TRAPANI

Title: Baron
Date created: 1630
Grant by:  Viceroy of Sicily in the Name of King Philip III of Sicily
Granted To: Ottofredo Fardella-Abrignano
Rep: his descendants.
Present Holder: Henry Drago
Other title: Gabella della Scannatura di Trapani
Note: in the name of Drago d'Aragona-Cuzkeri-Testaferrata

The Barony della Gabella della Scannatura di Trapani was invested to Ottofredo Fardella-Abrignano  by the Viceroy of Sicily in the Name of King Philip III of Sicily on 27^th May, 1630 with remainders to his descendants.

The fief was previously held by Masella, wife of Onofrio Abrignano , she left it to Sister Angelica Montalto, who in turn donated it to Goffredo. From Goffredo, the fief passed  per translazione ereditaria  and a recto jure successionis to Niccolo Fardella who was invested as Baron on 23^rd of September, 1671 in his will in 1709, Niccolo left the fief to Casmiro Drago .

On 6^th of April, 1709, the day of his investiture as Baron Casmiro nominated inter vivos , his son Biagio to succeed in the Barony and Biagio was subsequently invested. The Barony had descended in the Drago family ever since.

Casimiro dei Baroni Drago was also invested as the 1^st Marquis Drago in 1724 and was President of the Criminal High court of Appeal in Palermo, Deputato del Regno 1724-24.

His elder son succeeded in the family titles and married into high Sicilian Nobility and the family had become extinct in 1882, where the younger son of Casimiro, Andrea’s decendants succeeded to the Titles.

This branch married into the Maltese Landed gentry, and Demetrio Drago d’Aragona succeeded as the Baron di Gabella della Scannatura di Trapani and the 6^th Marquis Drago in 1882.

Note that  the addition of ‘d’Aragona was added due to the marriage of Andrea to Agnese Gravina-Pignatelli d’Aragona, this family were Princes and Dukes in Sicily and in Rome, also are descendants of King Alfonso V of Naples (The House of Aragon-Castile)

This branch are  also related to the Testaferrata family and much of the local gentry today. With further adieu, with close connection the English nobility of Egremont and Brownrigg.

The Baron was de jure Marquis Joe Drago (who passed away 2004) and lived in Malta. The late Baron was a member and genealogist of the Foreign Maltese Nobility Association.

Present holder is Henry Drago.