The Magistral Possesso of Mdina

Danielle Mallia graduated LL.D from the University of Malta in 2003. Following her admission to the Maltese Bar, she pursued an LL.M from the University of London (2006). Her love for history, spurred her into following an M.A. in Hospitaller Studies upon her return to Malta in 2012. She successfully completed the programme with distinction in 2015 following the submission of a dissertation entitled ‘The Magistral Possesso of Mdina: A Study of a Hospitaller Ritual in Early Modern Malta, 1530-1798.

Synopsis

Sponsored by the Alfred Mizzi Foundation. Many may be familiar with Favray’s depiction of L’Isle Adam taking possession of Mdina. The painting, however, depicts a mere snapshot of an event that spanned a whole day and took months to prepare for. The ceremonial entry or possesso of Mdina by the Grand Master of the Order of St. John was bold and flamboyant, a show in ostentation which sought to enthral those who beheld it. Having said that, it was also an exercise in subtle political manipulation. The talk will seek to unravel the various ‘subtexts’ of this public celebration as well as explain that which it so boldly portrayed. It will delve into its development throughout the 268 years of Hospitaller rule and also examine the individual elements that were steeped in symbolic meaning. It will push open the doors into the world of ceremony in early modern Malta, the world of the Possesso Della Città Notabile.

Speaker: Dr Danielle Mallia