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Title: | The abate Vella and his forgeries : some notes on the background of his works |
Authors: | Freller, Thomas |
Keywords: | Sicily (Italy) -- History Vella, Giuseppe, 1739-1814 Literary forgeries and mystifications Political science -- Italy -- Sicily -- History -- 18th century Enlightenment |
Issue Date: | 2008 |
Publisher: | University of Malta. Junior College |
Citation: | Symposia Melitensia. 2008, Vol.5, p. 56-72 |
Abstract: | In 1793 the Maltese Abate Giuseppe Vella published the Libro del Consiglio di Egitto containing several Arabic and Norman documents which seemed to confirm the absolute power of medieval rulers over the rights and prerogatives of the nobility. It became an important matter in the efforts of Francesco Maria Venanzio d'Aquino, principe di Caramanico, the viceroy of Sicily, and his lawyers and civil servants to justify and legitimatize the pruning of the rights and power of the mighty Sicilian barons. In a spectacular trial, most of Vella's works were revealed as forgeries. This paper tries to trace the motives behind this forgery and shows how the abate was most likely inspired by similar frauds in Andalucia. |
URI: | https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar//handle/123456789/6404 |
ISSN: | 1812-7509 |
Appears in Collections: | SymMel, 2008, Volume 5 SymMel, 2008, Volume 5 |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
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The Abate Vella.pdf | 21.86 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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