Frigenuini

The Barony of Frigenuini

The title of Frigenuini was first created for Gaddo Cuzkeri, the secretary of Malta in 1375 by King Frederick III of Sicily. Gaddo's family were of military and his father had served as a soldier in Messina and had intermarried with one of the well known Sicilian families who were very powerful.
His successors later moved back to Sicily and sold the title in 1513 to the Stuniga family. Ferrante de Stuniga was Vice-Admiral of Malta in 1498 and had intermarried with the local nobility. His son, Pietro served as Governor of Malta in 1521 and had purchased the title of Frigenuini. The title became abyence and brought back to the Order of St John after the 3rd Baroness had died in the early 17th century.

The Third regrant was granted to Alessandro Mompalao, who was a descendant of the Cuzkeri family. Alessandro Mompalao, Created, 1737 Barone di Frigenuini, to his lawful and Natural descendants., married 1732 to Adeodata Cuzkeri., died without legitimate issue.

His illegitimate child, Rosalea Mompalao ( 1743-85), grew up with the Mompalao family, and became de-Jure Baroness di Friguenuni. Was Mistress to the Marquis Diegio Moscati and Virissimo de Lancastre, Knight of Malta.
Saveria Moscati, Baroness di Frigenuni (1760-97), grew up with her mother in Valetta, Malta. She had two lovers with had children from. They were Marquis Antonio de Piro and the Lord Archibald Douglas-Hamilton. She is also noted as a Lover to one of the Bourbon Princes of Sicily.

Her son and successor, Senatore Alexandre Moscati ( 1774-1826). Grew up in Valletta, Malta. Was forced to flee Malta, due to raping the Most Noble Maria Teresa Testaferrata, which sired a daughter. Alexandre, was a Senator in Messina, Sicily.. He married firstly to a British Girl called Louisa Campbell, and sired several children from her. She died in 1802. He married secondly to the Noble Rosa d'Alessandro and sired several more children. Alexander was also the de jure Marquis di Xrobb-il-Ghajn, Baron di Frigenuni.
Anna Moscati (1792-1853), grew up in a convent in Malta. Took up cleaning duties for the Government. In the beginning of the year 1808, a French Prince, took an interest in her and asked if she could have her service with him, while in Malta.. De Jure Baroness of Frigenuini.
The affair only lasted a short time, as the Prince became more sickly and then died. Anna was pregnant by him, and was later married to a Michele Gauci in Mosta in 1810.
Teresa Gauci-Beaujolais, De-Jure Baroness di Frigenuini., married 1838 to Andrea dei Baroni Abela.
Anne Abela Gauci Beaujolais, Baroness di Frigenuini, , married 1857 to Francesco Vella., with issue.
Giuseppa Vella Gauci Beaujolais, (1862-1912), Baroness di Frigenuini, married 1894 to Pedro Sammut-Castelletti, with issue

Marianna Sammut Castelletti. (d.1939),"By nomination" De-Jure Baroness di Frigenuini., married 1926 to Nobile Bartolomeo Vassallo, Barone di Bauvso.

Mary Doris Vassallo (c 1953-De-Jure Baroness di Frigenuini (Noted By H.R.H, Principe Carlo di Bourbon-Dreux, Duca di Calabria)., married 1970 to Principe Giuseppe Said Testaferrata.

The fourth and final creation was to Gaetano Pisani in 1773 by the Grand Master of Malta. Gaetano was also a descendant of the Cuzkeri and married into the Mompalao family. His son Benedetto Pisani lived in Mdina and lived a life of debauchery, where his wife and daughter left him for Italy, her native homeland. His only child later returned to Malta and decided to became a Nun in Mdina over the life of a noblewomen, dying 1855. Later becoming Saint Maria Adeodata Pisani by the Vatican.

Present Title holders

The present titleholders are of the third grant from the only descendants which is of illegitimate of Alessandro Mompalao carry the title today.

Reference

* 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.

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