Principe de Sayd

The title of Principe de Sayd is a title of Maltese nobility of Turkish descent. It was first created by Pope Alexander VI as a remainder to Cem's descendants that they were of Imperial princely descent. Cem was the pretender to the throne of the Ottoman Empire who had battled with his brother, Beyazid II, and was eventually exiled to Europe.

Title of Principe de Sayd
*Created: 1492
*To: Principe Pierre Mehmed Sayd of the Ottoman Empire
*By: Pope Alexander VI Borgia
*Remainder: Singularly to all the descendants of Principe Mehmed Sayd in the male primogenial line born in the Christian faith.
*Present Holder: Principe Giuseppe Said, 20th Principe de Sayd
*Present male-to-male descendants can style: "dei Principe Said"

Title of Visconte de Sayd
*Created: 1509
*To: Principe Pierre Mehmed Sayd of the Ottoman Empire
*By: Kingdom of Naples
*Remainder: Singularly to all the descendants of Principe Mehmed Sayd in the male primogenial line born in the Christian faith.
*Present Holder: Principe Giuseppe Said, 20th Visconte de Sayd

History
Ottoman Empire
De Sayd is a small though familiar Maltese surname established on the Maltese Isles since the 16th century. Established the future for the Knights of the order of St John, which history has not documented very well, which was of relevance to the next several centuries. A family of Imperial blood, the De Sayds were important in Europe as the heirs of the Ottoman Empire. Sultan Osman, the younger son of Sultan Mehmed III, though elder son born during the reign of his father, took the reins of the Empire. His eldest brother and heir were furious and left his governing province for the Empire's capital to inherit what he had assumed his rightful legacy. Battle took place, brother against brother, though Djem failed to secure his believed rights of the Ottoman Empire. Djem fled first to Egypt, under the protection of the Sultan of Egypt, then to Rhodes Islands.

The orders of St. John were Masters of the Isles and had hoped to gain help to resecure his claim age. Djem's stay on the Rhodes Islands was interesting as his union with an Italian noblewomen produced several descendants. After several years, Djem found that he was no closer than when he arrived, so upon an invitation to the Papal States and the grace and favor of Pope Alexander VI Borgia which started Djem and his descendants their pretension of the Ottoman Empire in Europe. The Pope had acknowledged Djem's sons as Princes of Royal and Imperial blood, with the title of "Prince de Sayd" in 1492.

Sultan Djem's invitation to Rome was the start of his European tour to gain support for his "Christian" conversation of the Ottoman Empire from the European powers such as France, Holy Roman Empire, Spain and the Italian States and Kingdoms. During his tour he gained many acknowledgements and honours though support for a "Crusade" was lacking and uninteresting to the European Powers.

Sultan Djem was recognized by the following as H.I.H, Prince and Sultan Djem Sayd of the Ottoman Empire:

*- Knight of St. John in Rhodes Island, 1482 by Pierre d’Aubusson and the successive Grand Masters of St. John in Rhodes Island;
*- Pope Alexander VI Borgia-Acknowledged Djem’s eldest son as Prince de Sang;
*- Pope Innocent VIII Cybo- Acknowledged Djem as Prince of Ottoman Empire;
*- King Charles VIII of France-Acknowledged Djem with the titles of Prince de Sang in France and his descendants in 1484;
*- Duca Ercole I of Ferrara, and Reggio, Acknowledged and Created Djem a Noble of Ferrera and Reggio;
*- The Doge of Genoa, acknowledged Djem as Prince de Sang, Patrician of Genoa. The Doge Doria, later offered his granddaughter to Djem’s son in marriage;
*- Duca Lodovico Sforza of Milan acknowledged Djem and offered one of his illegitimate daughters in Marriage;
*- Duca Alfonso II d’Este of Modena, acknowledged Djem ;
*- King Ferrante I of Naples, acknowledged Djem as a Royal cousin and provided the title of Viscount de Sayd to Djem’s son;
*- King Ferrante II of Naples, reacknowledged Djem;
*- Duca Carlo I di Savoie, acknowledged Djem;
*- Duca Carlo II di Savoie ;
*- King Ferdinand II of Sicily, acknowledged as King of Aragon, Spain and of Sicily.
*- Grand Duke Lorenzo I de Medici of Tuscany
*- Conte Guidone Ubaldo I of Urbino
*- Doge Marco Barbarigo of Venice
*- Doge Giovanni Mocenigo of Venice
*- Emperor Frederick III of the Holy Roman Empire acknowledged Djem as Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and granted Djem and his descendants Hereditary Knighthood of the Holy Roman Empire. Recognised Djem as Prince de Sang. Also offered Djem a Duchy in the Balkans.
*- King John II of Portugal
*- Queen Isabella I of Castile and Leon, Queen of Spain
*- Queen Catalina de Albert of Navarre
*- King Fernando II of Aragon, King of Spain.
*- King Hans of Denmark
*- Grand Master Martin von Wetzhausen of the Teutonic Order
*- Duke Magnus II of Mecklenburg
*- Duke Wilhelm IV of Juliers
*- Landgraves Wilhelm I of Hesse
*- Duke Johann II of Cleves
*- Duke Albert IV of Bavaria

