The Malta Study Center began a short-lived microfilm project at the National Archives in Malta in 1987 that microfilmed the first seven volumes of the Magna Curia Castellaniae, Acta Originalia. The project was cancelled when the National Library of Malta allowed the Malta Study Center to microfilm their archival collection. The Center signed a new agreement with the National Archives of Malta in 2007 to digitize the complete Magna Curia Castellaniae Acta Originalia, the largest secular tribunal of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem in Malta. After completing the digitization of the Magna Curia Castellaniae in 2015, the Malta Study Center continued to work periodically with the National Archives of Malta to digitize several smaller collections to digitally reunite archives in Malta now held in various repositories, in addition to help create access to larger collections like the Epoca Gallica.

Curia Episcopalis Civitatis Notabilis and Curia Provicariales, 1798-1800

In 14 volumes. The Curia Episcopalis Civitatis Notabilis and Curia Provicariales (CAN) fonds contain records of civil and criminal proceedings of the episcopal courts of Malta. Records include legal proceedings and trials concerning benefices, renunciations, taxes, property, petitions, donations, marriages, privileges, legal declarations, among other major affairs related to the jurisdiction of the bishop of Malta. Records arranged chronologically. Related documents in the Curia Episcopalis Melitensis, Acta Originalia, at the Cathedral Archives (Mdina). An index by Giuseppe Carbone was prepared in the late nineteenth century. The project began and ended in 2019.

vHMML (first record) - https://w3id.org/vhmml/readingRoom/view/221396

Epoca Gallica, 1798-1800

In 54 volumes and folders. The Epoca Gallica fonds (EGA) covers the legal history of Malta when the French abolished the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem's civil and criminal justice system and the Office of the Inquisition in 1798 and replaced it with a secular court system based on the systems adopted by the new French Republic in Malta. An index by Giuseppe Carbone was prepared in the late nineteenth century. The project began and ended in 2014.

vHMML (first record) - https://w3id.org/vhmml/readingRoom/view/501043

Law Courts Miscellaneous, 1790-1815

In 25 boxes. The Law Courts Miscellaneous fonds (LCM) contains records of the legal history of Malta from roughly 1790-1815 that were scattered after the French Occupation of Malta from 1798-1800. They include records from civil and criminal tribunals in Malta during the Order of Saint John's, French, and British periods. Previously listed under the accession number 92/04, these documents, located now in Rabat, were salvaged from Fort Saint Elmo in 1992. The project began and ended in 2015.

vHMML (first record) - https://w3id.org/vhmml/readingRoom/view/141820

Magna Curia Castellaniae, Acta Originalia, 1543 and 1798

In 1411 volumes. The Magna Curia Castellaniae (MCC) was under the jurisdiction of the Grand Master of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta. Its chief officer, the Castellano, was a knight of the Order, and the court personnel consisted of a civil judge, a criminal judge, an exchequer, a vice-exchequer, two notaries, and several clerks. It was the largest tribunal on the island of Malta, and contains considerable information about daily life on Malta. The tribunal heard both civil suits and criminal complaints concerning domestic violence, assault, theft, fights, or appointment of guardians for children. A separate Appellate Court, the Sacra Audientia, heard appeals to its judgments. Knights, Servants of arms, and Chaplains of the Order of Saint John were exempt from the tribunal's jurisdiction, since they could only be prosecuted within the Order. The Malta Study Center also digitized one volume from the Cedulae, Supplicae et Taxationes series and the twenty-five volume index prepared by Giuseppe Carbone in the late 19th century. The project began in 2007 and ended in 2015.

vHMML (first record) - https://w3id.org/vhmml/readingRoom/view/121743

Officium Bullae Sanctissimae Crociatae, 1744-1798

In 23 volumes. The Officium Bullae Sanctissimae Crocitatae fonds (OBC) contain records pertaining to the administration of the Bull of Crusade (Bolla della Crociata) managed by the prior of the Conventual Church of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta. Records include general ledgers, cash books, brogliardi (registers), letters patent, and loose papers. Related documents in the Archives of the Order of Malta, Series 13, Bolla della Crociata, at the National Library of Malta. The project began and ended in 2019.

vHMML (first record) - https://w3id.org/vhmml/readingRoom/view/221410

Officium Civile Sacrae Inquisitionis, 1605-1798

In 3 volumes. The Officium Civile Sacrae Inquisitionis fonds (OSI) contain legal documents recording the punishments handed out during the civil proceedings of the Roman Inquisition in Malta. Related documents in the Archives of the Inquisition of Malta at the Cathedral Archives in Mdina, and the Santo Uffizio Cartolaro fonds at St. Lawrence Collegiate Church in Birgu. An index by Giuseppe Carbone was prepared in the late nineteenth century. The project began and ended in 2015.

