Prince
Research carried out by self styled historian/Count/Prince? Charles Said Vassallo (when applicable DE BRANCHEFORTE SAID).This is an extract from maltagenealogy.com (I had to correct some of the text): 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 hasn’t documented so well, which was of relevance to the next several centuries. A family of Imperial blood that played importance’s in Europe as the heirs of the Ottoman Empire. Sultan Djem 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 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 favour 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. Self styled Count Charles Said Vassallo notes that Sultan Djem was recognized by several Monarchs as H.I.H, Prince and Sultan Djem Sayd of the Ottoman Empire.Self styled Count Charles Said Vassallo continues: Upon his return to Rome, he (Sultan Djem) settled his family outside Rome. His eldest son had married a daughter of a Genoese diplomat in Rome. Djem’s son, 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 defence to retake their lost island. But under the Spanish succession, Malta, seemed 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 had 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 overpower 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”. (Self styled Count Charles Said Vassallo has purposely forgotten to insert footnotes. Actually the only reference submitted by the self styled Count Charles Said Vassallo is the book "History of Malta-convictions and conjectures volume four" pages 80-84, by Giovanni Bonello, Patrimonju Publishing, Malta, 2003, which does not have a whiff of a mention of any connection with the said family). Self styled Count Charles Said Vassallo continues that fortunately (for himself, maybe), the elder line kept key documentation and data, which survived, to the present family. Moreover, he continues that today, acknowledgement has been plenty some (referring to the letter of acknowledgement received by Baron George Said Zammit in 2002 from the late Head of the House of Osman). Self styled Count Charles Said Vassallo, The Most Noble one, the educated historian didn’t have the decency and politeness, or perhaps he failed to remember to safeguard the Baron’s privacy by putting the letter of acknowledgement from the present Heir (http://www.maltagenealogy.com\libro d'Oro\said2.html) online without even covering the Baron’s address. Where is the privacy self styled Count Charles Said Vassallo!Further still, interestingly enough two thirds of the Maltese population descends from Nicolai Sayt and /or Prince Djem (http://www.maltagenealogy.com/libro%20d'Oro/said.html). Prior to self styled Count Charles Said Vassallo aspirations (which commenced in 1999); in 1990 I have conducted extensive research and by happenchance to be precise by the Grace of God, stumbled on the evidence and can now confirm that my ancestor Nicolao Saytus was indeed a Prince. This data was naively confirmed by Malta’s premier genealogist Mary Lanfranco and authenticated by genealogist Joseph Borg. Self styled Count Charles Said Vassallo, you are completely off track and evidently you are not the Head of the House other than that of PO. Box 1075 GLEBE NSW 2037 AUSTRALIA. I am the only long-established Head of the House confirmed by documents signed by LIBRARIES AND ARCHIVES DIRECTOR, PHILIP BORG in addition to Malta’s premier genealogist Mary Lanfranco, cross checked by genealogist Joseph Borg. Although Titles of nobility are not recognised by many a state (including Malta), I still do hereby challenge self styled Count Charles Said Vassallo to come forward with the appropriate documentation (other than the above mentioned 2002 acknowledgement which is used at the Baron’s Said Zammit expense) to meet me and settle in front of a Notary public of his own choice! Let it be known that half of the family trees included in maltagenealogy.com are fictional, story-bound, and illusory whereas several other legitimate ones are depicted as illegitimate, (published family trees endorsed by genealogist Mary Lanfranco), yet I do humbly pray that pristine and accurate data be published in his destined site…The Real Legitimate Head of the House of Prince Nicolai SaytusNicholas Said
Comments