Upon his return to Rome, he settled his family outside Rome. His eldest son had married a daughter of a Genoese diplomat in Rome. , the Principe de Sayd moved to the Neapolitan capital of Naples. Djem was dead, poisoned by the Borgia household, though some suspect that it could have been the Pope or his sister. But this has been unproven, but sources have stated that Djem’s brother, the Sultan had paid off the Pope to kill Djem 'off'.

The Knights of St. John fought and lost Rhodes Islands then moved to the Neapolitan Kingdom waiting for a defense to retake their lost island. But under the Spanish succession, Malta, seem to be the likely place where the Knights could move. Malta was a fief under the Spanish Neapolitan kingdom and was given as a token to the Knights. The family of Sayd has established in Malta by this stage, with the younger branch of the 1st Prince de Sayd. Initially the Younger branch established at Birgu, and then moved to Santi, and Zebbug.

Another family in Malta were of Arabic origin whom were scattered throughout Malta, a small family, which only a branch succeeds today. The descendants of Djem arrived in two stages. The elder branch moved from Naples to Sicily and the younger branch moved to Malta about the 1500’s. The elder branch was claimants to the throne of Ottoman Empire and intermarried with Sicilian families. In the mid 17th century, the head of the Imperial House moved to Malta and lived at Mdina as grace and favour of the Grand Masters. Though the elder line died out during the late 17th century, though in Sicily, an illegitimate heir took upon his pretensions to his claimant. The importance of having such Imperial family living in Malta was considered as a safe haven, but also as bait to the Ottoman Turks.

Within several years of the Princely family settlement in Malta, the Grand Siege of Malta had begun. The Ottoman Empire knew the threats of the pretentsive family and what it meant to an Empire that was strong and mighty. All enemies to an Empire were needed to be exhausted. The Grand Master knew of what fate lay ahead, though through determination and strength from the Maltese, Knights and the European powers to over power the Turks once and for. Success was achieved eventually and the Turks left to never be heard of again.

Upon the succession of the Grand Siege of Malta, the imperial family lost favour and respect. There was no further need of them and slowly and eventually moved into civilian life. The elder line died out at the end of the 17th century, with succession and acknowledgement by the Grand Master of Malta, of Salvatore Sayd, as the Prince de Sayd e Bibino Magno with rights as "His Highness," instead of "His Imperial Highness."

The younger branch who settled at the beginning of the 16th century became successful and their descendants widespread throughout the islands. The elder branch that carried the Sicilian title of Barony and Princely di Bibino Magno was succeeded by marriage to Salvatore Sayd. Principi Salvatore Sayd had lived in Zebbug and at Santi in Malta.
The family continued at each generation with styles of their titles, but led a peaceful life as landowners of properties throughout Malta. Upon Napoleon's overthrow of the Knights in Malta and the burning of "Letters Patent" of many noble families and executions of many whom led coups against the French. Principi Giovanni Maria Sayd, led a revolt against the French with many of the educated and members of the leading families of Malta were caught and all lined up to be executed by the firing squad of 1799.

