Fiddien

The title of Fiddien was first created in 1287 to the Santa Sofia family, and then regranted to the Torres in 1520 and to the Mallia Tabone family in 1785.

The case of the Fiddien fief which was parceled up and thus had to be brought in stages by the Knights Hospitaller. Benedetto and Andrea Azzopardi, Angelo Vella, and Pasquale Calleja sold their respective shares during the period of 1624 and 1625.

The creation of this title in 1785 was granted to Salvatore Mallia Tabone by Grand Master de Rohan-Polduc, firstly as a life time title, then in 1793 granted extended to the first male descendants only.
On the other hand, the title of Marquis of Fiddien was also granted ad personam to Salvatore Mallia-Tabone on 15th. October 1785. The Marquis later entered a petition pleading for the title to be extended to his legitimate and natural male descendants successively and in default of male issue to his female descendants. In this case, the Grandmaster only allowed extension to the Marquis’s first-born male descendants.

A petitioner was Salvatore Angelo Mallia Tabone who applied the magistracy for his ennoblement. To support his application, Salvatore claimed descent from Agostino Tabone who was described as “one of the heroes during the 1565 Seige”.

During the last years of the Order of Malta, Hompesch appointed three Counts (Manduca, Barbaro and Teuma Castelletti) and one Marquis (Mallia-Tabone) as Jurats of Notabile Mdina.

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 students had to wear '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 initially 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.

Meanwhile, the blockade of the French in Malta continued and their circumstances worsened. Also, some noble families suffered great hardship as a result of stringent requests from General Claude-Henri Belgrand de Vaubois. The Mallia Tabones were forced to loan money to pay the French soldiers, their house requisitioned and the whole family forced out of Valletta.

After the death of Salvatore Angelo, the 1st Marquis, his elder son succeeded as the 2nd Marquis. Marquis Gio Antonio had married firstly in 1814 to the Noble Madalena dei Baroni Gauci Ducoss and had several children. He married secondly to a Maria Galea, with further issue.

Salvatore succeeded as the 3rd Marquis, and marrying Antonia Galea and had a large family, ensuring heirs to the Marquisate.

His elder son Giovanni succeeded as the 4th Marquis dying in 1907 and his only son succeeded as the 5th Marquis. Giuseppe died in 1926.

Giuseppe unmarried leaving the title to his first cousin, Salvatore, the 6th Marquis whom also died unmarried in 1955.
His brother Giuseppe was in motion to succeed as the 7th Marquis, but died short of a year of his brother’s death in 1956. So the younger bother, Nicola, living in Mosta in Malta succeeded as the 7th Marquis. Nicola was a farmer producing vegetables for the community and also was a hobby and lifestyle living off the land. Nicola died unmarried as well in 1973. His sisters also all unmarried.

The male descendants of the 3rd Marquis in male descent were extinct. The daughters of the 3rd Marquis left descendants. The elder daughter, Maria Teresa had married the third Count of Ghajn Tuffieha and her descendants had mostly migrated to Canada and weren’t interested in succession.

The second daughter of the 3rd Marquis died young leaving a daughter whom also died before 1973 without issue.

The Younger daughter of the 3rd Marquis, Eleanora, had married Raffaele Caruana Dingli of the Famous and well-known Artist family. Eleanora leaving two sons, but the younger surviving son, Salvatore Caruana Dingli succeeded as the 8th Marquis.

Yet again in 1983, Salvatore died unmarried. His elder brother whom left two daughters had sons of their own. The eldest daughter had married Anthony Curmi and the younger daughter had married Joseph Laferla.

Both John Curmi and John Laferla both claimants to the Marquisate of Fiddien. But as the eldest descendant of the 3rd Marquis was John Curmi. The committee of Priviledges called the title out of abeyance and gave succession to Dr John Laferla LLD. John succeeded as the 9th Marquis of Fiddien.

The Mallia-Tabone held the Marquisate of Fiddien till 1973 and was succeeded by Salvatore Caruana Dingli, as the 8th Marquis, though died unmarried in 1983. The title was succeeded by Salvatore sister’s grandson, Dr John Laferla LL.D as the 9th Marquis, and the present holder.

Dr John Laferla LL.D is a descendant of the 3rd Marquis di Fiddien.

Dr John Laferla LLD, had married Dr Jeanette Saliba LLD and had one son, Michael whom succeeded after John’s life was cut short with a major illness at the beginning of 2003.

Michael Laferla though young is presently the 10th marquis of Fiddien and the only child of Dr John Laferla LLD.

 References 

* Said Vassallo, C.M., Unpublished research papers.
* Said Vassallo, C.M.,[Charles Said-Vassallo's Research site] and[Maltese Nobility web site].