Carlo Magri

Carlo Magri
Born1617
DiedOctober 25, 1693(1693-10-25) (aged 75–76)
Gozo
Parents
  • Luigi Magri (father)
  • Susanna née Casauro (mother)

Carlo Magri (c. 1617 – 25 October 1693) (nom-de-plume Marco Largi) was a Maltese priest, scholar, and dramatist.[1] He served as the Archpriest of the Cathedral of the Assumption, Gozo[1] and spearheaded its reconstruction after a major earthquake. He published dramatic works in Italy under a pseudonym,[2] and was also appointed as the first Primo Custode (Head Librarian or Prefect) of the Biblioteca Alessandrina.[3]

Early life and education

Carlo Magri is believed to have been born around 1617 to Luigi Magri and Susanna née Casauro. Records indicate he had a Maltese father and an Italian mother. He began his education at the Jesuit College in Valletta (Collegium Melitense) before moving to Rome to continue his studies.[1]

Ecclesiastical career in Rome

Magri continued his studies at the Pontifical Urban College (Pontificio Collegio Urbano de Propaganda Fide) in Rome,[1] he was ordained a priest on 5 July 1643.[4] He furthered his education at the same university, where he earned a Doctorate in utroque iure (in both civil and canon law).[5] During this period, he was also appointed a Protonotario Apostolico (Apostolic Protonotary) and was elected as a prelate to the Roman Curia (Curia romana).[1]

In 1667, he was appointed as the first Primo Custode (Head Librarian or Prefect) of the Biblioteca Alessandrina, the main library of the Sapienza University of Rome,[3] founded by Pope Alexander VII.[6]

Return to Gozo and archpriesthood

Magri returned to Malta around 1680–1681, reportedly due to declining eyesight. He was appointed Archpriest of the Gozo Matrice (Cathedral of the Assumption, Gozo), the primary church on the island of Gozo, by Apostolic Letters dated 10 February 1681.[4]

Upon his appointment, the church building was in a state of disrepair. Magri proposed constructing a new church and engaged the architect Lorenzo Gafà for its design.[7] The project gained the support of Bishop Davide Cocco Palmieri.

Before construction began, the old church structure was severely damaged in an earthquake on 11 January 1693.[8] Magri died before the new building project advanced.[9] The foundation stone for the new church was laid on 21 September 1697 by his successor, Fr. Nicolò-Natale Cassia-Magri,[9] and it was officially opened on 14 August 1711.[10] The building was consecrated on 11 October 1716.[9]

Literary works and pseudonym

Magri is recognised as the first Maltese author to have his plays published in Italy.[2] Among Magri's most important works are two comedies, both written under the anagrammatic pseudonym Marco Largi:[5] the first in 1672, titled La regia e un sogno, ovvero La Costanza; the second in 1674, titled Chi la dura la vince, ovvero Teodolinda.[11] The first of the two achieved greater success, not only in Italy but also in other European countries.[12]

Beyond his dramatic work, his output also includes a Latin translation and expansion of Hierolexicon (1677), a theological dictionary written by his brother, Domenico Magri;[1] [13] a pamphlet defending Maltese valour - specifically the Knights of Jerusalem based in Valletta - against the criticisms of Girolamo Brusoni;[14] and a letter to Abbot Cornelio Margarini concerning paintings from the seventh century onward.[5]

Death and legacy

Carlo Magri died in Gozo on 25 October 1693,[1] his remains are interred in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Gozo.[15] His initiatives led to the construction of the current Gozo Cathedral,[9] and his dramatic works are considered examples of Maltese literary activity in the 17th century.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Pace, Mario (2018). Marco Largi, ovvero, Carlo Magri: drammaturgo maltese: (1617-1693): vita e opere [Marco Largi, or Carlo Magri: Maltese playwright: (1617-1693): life and works] (in Italian). Valletta, Malta: Misdea Books. ISBN 9789993276555. OCLC 1302112368.
  2. ^ a b Bonello, Giovanni (24 February 2025). "Alberto Magri, a man extraordinary". Times of Malta. Times of Malta. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Biblioteca Universitaria Alessandrina, Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza"". www.aarome.org. American Academy in Rome. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  4. ^ a b Bezzina, Joseph (2017). The Gozo cathedral: its history and treasures. Victoria Gozo Malta: The Gozo Cathedral Chapter. p. 288. ISBN 9789990957358.
  5. ^ a b c "UM Academic publishes new book on Carlo Magri". University of Malta. University of Malta. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  6. ^ Renazzi, Filippo Maria (2011) [1805]. Storia dell'Università di Roma _ vol. III (in Italian). Rome: Sapienza Università Editrice, 2011. p. 158. ISBN 9788895814384. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  7. ^ Scerri, Louis J. (19 January 2025). "One tentative step forward, one real step backwards". Times of Malta. Times of Malta. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  8. ^ Vella, Godwin. "The Frightening Tremors of January 1693" (PDF). www.um.edu.mt. The Gozo Observer. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  9. ^ a b c d "The building of the Cathedral". Gozo Cathedral. Gozo Cathedral. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  10. ^ Bezzina, Joseph. "Five Bells from the Knights' Ferreria at the Gozo Cathedral" (PDF). University of Malta. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  11. ^ Largi, Marco (1674). "Chi la dura, la vince, ouero la Teodolinda" [He who endures, wins it, or rather Teodolinda]. Internet Archive (in Italian). Rome. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  12. ^ Pace, Mario (2020). "Carlo Magri e il suo contibuto al teatro Barocco Maltese" (PDF). The Journal of Baroque Studies. 2 (4): 155. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  13. ^ Brincat, Guiseppe (2008). "Domenico Magri e i suoi dizionari enciclopedici Notitia de' Vocaboli Ecclesiastici (1644) e Hierolexicon (1677). Il linguaggio settoriale della Chiesa tra latino e volgare" [Domenico Magri and his encyclopedic dictionaries Notitia de’ Vocaboli Ecclesiastici (1644) and Hierolexicon (1677). The specialist language of the Church between Latin and the vernacular.] (PDF) (in Italian). Rome: Studium. p. 267-330. ISBN 978-88-382-4078-2. OCLC 799792466. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  14. ^ Magri, Carlo (1667). "Il valore maltese difeso da Carlo Magri della Valletta, contro le calunnie di Girolamo Brusoni" [Maltese valour, defended by Carlo Magri of Valletta, against the calumny of Girolamo Brusoni]. Internet Archive (in Italian). Rome (published 7 December 2014). Retrieved 26 December 2025.
  15. ^ "Cathedral Tombstone hides steps leading to underground chapel - The Malta Independent". www.independent.com.mt. Malta Independent. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.