GIAN FRANCESCO ABELA
Born in Birgu, Abela was the only son of the noble Marco Abela, and Bernardina Vella. His Spanish ancestors had settled in Malta back in 1304. He was a relative of Bishop Leonardo Abela. When Abela was in his teens he started showing his determination to become a minister of the Temple. He enrolled as a conventual clergyman of justice in the langue of Castille and the priory of Portugal on 27 April 1605.
He possessed all the conditions required by the Order of St John for the entry into its ranks. After studying in Malta and at the university of Bologna, at 23 he graduated in both civil and ecclesiastical laws obtaining the degree of Juris Utriusque Doctor. He was ordained priest soon after and was engaged as chaplain on the galleys of the Order, according to its Statues, of the said Order.
Abela was chosen to act as secretary to ambassadors going on important missions to Paris, Rome, and Spain. At the same time, he was nominated Protonotarius Apostolicus. In 1610, Abela came back to Malta to assume the responsible office of vice-chancellor of the Order, which post he kept for 35 years.
During this time Abela kept himself in contact with most of the leading scholars of the time both in France and in Italy with whom he corresponded about matters concerning the collection of his private museum. As a country residence he built a house in Cortin, at Marsa, on the site called Jesuits’ Hill, where he kept his collection of local antiques.
Abela served as auditor to Grand Master De Paule (1623-36) and was entrusted with liaison work between the Order and the people. After De Paule’s death he was chosen as one of the three commissioners in the magisterial election, a great honour usually entrusted to men of great integrity. Grand Master Lascaris honoured Abela with the commandery of Durci. This entitled Abela to surmount his coat-of arms with the cross of the Order and to use the title of Commendatore.
Nothing is known about Commendatore Abela’s private life, except that he was a pious priest, and well known for his charity and generosity towards the poor. He was a great friend of the Inquisitor Mgr. Fabio Chigi who was later elected Pope Alexander VII. But Abela is very well known as the Father of Maltese History because in 1647 he published his Della Descrittione di Malta Isola Nel Mare Siciliano Con Le Sue Antichità et Alte Notizie.
This contains very important information about Malta, Maltese institutions, peoples who have ruled over our islands throughout the ages as well as Maltese placenames and Maltese personalities. He was the first Maltese to write about the history of the island. Abela died aged of 73 years and was buried in the chapel of Our Lady of Philermo in the conventual church of St John, Valletta.
From Dictionary of Maltese Biographies, A-F
