Nobility and admission in the Langue of Italy : lineage, wealth, and the Order of St John in the eighteenth century

Abstract

Historical research often begins with a question, which is often sparked by curiosity. This research was prompted by a desire to understand better the Order of St John’s different aspects in addition to its role as a religious and military organisation. Many people walking through Valletta stop to admire the former Auberge d’Italie, nowadays holding the National Museum of Art MUŻA. It was this building, along with other interests, which prompted the title of this dissertation. This study aims to investigate a lesser-known facet of the Order which goes beyond analysing the architectural features of the auberge. It explores the structured admission procedure that Italian noblemen underwent to join the Order of St John, focussing on the procedural criteria, noble lineage verification, and the larger socio-political implications of membership. It looks at how aristocratic families handled these requirements, how the Langue of Italy preserved noble traditions, and how being a member of the Order strengthened aristocratic social standing and power in eighteenth-century Europe. The Order of St John emerged in the eleventh century. Originally a charitable organisation providing aid to pilgrims, it quickly expanded its mission to include care for the sick and the poor. In a relatively short time, the Order grew in influence, gaining military power and participating in the Crusades. Throughout its history, the Order upheld its core principles of charity, military protection, and religious devotion, which remained consistent and central to its existence. During the tenure of Grand Master Hugh Revel (r.1258-1277), changes were implemented that reinforced the organisation of the Order. In 1262, new legislation came into effect mandating that anybody seeking admission must be sons of knights. A notable development was the partitioning of the Order into langues, governed by a singular authority representing several European areas. A langue was an administrative division of the Knights Hospitaller. The term itself signified a type of linguistic and ethnic divide based on the geographical distribution of its members. Initially, there were four langues: French, Spanish, Italian, and German; but, by 1331, under Grand Master Elyon de Villeneuve (r.1319-1346), this number increased to seven, with auberges founded during his reign. The eighth langue was established later under the leadership of Grand Master Peter Ramon Zacosta (r.1461-1467), with the division of the Langue of Aragon. This new Langue came to be known as Castile and Portugal. Each of the eight distinct langues that constituted the Order constructed their own auberge. The word auberge, which is French for ‘hostel’, served as accommodation for its members, as well as for pilgrims and visitors associated with that particular langue. It also served as a venue for meetings, dining, and other social gatherings among its members. Additionally, the auberges played a crucial role as training grounds for the Order’s aspiring knights. When the Hospitallers were ousted from Malta by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1798, they were obliged to leave behind them most of their archives. These sources are essential for widening our understanding of the Order’s history, with some of these documents still awaiting researchers to investigate them. One notable example of this is the Proofs of Nobility which were records that were requested and presented as proof of the noble lineage of prospective candidates so that they would be granted admission into the Order. These records shed light on the stringent admission requirements and provide invaluable insights into the period’s social and administrative structures. These unique and often overlooked resources are the primary basis for this research, which attempts to show their significance and their role in the Hospitallers’ history. Apart from analysing the proofs of nobility and the rigorous admission procedures undertaken by the Order, this study also delves into the broader concept of nobility in itself. This dissertation goes beyond merely discussing the Proofs of Nobility and the rigorous admission procedures of the Order. As the name of the documents suggests, it also delves into the broader concept of nobility itself. Taking into context the eighteenth century and focusing on the Italian Langue and its subjects, this dissertation examines the dynamics of the Italian peninsula with its political fragmentation coupled with economic difficulties and the transformative effects of the Enlightenment, which impacted the nobility in varied ways across the different regions. Despite these challenges, Italian Hospitallers successfully navigated the strict admission process. The admission procedure was a vital component of the Order’s institutional framework, ensuring that aristocratic ancestry and status remained central to its identity. With a well-regulated admissions structure, the Order was able to preserve its aristocratic identity, which was central to its status and power. This dissertation focuses on the Italian Langue, providing insight into how Italian noblemen sought admission into the Order in the ever-changing landscape of the eighteenth century. It provides a snapshot into the intricacies of this process by analysing its administrative, social, and political facets. This dissertation is composed of four chapters. The first chapter sets the foundation for the analysis that is to follow in the subsequent chapters by providing a general overview of the political and historical background of the Enlightenment, the Order, Malta and Italy in the eighteenth century. The second chapter explores the admission process, discussing how the Order preserved its aristocratic nature through this rigorous procedure and its need to prove nobility. Chapter three explores nobility, with an emphasis on the Italian aristocracy, as well as a descriptive analysis of five case studies. The fourth chapter comprises a comparison of the case studies discussed in the previous chapter, incorporating the passage tax the nobles had to pay upon their admission in the Order.