Principi Giovanni Maria Sayd's descendants, since the execution have lived almost recluse non-public life, and under the British, never bothered to obtain recognition for their inheritance. Fortunately, the elder line kept key documentation and data, which survived, to the present family.
Today, acknowledgement has been plenty some and their aim to continue its heritage for successive generations to come and also to inform other families' member of such history it has.

The late head of the family was the second son of Principi Francesco Saverio Sayd. The elder son had acknowledged and accepted his rights to his younger brother, with only succession to the Maltese Barony of Baccari. Further more inheritance of monies was agreed upon before moving to Australia prior to World War II.

Cem was the younger brother of Sultan Bayezid. When Mehmet the Conqueror had died, Bayezid was the governor of Sivas, Tokat and Amasya, Cem ruled the province of Karaman and Konya.

Karamani Mehmet Pasha, the last grand vizier of Sultan Mehmet II, sent two messengers to both of the shehzades just after the death of Sultan. But the messenger sent to Cem had been caught on the way by Sinan Pasha the Anatolia Deputy. Cem could have learnt his father's death four days later. The Yeniceris revolted and killed Karamani Mehmet Pasha as a result of this event. They enthroned Korkut the son of Bayezid as the regent on May 4, 1481.

Prince Bayezid arrived Istanbul on 21st May 1481 and was declared Sultan. Cem on the other hand arrived Inegol on 27th May 1481 with his 4000 soldiers. Sultan Bayezid sent an army led by Ayas Pasha on Cem. On 28th May 1481 Cem had defeated Bayezid's army and he declared himself Sultan of Anatolia and
made his capital Bursa. He proposed division of the empire, with Bayezid ruling only Europe. Bayezid rejected the proposal, of course, defending the continued unity of the Ottoman State. He marched through Bursa and the decisive battle between the two took place near Yenisehir. Cem lost the battle and took refuge in the Mameluke State with his family. He went to Cairo.

In Cairo Cem has received a letter from his brother. In this letter, Beyazid offered Cem one million akces(Ottoman money) in order to dissuade from the throne. Cem rejected this offer and came to his homeland. On 27th May 1482 he besieged Konya. The Ottoman Army commanded by Sultan Bayezid went to Konya,
Cem ended the siege and withdrew to Ankara. He was intending to go to Cairo again but all the ways had been kept by Bayezid. Meanwhile, Pierre d'Aubusson one of the Knights of Rhodes invited Cem to Rhodes.

On 29th June 1482 Cem went to Rhodes. He was planning to leave the island in a short time, and he made an agreement with the knights about his departure. But, the knights had deceived him and they did not permit him to depart from the island. Cem began to live a prisoner's life in Rhodes. Eventually, this was very unfortunate for Cem himself and for the Ottoman Empire.

Afterwards, Cem was sent to France. Sultan Bayezid sent a messenger to France and requested Cem to be kept there.

Pope Innocent VIII intended to organise a new crusade using Cem. But he could not had been successful as the other European countries rejected. He offered Cem to convert to Christianity. Cem of course rejected this offer. Afterwards, the Pope had taken more than 40.000 gold annually from Bayezid for Cem's expenses. The Ottoman Empire had stopped the campaigns as the Pope threatening them with Cem's liberation.

After all these events, Cem Sultan had died in February 25, 1495. Sultan Bayezid declared national mourning for three days. He also tried to take Cem's body from the Pope, but only after four years had passed following Cem's death his body was brought to the Ottoman lands. He was buried in Bursa. (Pope Alexander Borgia Acknowledged Djem's descendants upon his death.)

Subsequent title holders
Prince (Shahzada), Don. Salvatore Sayd born 1618 in Santi, Malta; died 1699 in Santi, Malta. In 1649, in Zebbug, he married Malta Speranza Dingli, de jure Princess e Baroness di Bibino Magno b. 1625 Malta d. 1681 Malta
(Donazione 1681: Not. Niccolo Allegritto)(Disposizione/ Divisione-1715, Not. Bartomeo Mangion)
9th Principe de Sayd from 1685 and Principe di Bibino Magno in right of his wife.
Pretender of Turkey from 1685 to 1699. Salvatore travelled to Sicily upon his grandfathers' request and stayed in Sicily for some years. He married a distant cousin/heiress to an ancient fief in Sicily near Messina and settled upon his grandfather's death in Malta.

