Said Arms
Charles Said-Vassallo is a genealogist of the highest level of profession. All articles and references are well researched from public libraries and private collections. Should anyone have any corrections or additions to this article, they are most welcome.
(Hat)
This
shows the importance's of the family and being of Turkish origin.
(Land) Representing
again and reinforcing protection from the European powers of the exiled family.
The
history of this coat of arms firstly created on the year of 1492 when Principe
Pierre Mehmed Sayd was
born and recognised as Prince by blood. But because his father Prince Djem was
in exile in Rome, the Pope Alexander VI Borgia recognized and provided a new
"coat of arms" for Djem's descendants. This
coat of arms was used right up to the end of the 19th century, when Napoleon had
Giovanni Maria Said and a group of loyal supporters executed for trying to oust
the French from Malta in 1799.Commonly used are the arms with the cat on a tree.
(In the arms) The
Cat on top of a tree on top of a hill represents that the meaning of SAID
formerly SAYD means LEADER OR PRINCE sometimes as the son of Muhammad.
(Lion) Guards of protection. When you have two lions, meaning Major importance.
(Crown) in essence placed upon the arms as a royal crown in the late 15th century during the Borgian reign of the Vatican, recognizing Prince Djem as the True heir to the Ottoman Empire.
Vassallo Arms
Title: 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
Letters
Patent or noble tenure
Title: 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
Letters Patent or noble tenure
Title: Barone di Bibino Magno
Created: 1544
To: Capitano Milite Gerolamo d’Alagona
By: Kingdom of Sicily.
Remainder: His descendants by feudal tenure, perpetuity.
Present Holder: Principe Giuseppe Said, 24th Barone di Bibino Magno …
Present Heir: Conte Charles Said-Vassallo
List of Title Holders:
1. Gerolamo d’Alagona, 1st Barone (Created 1544) (his son)
2. Francesco d’Alagona, 2nd Barone, (his sister)
3. Eleanora d’Alagona, 3rd Baroness, (her daughter)
4. Eleanora Abela, 4th Baroness, (Created with her husband, 1st Prince’s of Bibino Magno on their wedding in 1599).
Letters Patent or noble tenure
Title: Principe di Bibino Magno
Created: 1599
To: Principe John Battista Sayd
By: Kingdom of Sicily
Remainder: His descendants by feudal tenure, perpetuity.
Present Holder: Principe Giuseppe Said, 21st Principe di Bibino Magno …
Present Heir: Charles Said-Vassallo
The
Said Connection
All Corrections / Additions are Welcome
The
House of Osmani, The Sultans of the Ottoman Empire
The Ancestors of Osmani, Sayds
Research carried out by C. Said-Vassallo
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, and which was of relevance in
the following few centuries. A family of Imperial blood, of which played major
importance 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. A battle took place, with brother against
brother, though Djem failed to secure his rights of the Ottoman Empire. Djem
fled to Egypt, under the protection of the Sultan of Egypt, then to Rhodes
Islands. The Order of St John were Masters of the Isles and had hoped to gain
help to re-secure his claimed title. 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 then 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 in 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 gain many acknowledgements and honours though
support for a “Crusade” was lacking and uninteresting to the European
Powers.
Further note: 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, 14822 by Pierre d’Aubusson and the
successive Grand Masters of St John in Rhodes Island;
- Pope Alexander VI Borgia-Acknowledged Djjem’s eldest son as Prince de Sang;
- Pope Innocent VIII Cybo- Acknowledged Djjem as Prince of Ottoman Empire;
- King Charles VIII of France-Acknowledgedd 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 grand-daughter to Djem’s son in marriage;
- Duca Lodovico Sforza of Milian acknowleddged Djem and offered one of his
illegitimate daughters in Marriage;
- Duca Alfonso II d’Este of Modena, acknowwledged Djem ;
- King Ferrante I of Naples, acknowledged Djem as a Royal cousin and provided
the title of Viscount to Djem’s son;
- King Ferrante II of Naples, reacknowledgged Djem;
- Duca Carlo I di Savoie, acknowledged Djeem;
- Duca Carlo II di Savoie ;
- King Ferdinand II of Sicily, acknowledgeed as King of Aragon, Spain and of
Sicily.
- Grand Duke Lorenzo I de Medici of Tuscanny
- 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, Quueen of Spain
- Queen Catalina de Albert of Navarre
- King Fernando II of Aragon, King of Spaiin.
- King Hans of Denmark
- Grand Master Martin von Wetzhausen of thhe 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. Djem’s son, the 'Principe de
Sayd' moved to the Neapolitan capital of Naples. Djem was killed, poisoned by
the Borgia household, though some suspect that it could have been the Pope or
his sister. But this has been unproven, and 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, seemed the most likely place where the Knights
could move to. 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
himself the pretensions as claimant. The importance of having such Imperial
family living in Malta was considered a safe haven, but was also as bait for 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 pretensive 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 all. 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 Patents’ 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.
Since the execution Principi Giovanni Maria Sayd’s descendants lived almost a
recluse or a non-public life under the British, and never again bothered to
obtain any recognition for their inheritance and titles. 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 Two.
Further evidence can be found in "History of
Malta-convictions and conjectures volume four" pages 80-84. by Giovanni
Bonello, Patrimonju Publishing, Malta, 2003.
