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Testaferrata
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Title: Baron
and Marquis
Shield: Argent a bull rampant guardant Gules: The line of Antonio also carries on a chief Azure three mullets of six points Or. The line of Giacomo carries the "Capo del Impero" (on a chief Or a demi-eagle displayed Sable beaked and langued Gules crowned Argent).
The Testaferrata family is synonymous with the history and Nobility of Malta. The Testaferratas are all descendants of one Arfio Capo di Ferro who changed his surname to Testaferrata after settling in Malta during the late 15th century following his appointment as Commander of the garrison in Malta. Arfio was a direct descendent of Pandolfo Capo di Ferro, who was reigning Prince of Benevento, Capua, Camerino and Salerno during 980 A.D. The Testaferrata's lineage streches over 1,000 years back to the 7th century A.D. to Celius de Capo-ferro, a Vicedominus Extraurbem in Imperial Rome. The latter's father was Cajo Orso Flavio whose brother Primiano Orsino was the progenitor of the Orsini family. This ancient and noble family ranked high in Maltese society and was at various occasions regarded as one of the most landed familes, possessing various properties both in Malta and abroad. It was also accorded a great number of privileges and immunities from a number of Spiritual and Temporary authorities.
The Testaferratas also inter-married with a number of families of similar standing, including the Vaccaro, Montalto, Inguanez, Moroni, Barbaro, Guevara, Abela, Cassia, Castelletti, Viani and the de Noto families. This family was prolific and it can safely be said that the greater part of the Nobility in Malta is descended from the Testaferrata family.
The family is divided into two main lines: namely the lines of Giacomo and Antonio, brothers Testaferrata whose father Mariano was made patrician of Messina in 1553 with remainder to all his descendents.
Antonio's line is by far the more prominent having been very close to the Holy Inquisition in Malta. In fact the office of Depositario was invariably occupied by Antonio's descendants from whom the Barons Testaferrata (ancient title) and Barons of Gomerino (1710) descend. The title of Baron of Gomerino was granted jointly to Paolo Testaferrata and his wife Beatrice nee Cassia (in her own right Baroness of Castel Cicciano): Paolo died in 1714 and his son Ercole Martino was invested in 1737 in the barony of Gomerino after his mother requested the then Grand Master to tie the said barony to the "Ta' Xbiex" primogeniture already erected in favour of the same Ercole Martino. This line was also conferred the privilege of Patrician of Rome (1590) and yet another Patriciate of Messina (1792), both patriciates being with remainder to all descendents. In addition it was also conferred the patriciate of the Citta' del Castello (1739). Moreover this line of the Testaferratas was in 1725 one of the only two families (the other being the family of Baron Inguanez) in Malta to be allowed the use of the title "Illustrissimo e Nobile" which has today been translated into the title of "The Most Noble" with remainder to the descendants. This title was subsequently extended to heads of families. Notable members of this line include Mgr. Pier Giacomo who in the 18th century was a Conventual Chaplain in the German Langue of the Order of St. John and held the Commandery of St. Peter of Carniola within the priory of Bohemia; Cardinal Fabrizio Sceberras Testaferrata (19th century); Baron Pietro Paolo Testaferrata Abela who was the Commander, Maltese Corps of Veterans (1811). The latter was the 13th (and last) Depositario of the Holy Inquisition in Malta, the office being abolished following the French Occupation; and Baron Rosario Testaferrata Moroni Viani, an early 20th Century politician.
The head of this line is The Most Noble Salvino Testaferrata-Moroni-Viani (Baron Testaferrata and Marquis Testaferrata-Moroni-Viani). It is interesting to note that on the latter's confirmation of appointment in 1989 as Honorary Consul General for the Republic of San Marino to Malta, he is addressed by his title thereby making him the only Maltese Noble to have been so addressed since the 1975 statutory withdrawal recognition of all titles of Nobility in Malta. The other main sub-line is that headed by The Most Noble Adriana Testaferrata-Abela (Baroness of Gomerino).