Principi Simone Sayd b. 1650 Santi, Malta, (Matro 1675: Not Gio Paolo Fenech) 1675 Mosta, Malta Nobile Marie Vassallo, Donazione 1703: Not Tomaso Cauchi)
Landowner, married into a prominent Maltese family and acquired much land around Mgiarro, Mosta, Ghajn Tuffieha, Ghajn Rihani, and Rabat (all in Malta). The Vassallo family were quite weathy and owned much land around Rabat and Mosta for centuries.

Prince (Shahzada), Principe Lorenzo Said, married 1723 Mosta, Malta to Teresa Xiriha di Cristoforo, (Matro: Not Bart Mangion). Lorenzo led an interesting life in the merchant trade, enjoying countries such as Italy, France, Turkey, Spain and Tunis. His adventures were rewarded with success and survival battling against pirates and Arabs. He eventually retired back to Malta to marry his long waiting love, with whom he was able to settle down and have a family. Though it is said he had itchy feet, wanting to go back to the seas with his cousins, (Vassallo) whom he spent much of his travels with. Upon settling down, a man of his late forties, seeing his brothers with maturing children, it was high time to start one of his own.

Principe Gio Maria Sayd (Executed 1799 by a French firing squad), m1 1778 to Grazia Galea., m2 1782 to Mosta, Malta Grazia Debono. Prince (Shahzada) Principe Salvatore was involved with many leading Maltese against the French. Though unsuccessful, all the leaders were rounded up and fired upon. An inscription can be found at Mdina of all those killed for their efforts against the French.

Prince (Shahzada) Principe Salvatore Said, married 1815 Mosta, Malta to Marie Dimech-Testaferrata. Upon his father's death, led a quite life on his properties at Rabat, Mosta, Santi, Zebbug and Mgiarro (all in Malta). Though his children led adventures lives and travelled around Europe.

Prince (Shahzada) Principe Giovanni Maria Said, (1832-1907), married Countessa Teresa Vella Sant (Byzantine right of Descent). He travelled to London, Italy, France and Scotland with his brother. Settled business matters upon his sister's death. A landowner with properties around Santi, Mosta, Rabat, Fiddien and Mgarr (all in Malta).

Prince (Shahzada) Principe Francesco Saverio Said, (1867-1956), married in 1910 at Rabat, Malta to the Contessa Helena Farrugia (Byzantine Right of Descent)
Travelled to Italy in his twenties, enjoying a full bachelor life travelling to favorite places in Sicily, until settling down to marry in 1910, where he focused on family landed properties around Mosta, Santi, Dingli and Mgarr (all in Malta). He served as an officer in World War I with the British Army.

Prince (Shahzada) Principe Carmelo Said (1916-73), (his succession came via exclusion and renunciation from his elder brother to Sayd e Bibino Magno), married 1947 at Mgarro, Malta to the Contessa Maria Vassallo (Byzantine right of descent) Baroness di Ghajn Rihani and Signorina di Migarro. He led a wild life in his twenties, until World War II came about, where eventually he served as an officer in the British Army stationed in Malta, where he met his future wife and married after the war.

Prince (Shahzada) Principe Giuseppe Said (born 1949) married Mary-Doris Vassallo, the Baroness di Frigenuini, in 1971 in Sydney, Australia, with issue. He received acknowledgement in 2002 of lineal descent from the Imperial House of Osman from His Majesty, Prince Ertugrul Osman, Prince of Turkey, 43rd Head of the Imperial House of Osman (born 1912 in Turkey). Recognised as the Head of the House of de Sayd, he uses the titles of Principe de Sayd and Bibino Magno. He went on holidays to Sydney, Australia in 1967, to see his older uncle. There he met his wife and settled in Sydney, Australia. He is involved in several businesses and associations and now is semi-retired.

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