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The Roman Patricanship of Ciantar
The dignity of Patrician of Rome (Wzzini/Ciantar?? (1744)
Footnote: Another “Dignity
of Roman Patrician” appears to have been granted in 1744.
In 1878, this dignity was
claimed by Conte Serafino
Ciantar. However, it appears that this claimant
did not produce any proof.
The Royal Commissioners
dismissed this claim because, the same Commissioners decided not only that the
claimant did not provide any proof whatsoever BUT ALSO because the same
Commissioners held that this dignity was a mere municipal honour
and not one emanating from a foreign sovereign, or fons honorum. (“Correspondence
and Report of the Commission appointed to enquire into the claims and grievances
of the Maltese Nobility”, May 1878, presented to both Houses of
Parliament by Command of Her Majesty (C.-2033.) (See Report Para. 240)).
Thus, as far as the
Commissioners were concerned, once they regarded this dignity as a municipal honour,
it did not fall within the remit of the Commission because the Commissioners
were of the opinion that once it is a municipal honour it does not qualify to
be registered in accordance with the rules of 1739 and 1795 as enacted by Grand
Masters Despuig and Rohan.
The actual report says the
following:
“Two
similar diplomas of Roman Patricians are mentioned in the Committee list, dated
respectively the 6th July 1674 and the 4th July 1744”..the
latter being claimed by the Conte Serafino
Ciantar. No proof or document whatever having been
produced concerning these grants, such claims cannot be consequently allowed.
However, upon a more detailed
analysis about the nature of this dignity, it appears that contrary to what was
held by the Commissioners, that the 1744 dignity (if proven) is in fact a
conferral of nobility because the city of Rome acted as a fons honorum (fountain of honour). See also http://cilialacorte.com/Patriciates.htm.
Sadly, from a reading of the
Report, there is no indication as to who was the original grantee of the 1744
dignity.
Updated January 2007