Count of Beberrua

The Count of Beberrua was a title of Maltese nobility. According to the original letters patent this title is extinct unless there are male descendants of Emmanuele Caruana Gatto.

Origins

The Title was initially created in 1465 and regranted in 1783 to Dr. Luigi Maria Gatto, LL.D, a Major of Cavalry under the Knights of St. John. He was also private secretary to Sir Alexander Ball, the first British Governor of Malta.

The title of Count of Beberrua was created by Grand Master de Rohan-Polduc.

Dispute over hereditary nature of title

The 1878 Royal Commission title was granted without any reference as to succession - for this reason it was at first disallowed by the Royal Commission, who regarded the grant as having been made ad personam, without the right of succession.

However, the Members of the Committee of Privileges of the Maltese Nobility refused to accept this ruling and they presented a petition to the British Government on behalf of Dr. Nicola Gatt, the original grantee’s son and a prominent member of the local legal profession. The petition claimed that the grant of a real proper and noble fief had been erected. It went on to say

"Our opinion is that the title at the death of the grantee rested in Conte Nicolo Gatt LL.D, the surviving son of the person first ennobled, and that it should continue to descend de primogenito in primogenitum in finitum to the male descendants of the grantee. Under these circumstances we consider this title fully deserving the grant and favour of recognition from the Crown, that the bearer may have his name duly extended in the Official list if Titolate."

The British Secretary of State accepted this recommendation from the Committee of Privileges, “without prejudice to any decision of a competent court of law “ and on May 11, 1883, directed that Dr. Nicola Gatt be accepted as Count of Beberrua.

Female succession

In 1945, Maria Gandolfo was recognised by the Committee of Privileges of the Maltese Nobility as the first Countess of Beberrua. When Countess Maria Gandolfo died without issue in 1952, Marquis Paolo Nicola’s daughter, Maria Teresa Apap Bologna Caruana Gatt eventually succeeded to the title.

At this time Dr. Joseph Borg Olivier de Puget Paleologo LLD ran an unsuccessful campaign to be recognised as Count of Beberrua. This gentleman (the Prince of Selimbria) was related to the First (and de jure Last) Count through a collateral line.

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  • Said Vassallo, C.M., Unpublished research papers.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.