Barony of Qlejjgha
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The Barony of Qlejjgha is a title of Maltese nobility. The current holder of the title is Agnese Gera de Petri, the eighth Baroness of Qlejjgha. She has nominated as her heir, her younger son, Dr. Andrea Gera de Petri LL.D., styled the Baroncino di Qlejjgha.
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
- Bonici 1737, the present title holders
The grant was created and bestowed upon Ignazio Bonici by Grand Master Despuig on June 2, 1737 with the title passing on to his descendants in perpetuity, each holder having the right to nominate a successor. If no nomination is made, the title then passes to the first born male descendant. In the absence of male descendants, the title passes to the first female descendant. Members of the clergy are precluded from succession by primogeniture.
Various other noblemen were commissioned to military posts in 1750. This included Baron Bonici who was appointed Primotenente of the First Company of the Falconieri.
The title was passed from father to son until the third Baron died in 1809, and his eldest daughter became the fourth Baroness. She died childless, and was succeeded by her nephew.
Emanuele Testaferrata-Bonici-Ghaxaq was the fifth Marquis di San Vincenzo Ferreri and Testaferrata (See the history of the Testaferrata), and inherited the title of Baron di Qlejjha as the fifth Baron.
The combined titles were inherited from father to son, and in 1945 on the death of the seventh Marquis, also the sixth Baron, the title was split between two sons.
The elder eighth Marquis died unmarried in 1988, and the younger son, the 7th Baron, died in 1982, and both titles rejoined with the 7th Baron’s daughter Agnes. The title of Marquisate Testaferrata went to the next male descendant. As the eldest daughter of the seventh Baron di Qlejja, Agnes succeeded as the ninth Baroness di Qlejja in 1982, and as the ninth Marchioness di San Vincenzo Ferreri in 1988.
Agnes married Alfred Gera de Petri in 1973, and has three children.
Agnes Gera De Petri's heirs are her sons, Daniel Gera de Petri-Testaferrata-Bonici, as the Marchesino di San Vincenzo Ferreri, and her younger son Dr. Andrea Gera de Petri-Testaferrata-Bonici-Ghaxaq LL.D. as the Baroncino di Qlejja.
[edit] References
- Said Vassallo, C.M., Unpublished research papers.
- Said Vassallo, C.M.,Charles Said-Vassallo's Research site and Maltese Nobility web site.
- Montalto, J., "The Nobles of Malta-1530-1800", Midsea Books Ltd, Malta, 1980.
- Burkes Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage of the UK.- 1914 ed.
- Cassar Desain, Marchese L.A., " Genealogia della famiglia Testaferrata di Malta." Malta, 1880.
- Gauci,C.A.," The Genealogy and Heraldry of the Noble Families of Malta", Gulf Publishing Ltd, Malta, 1981.
- Gauci,C.A.," The Genealogy and Heraldry of the Noble Families of Malta, Volume Two", Publishers Enterprises Group (PEG) Ltd, 1992.
- Gauci,C.A and Mallet, P.,"The Palaeologos Family- A Genealogical Review" ,Publishers Enterprises Group (PEG) Ltd, 1985
- Gauci, C.A.," A Guide to the Maltese Nobility", Publishers Enterprise Group (PEG) Ltd, Malta, 1986.
- Giles Ash, S., "The Nobility of Malta", Publishers Enterprises Group (PEG) Ltd, 1988.
