The Barons of Buleben is a title of Maltese nobility.

• Titled: Joseph Manduca as the 10th Baron
• Heir: His son as Baroncino.

History

Calcedonio's father, Gaetano Azopardi (known as Azzopardinu) was the Senior Physician of the Holy Infirmary (Sacra Infermeria). In recognition of his sterling services as a doctor for over forty years, he was created Baron of Buleben on July 23, 1777, but this "personal" title could not be automatically inherited. By a Rescript of April 25, 1778 Grand Master de Rohan extended the title to his son Calcedonio who received the investiture as Baron of Buleben on August 10, 1788. He died ten years later. According to the Status Animarum of 1790 he lived in house number 5, Quartiere 18, in the parochial limits of St. Paul Shipwrecked, Valletta. His age was given as 36 and his family then consisted of his wife Saveria and his children Giuseppe, Antonia, Vincenzo, and Concetta. According to an Italian journal, Baron Calcedonio was Membro di varie Società Letterarie d’Italia, stimato da tutti per i suoi talenti, e perizia nelle Belle Lettere (Antologia Romana, Tom. XIX, No. XIV, Ott. 1792, 105).

The fief of Buleben was first created to the Perrello family in 1465, and later regranted to the Azzopardi family in 1777.

The title was initially granted ad personam without the right of succession. The Baron later petitioned the Grand Master for the title to be inherited by his eldest son (or any of his children whom he should nominate) and the male issue of his son in perpetuity as would succeed to the primogeniture Azzopardi on the April 25, 1778.

The Azzopardis were medical men whose contribution to the profession was considerable. The services of this family were recognised in the last quarter of the eighteenth century by the ennoblement of Giusto's son. On 20 May 1735, Pietro Paolo Azopardi was appointed protomedico by Manuel de Vilhena, and the following year, on 19 December 1736, Despuig confirmed his appointment. After having replaced in 1740, Pietro Paolo was reinstated on 1 July 1753 by Grand Master Pinto and remained in office till his death.

On 31 May 1764 a Protomedical College was set up. Of the three physicians in this college the chief Physician was Pietro Paolo's set-brother, Gaetano.

As head of the first Medical College in Malta, Gaetano Azzopardi (generally referred to as Azzopardiano) continued to perform most of the duties of Protomedico which remained more or less the same even after the College has been set up. These duties included the examining and licensing of barbers, aromatic-mixers and also midwives. All sales of drugs and poisonous compounds were strictly forbidden unless previously licensed by the office of the Protomedico who also had to check, every year, chemist shops. His duties also included the visiting of those in quarantine, inspection of merchandise, the supervision of burials at the Lazzaretto, the supervision of animal slaughter, and the periodical checking of the manufacturing of sausages.

Gaetano Azzopardi had been employed in the Holy Infirmary for over 40 years, when on the 23 July 1777 he was compensated for his excellent services to medicine by the grant of a title. He was made a Baron over the Magistral fief of Buleben and took his oath on the 27 July that same year.

On 4 October 1777, Baron Azzopardi was granted the special privilege to register his letter-patent as an Academician of the Parisian Medical Academy in the Books of the Chancellery.

As the title of Baron of Buleben was specifically granted to Gaetano Azopardi for his sterling services rendered to the Hospital of the Order it could not be automatically inherited. His petition to make it hereditary was partially accepted when the title was extended by one grade. This concession was given on the 25 April 1778, but soon after Azopardi died. After his death, the college was again subsumed by the Protomedical Office which entrusted to the renowned Michelangelo Grima. The link between the protomedico and the Azopardis had come to an end.

The Grand Master gave his assent for the title to be inherited by that son in perpetuity as would also succeed to the primogeniture.

The 1877 Royal Commissioners in their report held that with the death of the Baron’s son the title had become extinct. In 1883, the committee of Privileges however presented a petition to the British Government in which it argued that by the grant of 1777, "an inheritable, real, proper and noble fief had been erected and that this had been reinforced by the ampliazone of 1778 in favour of the male issue holding the primogeniture Azzopardi."

The title was granted to Dr Gaetano Azopardi M.D, then followed succession from father to son until the death of the 5th Baron in 1899, who died childless, and was succeeded by his unmarried brother, then his younger sister.

Upon the death of Guiseppina Azopardi, 7th Baroness in 1940, the title was passed on to her sister’s younger son, Joseph Manduca-Azopardi, as the 8th Baron.

Upon Joseph’s death, the title was succeeded by his son, Francis Manduca-Azopardi, who was later Count of Mont'Alto (see Mont'Alto) until his death.

His sons now share a title each, the elder as the present Count of MontAlto and the Younger as the Present Baron di Buleben.

References

• 1) Said Vassallo, C.M., Unpublished research papers.
• 2) Said Vassallo, C.M.,[Charles Said-Vassallo's Research site (http://www.maltagenealogy.com)] and[Maltese Nobility web site (http://www.maltesenobility.org)].

This research was done by Charles Said-Vassallo

(Text originally based on that of a website by Charles Said Vassallo, by permission.)