vHMML (first record) - https://w3id.org/vhmml/readingRoom/view/500586

Officium Syndicatus Congregationis Munium et Belli, 1646-1798

In 14 registers and volumes. The Officium Syndicatus Congregationis Munium et Belli fonds (OMB) contain documents pertaining to the activity of the Congregation of War (Congregazione di Guerra) of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta. Registers and volumes include deliberations, legal documents, and reports. Related documents in AOM series 6 (subseries Congregation of War) and collection Treasury A at the National Library of Malta (Valletta). The project began and ended in 2019.

vHMML (first record) - https://w3id.org/vhmml/readingRoom/view/219276

Sacra Audientia, 1538-1788

In 4 volumes. The Sacra Audientia (SAU) was the Supreme Tribunal of Appeal for the civil and criminal courts of Malta. It was presided over by the Grand Master of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta, the Sovereign Council, the Giudice Capitanale, the Castellano, the Judges of Appeal, and others according to the case treated. An index by Giuseppe Carbone was prepared in the late nineteenth century. The project began and ended in 2015.

vHMML (first record) - 'https://w3id.org/vhmml/readingRoom/view/500704

Tribunal Armamentorum, 1602-1798

The Tribunal Armamentorum or Magistrato degli Armamenti was founded by Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt on June 17, 1605. It was constituted by four knights of different langues and a secular judge nominated by the Grand Master of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem. The Tribunal heard and judged all cases regarding corsairs with a second and final appeal to Rome. An index by Giuseppe Carbone was prepared in the late nineteenth century. The project began in 2022 and ended in 2023.

vHMML (first record) - 'https://w3id.org/vhmml/readingRoom/view/237556

Tribunal Debitorum Religiosorum, 1776-1798

In 17 volumes. The Tribunal Debitorum Religiosorum (TDR) was the Tribunal of religious debtors (Tribunale dei debitori) of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta. The Tribunal was established in 1776 by the General Chapter and was regulated by a magistral prammatica dated 1777 March 8. The Tribunal ended its activity in 1798. Fond includes series. The project began and ended in 2019.

Series 1, Acta Originalia, 1777-1798

In 14 volumes. Records pertaining to the administration of the Tribunal of religious debtors of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta. Records include correspondence, legal documents, and petitions submitted to and issued by the Tribunal.

vHMML (first record) - 'https://w3id.org/vhmml/readingRoom/view/235827

Series 2, Registrum Sententiarum, 1786-1787

In 1 register. Record pertaining to the administration of the Tribunal of religious debtors of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta. Register includes legal documents.

vHMML (first record) - 'https://w3id.org/vhmml/readingRoom/view/235843

Series 3, Registrum Exhibita et Licentiae, 1776-1797

In 1 register. Record pertaining to the administration of the Tribunal of religious debtors of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta. Register records submissions of legal documents to the Tribunal and the licenses issued by the same.

vHMML (first record) - 'https://w3id.org/vhmml/readingRoom/view/235841

Series 4, Registrum Cedolarum, 1779-1798

In 1 volume. Record pertaining to the administration of the Tribunal of religious debtors of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta. Volume includes legal documents (coupons; cedole).

vHMML (first record) - 'https://w3id.org/vhmml/readingRoom/view/235842

Tribunal Fabricae Sancti Petri de Urbe, 1625-1716

In 1 volume. The Tribunal Fabricae Sancti Petri de Urbe fonds (TSP) contains records of prosecutions of people suspected of hiding their wealth to defraud the Fabrica Sancti Petri de Urbe, which collected money for the construction and maintenance of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The Tribunal also served as an arbitrator between the Bishop of Malta and the Grand Master of the Order of Saint John. The primary repository for the Tribunal's records is located at the Cathedral Archives in Mdina, which were microfilmed by the Malta Study Center during the 1970s and 1980s. An index by Giuseppe Carbone was prepared in the late nineteenth century. This project began and was completed in September, 2015.

vHMML (first record) - https://w3id.org/vhmml/readingRoom/view/500593

Tribunal Segnaturae Justitiae, 1799-1800

In 3 volumes. The Tribunal Segnaturae Justitiae fond contains records dated 1798-1800 concerning legal cases in Malta and Gozo. The project began and ended in 2019.

vHMML (first record) - https://w3id.org/vhmml/readingRoom/view/219290

Indices

26 volumes from the Indices fonds (NDX) created by Giuseppe Carbone in the 19th century were digitized by the Malta Study Center supporting the digitized fonds.

vHMML (first record) - https://w3id.org/vhmml/readingRoom/view/124400