The descendents of the other brother - Giacomo - are the Marquises Testaferrata (1717) and Marquises of San Vincenzo Ferreri (1725). The title of Marquis Testaferrata is transmissible to all male descendants and is the basis of the titles of Marquis Testaferrata Olivier and Marquis Cassar de Sain. This line was in 1637 also conferred the title of Nobilis Tornearji (Hereditary Knight of the Holy Roman Empire) including the right to display the "Capo del Impero" as well as a Patriciate of Citta del Castello and yet another Patriciate of Messina (1792). Notable members of this line include Baron (and Marquis) Don Mario Testaferrata (at times also referred to as Prince Capo di Ferro) who was a signatory to the act of capitulation of Malta to the French Republic in 1798 and also to the 1805 Maltese Declaration of Rights; and Marquis Don Nicolo' Testaferrata de Noto who pioneered the 1849 Constitution of Malta, Marquis Sir Giuseppe Vincenzo Testaferrata de Noto a KCMG (1833) and Marquis Gilberto Testaferrata Viani, 4th Baron of Tabria (1837) a contemporary Maltese poet of some note.
The head of this line is Joseph Testaferrata-Bonici (Marquis Testaferrata). The other main sub-lines are those headed by Agnes Gera-de-Petri-Testaferrata-Bonici-Ghaxaq (Marchioness of San Vincenzo Ferreri and Baroness of Qlejjgha), Paul Testaferrata Olivier (Marquis Testaferrata Olivier), Vincenzo Testaferrata-de-Noto (dei Marchesi Testaferrata de Noto) (deceased), Salvino Testaferrata-Moroni-Viani (Baron Testaferrata and Marquis Testaferrata-Moroni-Viani, by Primogeniture head of both the baronial Gomerino and Tabria lines of the Testaferrata family) and Anthony Cassar Desain, K.M. (Marquis Cassar Desain). "Contributed by: Martin TESTAFERRATA-MORONI-VIANI; Edited by: Charles Said Vassallo (AUGUST 1999)".
References: Abela & Ciantar, Malta Illustrata, Malta 1780 Annuario della Nobilta Italiana, Pisa 1880-1884 Cassar Desain, Genealogia della famiglia Testaferrata, Malta 1880. Farrugia Randon, Marquis Nicolo Testaferrata de Noto, 1993 Frendo, Maltese Political Development 1798-1964, 1993 Galea, Malta's Timeline, Malta. Galluppi, Nobiliario della Citta di Messina, Napoli 1877. Gauci, The Genealogy and Heraldry of the Noble Families of Malta, Malta, 1981 & 1992 Histoire generale des hommes vivants et des hommes morts dans le XIX siecle,Geneve 1864 Montalto, The Nobles of Malta 1530-1800,
by The Noble Martin Testaferrata Moroni Viani, LL.D.
The Noble Martin Testaferrata Moroni Viani was born in Malta on the 1 November 1969. He is the second son of the Most Noble Salvino and Monika, Baron and Baroness Testaferrata.
He graduated Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) from the University of Malta in 1993 and is presently a practicing advocate in the Maltese Courts. He is also a director of a number of companies and holds office on various councils and committees.
Dr. Testaferrata is a lineal descendant of the Princes Capo di Ferro of Benevento, Capua and Camerino (980AD), The Barons Testaferrata (ancient), The Marquis Testaferrata Moroni Viani (1986), The Barons Testaferrata et Cassia of Gomerino (1710 and 1737), The Barons Testaferrata of Castel Cicciano (1560 and 1695), The Barons Abela (ancient), The Counts Perdicomati of Catena (1745), The Barons Gauci (1781), The Counts Moroni of Pontecurone (ancient), The Marquises Testaferrata of San Vincenzo Ferreri (1725), The Marquises Testaferrata Viani (1717 and 1749), The Barons Viani of Tabria (1728), The Barons Sceberras (ancient), The Barons Galea of San Marciano (1726), The Barons Mego of Djar il-Bniet (1350), The Barons Inguanez of Ortigos (1285), The Marquises Barbaro of San Giorgio (1778), and The Dukes Crispo of Naxos (1500), as well as the Royal House of Aragon, the Counts of Biscaya, the Kings of Sicily and the Grand Dukes of Swabia.
He is de suo jure hereditary Marquis Testaferrata (1717), hereditary Reichsgraf von Zimmermann (1790), hereditary Patrician of Rome (1590), hereditary Patrician of Messina (1553 and 1792), hereditary Noble of Malta (1725). Moreover, on the 13 February 1993 HSH Prince Giovanni Alliata di Montereale, Prince of the Holy Roman Empire created him Marquis with remainder of hereditary nobility to his legitimate and natural descendants in perpetuity. Present holder: Salvatore Testaferrata Moroni Viani *, Hon. Consul General of the Most Serene Republic of San Marino to Malta; sons Christopher Married with issue, Martin Married to Stephanie Apap Bologna (2004)
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