Barony di San Marciano (Barons of San Marciano) are a Maltese noble family.
The fief of San Marciano was first created to the Cadumi family in 1398, and later regranted to the Galea-Feriol family in 1726.
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. Members of the Clergy are precluded from succession by primogeniture.
The Barons Pisani and Galea-Feriol, Marquis Testaferrata and Count Sant were the first titled Jurats ever to serve together in 1776.
Ironically, the death of Gumare Galea, in 1761, gave the Grand Master an unexpected chance to show his goodwill towards the Maltese Nobility. As Galea had been a tenente in the Urban Militia, Pinto ordered to have him buried with 'all pomp and full military honours'. The first time that such a privilege was bestowed on Maltese. The funeral cortege was attended by the militia and by most of the nobility and other prominent Maltese. The service was conducted in the Greek Church of Valletta, and the corpse was taken to the Jesuit Church for Burial.
The Cortege started from the house of the Baron di San Marciano. The corspe was carried through the streets of Valletta to the sounds of a drum. The chains of the palace Piazza were removed for the passage of the procession. The coffin was covered with a black velvet cloth bearing the arms of the family.
Under the French occupation, the parents had to pay 800 livres for their sons' board and lodging, and 600 livres for their passage on board French warships. The chosen studnets had to waer 'blue trousers and waistcoats, red cuffs, and facing and white pipings'. Those families who refused to send their sons to France were to be fined 1000 scudi. Among those who were intially chosen were the young Count Fontani, the three sons of Count Sant, and four other boys whose fathers were respectively Baron Galea, Marquis Mallia, Count Manduca, and Marquis Testaferrata.
The succession of the Barony from father to son came to end in 1884, with the death of the 6th Baron, who died childless, and was succeeded by his brother, the 7th Baron. Pietro Paolo Galea, married Vincenza of the very wealthy Feriol family. He inherited, in trust, the Feriol property, which included the family palazzi in Valletta and Notabile.
His great grand son, Baron Lorenzo Galea Feriol, married Angela Saliba, thus increasing the family fortune through asquisition of the Saliba entail. In 1775, this entail together with other properties of the family was estimated to be worth 51,662 scudi, of which one fifth was in the form of investments and capital
Upon the death of the 7th Baron, an act of nomination, his daughter Emilia Galea-Feriol succeeded as the 8th Baroness, and she married Dr Salvatore Trapani LL.D, a Magistrate.
The Primogeniture was succeeded to by Emilia’s brother and also one time Baroncino di San Marciano. His descendants still carry the primogeniture.
Emilia, died in 1943, to be succeeded by her son Nicolino, as the 9th Baron, then his son Gino on the year of 1963
Gino Trapani-Galea-Feriol, is presently the 10th Baron, and his heir, the eldest son Michael, Baroncino di San Marciano
References:
* 1) Gauci,C.A.," The Genealogy and Heraldry of the Noble Families of Malta", Gulf Publishing Ltd, Malta, 1981.
* 2) Gauci,C.A.," The Genealogy and Heraldry of the Noble Families of Malta, Volume Two", Publishers Enterprises Group (PEG) Ltd, 1992.
* 3) Gauci,C.A and Mallet, P.,"The Palaeologos Family- A Genealogical Review",Publishers Enterprises Group (PEG) Ltd, 1985
* 4) Gauci, C.A.," A Guide to the Maltese Nobility", Publishers Enterprise Group (PEG) Ltd, Malta, 1986.
* 5) Montalto, J., "The Nobles of Malta-1530-1800", Midsea Books Ltd, Malta, 1980.
* 6) De Piro, N., "Casa Rocco Piccola", The Conde' Nast Publications 1999.'[Casa Rocco Piccola Palazzo]
* 7) Giles Ash, S., "The Nobility of Malta", Publishers Enterprises Group (PEG) Ltd, 1988.
* 8) Said Vassallo, C.M., Unpublished research papers.
* 9) Said Vassallo, C.M.,[Charles Said-Vassallo's Research site] and[Maltese Nobility web site].
This Research was researched by Charles Said-Vassallo
(Text originally based on that of a website by Charles Said Vassallo, by permission.)
