County of Malta

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The County of Malta existed from 1190 until 1427, as part of the Kingdom of Sicily.

[edit] The Grand Feudal Lords (Counts) of Malta

1190–1197 Margaritone da Brindisi, Grand Admiral of Sicily, Principe di Tarento and Duca di Durazzo. Count of Malta.
1197-1204 Guglielmo da Brindisi, son of Margaritone. Count of Malta.
1204-1265 Enrico Pistore, son-in-law of Guglielmo., Count of Malta.
1265-1266 Nicolo Pistore, son of Enrico, Count of Malta.
1266-1285 Vacant.
1285-1296 Lucina Pistore, daughter of Nicolo, Countess of Malta.
1296 Ruggiero de Flohr, Vice Admiral of Sicily., Count of Malta.
1296-1330 Vacant.
1330 | Prince William of Sicily, younger son of King Frederick II of Sicily., Count of Malta.
1330-1348 Prince John of Sicily, Duke of Athens younger son of King Frederick II of Sicily, Count of Malta.
1348-1350 Prince Frederick of Sicily, son of John., Count of Malta.
1350-1398 | Marco de Vassallo, grandson of Prince John. De-Jure Count of Malta
1398-1452 Bartolomeo de Vassallo, son of Marco. De-Jure Count of Malta.
1350 on the 5th October 1350 the fief of Malta was directly incorporated to the crown of Sicily (First Incorporation).

Between 1357 - 1360 Malta was governed by the | Acciajoli and Chiaramonete Families.

1360-1362 | Guido Ventimiglia, Conte di Golifano, Count of Malta.
1362-1377
1377 Guglielmo d'Aragona, illegitimate son of Frederick III of Sicily, Count of Malta.
1377-1391 Giacomo d'Aragon, illegitimate son of Frederick III of Sicily, Count of Malta.
1391-1394 Guglielmo | Raimondo de Moncada, Marquis of Malta.
1394-1397 Artale d'Alagona, Count of Malta.

War broke out between the D'Alagona and Moncada families with one or the other claiming the fief of Malta. The years 1391-1397 are known as the "Age of Tyrants" due to the suffering incurred by the Maltese people under these feudal lords. One 27th November 1397, Malta was again directly incorporated to the Crown of Sicily (Second Incorporation)

1420-1425 Don Antonio Cardona, Viceroy of Sicily, Count of Malta.
1425 Don Gonsalvo Monroy, Count of Malta.

The Maltese led by the nobles, rose in rebellion and forced the Count to flee the island. The cost of the fief was paid back to Monroy by the people of Malta who endured terrible hardships to raise the money. On the 3rd January 1427, King Alfonso directly incorporated Malta to the Crown of Sicily and promised that never again would Malta be granted as a fief (a promise already given and broken in the first and second incorporations) as a token of his Royal sincereity he gave the Maltese permission to take arms against him or his descendants without incurring the penalty for high treason, should his promise ever be broken. It was!... on the 23rd March 1530, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and Suzerain of Sicily and Malta, a descendant of Alfonso, ceded the Maltese islands to the Order of St John of Jerusalem and of Rhodes.