Università of Mdina, ca. 1500-1900

In 19 registers and volumes. Documents pertaining to the activity of the Università of Mdina (Università della Notabile) in Malta. Records include account books, inventories, and other legal documents. Related documents in the Archives of the Università fonds at the National Library of Malta (Valletta) and in Mandati Diversi della Chiesa Cattedrale di Malta e dell'Università di Malta series at Cathedral Archives (Mdina).

Documents pertaining to the activity of the Università of Mdina (Universitas or Università della Notabile) in Malta. The Università of Mdina was the municipal government of Malta. The administrative collegial body was the Consiglio Popolare (Popular Council) composed of the capitano di verga, four giurati, and other legal consultors for diplomatic matters and commercial interests. The capitano di verga (il-Hakem) was at the head of the Università and was in charge of civil and criminal jurisdiction. The capitano di verga was also the governor of Malta until the arrival of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem in 1530, when he became lieutenant governor. The giurati were in charge of legal matters and acted also as judges for trials of the Corte Capitanale (court of law in Mdina). They had financial and legal jurisdiction and administration over public property, food, bequests (cumoli or cumuli di carità), Santo Spirito Hospital, and the Franciscan convent in Rabat (Malta). The giurati were also the officials of the regiment headed by the capitano di verga. The Università had rights on taxes for wine (called diritto di scisa, later granted to the Secrecy in exchange of remuneration), meat (diritto di manderano), wheat, bread (bollo sul pane), and properties in Malta belonging to foreigners. The Università was also in charge of the administration of the Massa delle vettovaglie, a monetary fund established in 1712 and managed by the giurati for lending money to the massari, people who needed to purchase wheat. The Università could appoint ambassadors for the king and the viceroy of Sicily and issue government measures (capitoli) to be approved as law by the king.The Università of Valletta, Vittoriosa (Birgu), and Senglea in Malta depended on the Università of Mdina.With the arrival of the Order of Saint John, both the Universitates gradually lost most of their rights and functions and were suppressed in 1818 by the British government.

Archive of the Università of Mdina (ca. 1300-1818) and Archive of the Università of Valletta, Vittoriosa (Birgu), and Senglea (ca. 1500-1818); British Government Archives (until 1872); Collector of rents, later Honorable the Treasurer (from 1872-?); National Library of Malta (?-present)

"List of Volumes and Other Documents of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem and of the Municipal Institutions Known as the Università, Preserved in the Government Treasury." Institute of Historical Research Malta 3 (1932): 3-27.