantly split forever (Castel Cicciano and Djar-il-Bniet e Buqana)
Ronald will be the last from the House of Sceberras to succeed to the Barony of Castel Cicciano as his further heir will from his eldest Daughter . Benjamin Harany-Trigona, who will one day succeed as the Baron di Castel Cicciano, and yet again another Title leaves the Maltese surname.
The Barony of Castel Cicciano is an Ancient title in Malta, with strong roots to Naples, which shows the history of what changes Malta underwent during its long and interesting connections
This Research was researched by
(Text originally based on that of a website by Charles Said Vassallo, by permission.)
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