The properties and landed possessions of the Knights of St John in Malta

This chapter is concerned with the Cabrei of the Knights of the Order of St John, which are conserved at the National Library of Malta, Valletta. It provides some general considerations about the Cabrei and how they are organized in the national collection. The chapter focuses on two particular volumes: Cabrei 290 and 307. It also provides certain other features that appear in some of the illustrations of the two volumes, particular reference being made to costumes, farming practices and landscape. After describing the general characteristics of these two Cabrei, the chapter examines the typical property that the Order possessed in the Maltese islands during the eighteenth century, which included rural and urban houses, palazzi, landed estates and windmills. It outlines two case studies: a townhouse listed in Cabreo 307 and a typical rural house, both pertaining to the eighteenth century. Cabreo 290 documents an entire list of farming estates and smaller parcels of agricultural land.