Back in the olden days, Maltese noble titles were granted through fiefs – pieces of land gifted by a king or ruler in exchange for a fee, either financial or for military service. Considered as one whole fief, the Maltese islands became a nobleman’s bounty in the late 12th century.
Born in 1149, Margaritus of Brindisi is thought to have started out as a Greek pirate and eventually rose though the ranks to became Sicily’s last Great Admiral. He led fleets under two Sicilian kings, William II and his successor Tancred, with whom Margaritus enjoyed a close friendship before the former became ruler.
Despite the two kings being cousins, it was their aunt Constance who was appointed heir presumptive to the throne should William die without producing any heirs. However, her marriage to Henry VI, the King of Germany would imply his involvement in Sicilian politics, which did not sit well with most subjects.
Being an illegitimate child, Tancred had a much lesser claim, but being more favoured by locals and noble families as a valid contender for the role, he rebelled and became the King of Sicily after William’s death.
Obviously, this didn’t sit well with Henry, who besieged Naples in retaliation. However, Margaritus quickly rushed to Tancred’s aid and assisted in destroying a large portion of Henry’s fleet.
Constance was also imprisoned by locals in the town of Salerno, after the inhabitants switched their allegiance and supported Tancred instead. It was MArgaritus who delivered her safely to Tancred, and although he extended her imprisonment, he did her no harm.
It is believed that these events are what led to Tancred granting Margaritus with the fief of the Maltese islands and christening him with the title Count of Malta. However, his good fortune would be short lived.
Due to political pressure, Constance was released, and her husband waged war on Tancred for the second time. This time, it was Margaritus that end up captured and he was subsequently taken to Germany and blinded. He passed away three years later and speculation surrounding his death suggests that one of his servants murdered him after Margaritus tried assembling a fleet for the French King.
Margaritus had a wife, Marina, the illegitimate child of Roger II of Sicily, and possibly two daughters, but it is not believed that they benefitted from their associations with the Count of Malta. Indeed, the title was very rarely considered a family heirloom and was often used as a political bargaining tool, before being discontinued in the 15th century.
Can you imagine having a Count of Malta today?