The County of Malta was a feudal lordship of the Kingdom of Sicily, relating to the islands of Malta and Gozo. Malta was essentially a fief within the kingdom, with the title given by Tancred of Sicily the Norman king of Sicily to Margaritus of Brindisi in 1192 who earned acclaim as the Grand Admiral of Sicily. Afterwards the fiefdom was passed from nobleman to nobleman remaining as a family possession in a few instances. It was used mainly as a bargaining tool in Sicilian politics leading to a rather turbulent history. The fiefdom was elevated to a Marquisate in 1392 and either title was no longer used after 1429.
Early Period
The first Count of Malta was Margaritus of Brindisi, a sailor of Greek descent or origin from the city of Brindisi (Southern Italy). He was granted the fief by Tancred of Lecce, then King of Sicily, for his service as admiral for the Kingdom, known at the time as ammiratus ammiratorum. The title was granted in 1192, perhaps for his unexpected success in capturing Empress Constance the contender for Sicilian crown against Tancred. In 1194, Margaritus then lost his fiefs, including Malta, when Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor, husband of Constance, took control of the Kingdom of Sicily by military invasion.
In 1197, on the death of Henry VI, the title was given to Guglielmo Grasso, a Genoese pirate. He was one of many North Italian and German warlords who had great interests in the new territory that was now open to them. Some accounts indicate that he was also admiral to the King of Sicily. It is also attested that he was a conspirator along with Markward von Annweiler, in an attempt to remove the young Frederick II from the throne. He was therefore in conflict with the crown. It is also attested that he was a corsair first and foremost, with the population of Malta rising up against him by 1198 on various issues.
Genoese Period
Henry, Count of Malta inherited the fief from Guglielmo Grasso in 1203, apparently because he was his son-in-law and the latter had no sons. He used the islands in his exploits throughout the Mediterranean, in his enterprise as a major corsair. It seems that he was employed in pirating activities against mainly Venetian and Arab vessels, but also seems to have been active in internal strife in Sicily. At around 1218 though, he was also elevated to the rank of Admiral for the King of Sicily. It seems that at around 1221 he may have lost the fief due to dispute with the crown. Whether he regained it or not is not known.
Afterwards the title and fief were regained by his son Niccolò de Malta in 1232. Throughout the period during which he used the title (1232–1266), there seem to be present in Malta a number of royal governors. They included Paulino de Malta (1239–1240) and Gililberto Abbate (1240-?). During the period of Abbate's term in office, there was written one of the most well known and important documents from the time: the report of Giliberto Abbate.,
It seems that Niccolò lost the fief in 1266, when the Kingdom of Sicily was conquered by Charles I of Anjou. The title was than re-instated to him, even though he held nominal power. Apparently it was in this period that the local nobility started to form, which is attested by a number of petitions sent to the crown. These petitions were sent by a number of distinct locals on matters of local significance.
In 1282, during the Sicilian Vespers uprising, it appears that the island was easily taken over by the Crown of Aragon, with local aid. Aragonese control initially excluded the Castrum Maris, which did not fall until 1283, following after the naval Battle of Malta. It was therefore in 1282 that Andreolo da Genova was given the title of Count of Malta. He and his family had supported the native rebels in aiding the Aragonese claimants to the Sicilian throne.
In 1300, Roger of Lauria was given the title of Count of Malta by the Kingdom of Naples, after loss of support in the King of Sicily's fleet . He had allied himself with the Angevin crown. It seems though that he never had control over the islands. They were still strictly Aragonese possessions following the Battle of Malta, which he himself had won for the Aragonese crown.
Aragonese Sicily
The heir apparent of the fief was Guglielmo de Malta, nephew of Count Andreolo. Guglielmo died in 1299, leaving all possessions to his daughter Lukina. It appears that during the period between 1300 and 1320, no Count of Malta held the fief. Lukina held on to the rights she had inherited from her father, without actually holding any title or power. The most important positions were filled by natives and people appointed by the Crown.