The Trueth about Drago d'Aragona in Malta
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 27th 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 23rd of September, 1671 in his
will in 1709, Niccolo left the fief to Casmiro Drago .
On 6th 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 life Marquis 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 or Abeyance in 1882. "Titolo di Marchese in persona dell'Ultimo investito
Biagio (2nd Aprile, 1776), with the remainder of: " to his FIRST born male descendant only. Further More, it also allows females to inherit in absence of males in a direct line."
'Titolo di Marchesi A. Lui nel 1750 venne innalzata una statua nel palazzo senatorio di Palermo. Biagio suo figlio, fu investito del Titolo di Marchesi il 24 December 1724, di
quello di Barone della Gabella della Scannatura di Trapani il 6 Aprile 1709....
Regards to the feudal Barony of Gabella della Scannatura di Trapani, Fiefs based Titles since the abolition of the Feudal System in Sicily in 1812, no longer exist.
To see the Genealogy of this family, see this web site (http://www.fast.net.au/tancarville/libro%20d'Oro/gabelladellascannatura.html)
Also Noted are a branch, which were of the Younger branch from the 1st Marquis Drago, whom are at present aiming to claim this title as rightful heirs.
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 6th 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 of English gentry of the families Egremont and
Brownrigg.