Dun Filippo Borg and Birkirkara : culture and politics in early seventeenth-century Malta

Abstract

Dun Filippo Borg is an important figure in seventeenth-century Malta. The aim of this dissertation is to place the person in context and analyse the different roles – political and ecclesiastical – Dun Filippo Borg played especially when the parish church of Birkirkara was elevated to the status of a Collegiate Church by Pope Urban VIII with the promulgation of the Papal Bull Sacri Apostolatus Ministerio on 5 Dec. 1630. In this dissertation, I attempt to reconstruct in detail the personal life of Dun Filippo Borg, no mean feat as even his exact date of birth and the place where he was baptised are still shrouded in mystery. Therefore, through my research, I tried to answer with certainty the issues about his origins. Dun Filippo Borg lived during a highly significant period for the Maltese Islands in terms of culture, politics, religion, society, and art. I have tried to analyse his relevance in these contexts by attempting to answer questions such as: Who was this man? What were his goals? What did he achieve? What did he stand for? I attempted to answer these questions especially in relation to the parochial level (Birkirkara) and the national one within the wider contexts of the social, political, and ecclesiastical spheres in Dun Filippo’s time. Dun Filippo Borg’s participation in ecclesiastical and political affairs, his significance and importance, relates to the European context, as Malta was being affected by the Council of Trent Reforms. This as revealed in several manuscripts and consulted the writings of several historians. Chapter 1 introduces the subject of this dissertation. It gives the background and context to Dun Filippo Borg and his actions. It outlines the historiography and the available sources. Chapter 2 reconstructs Dun Filippo Borg’s life, his rise in the Maltese church, and his determined use of authority when necessary. Chapter 3 adopts a chronological approach to study the transition of the parish church of Birkirkara into a collegiate church. Among other things, the roles of the provost and canons are analysed. Chapter 4 studies the role of priests in Maltese seventeenth century society, as well as the relationship between the church and politics, particularly from the perspective of Dun Filippo Borg and his Relazione. The work and legacy of Dun Filippo Borg to the people of Birkirkara is significant. It is still actual and present today in the day-to-day life of the Collegiate Chapter and the Basilica entrusted to them. Of course, tensions were present at that time and surfaced from time to time. A modern episode was the foundation of the Veneranda Società Don Filippo Borgia in 1936. This foundation was formed because of the decisions taken with reference to all the Collegiate Chapters of the Maltese islands by the Regional Council of 1935, including that of Birkirkara, in connection with the rights the Chapters used to enjoy over centuries. The Regional Council was presided by his excellency Cardinal Alexis Henri Marie Lepicier. The society is still active to this day assisting the Chapter and ensuring that the legacy of Borg for Birkirkara is kept intact. I would like to take the opportunity to thank all those who have helped me throughout these three years. Special thanks go to my family and to my tutor, Mr. Charles Dalli, for their helpful advice and support. I would also like to thank Rev. Canon Leonard Mintoff, Rev. Canon Ryan Lee Pace, Rev. Canon Dr NicholasJ. Doublet, Rev. Canon Ivan Aquilina, Dr Evelyn Pullicino, Samuel Azzopardi, Rodney Buhagiar, Marcio Ghigo, Michael Buhagiar, Philip Xuereb and Silvio Azzopardi. I would like to thank all those persons who work in the following facilities: Lanfranco Genealogy Service (Msida), Notarial Archives in Mikiel Anton Vassalli Street (Valletta), the parochial offices of Birkirkara and Vittoriosa, University Archives, National Library (Valletta), the Cathedral Archives (Mdina), the Diocesan Archives (Floriana) and the Collegiate Chapters of Vittoriosa and Birkirkara. My work as archivist of the Collegiate Chapter of Birkirkara and Assistant to the Diocesan Archives at the Archbishop’s Curia in Floriana has helped no end to facilitate this research even though the pandemic placed considerable restrictions.