Title

The International Commission and Association on Nobility (TICAN), a private, apolitical and ecumenical body, has continually grown since its foundation in 2008 and has been accepted worldwide as devoted to the preservation and promotion of the monarchical system of government. 

The Commission was founded, moreover, in order to associate the world’s noble families to fostering noble traditions and values, mutual solidarity and be consistent with the ethical code of conduct, as the sense of duty to their ancestors who were given noble titles for their merits. The Commission cooperates with individuals, as well as with religious, cultural, educational, scientific and other institutions, associations and societies, that promote the same goals. The task of the Commission, in affiliation with other nobility associations, is to see world nobility and its history recognized and studied at the international level.

The Commission welcomes both families of the nobility, as well as, in its "on merits" membership class, families which, though not noble, share the same values and are committed to the same ideals. However, one of the characteristics of the TICAN environment is that of loyalty to the Commission’s stated ethos and values. As a result, TICAN has a selective membership.  

TICAN neither registers nor certifies grants of nobility or arms, proof of nobility must be backed up solid evidence. Whenever a noble, royal, or academic claim is made by a candidate for membership, we are nevertheless duty-bound to attempt to determine whether the claim is valid or not. This is necessary in order to protect the good name and reputation of the concerned sovereigns, as well as those of TICAN and its Royal Patrons. The directing principles of impartiality and the preservation of a coherent standard are fundamental components guiding the resolutions of the Commission.

The study of family history, or genealogy, is perhaps one of the most ancient of human interests. Every great civilization has found root in the organization of the family and, thus, their history is a collection of family histories. Genealogy, being as it is the study of individual people and their relationships within the social unit of the family, therefore offer a unique lense on history. However, when a person seeks to know the origins of their family, genealogical facts are scarce, and these are located in the remote past, reconstruction of family history is often more imaginative than correct.

Only sovereigns, as legitimate fons honorum (founts of honor) have the right to bestow nobility. Only a true sovereign, regnant or de jure, can create or restore a noble title, or bestow upon a person true knighthood.  The concession of a noble title is neither the prerogative of the State nor of any private organization, but is rather granted in virtue of the merits recognized in the person by the power of the Crown at the discretion of the Prince or who holds the Fons and Jus Honorum. This concept has likewise always been followed by Dynasties who have ceased to reign further to final occupation of their lands, and therefore by Pretenders to the Throne. If a noble title nowadays was well earned and is worn with honor, it has the same value as those titles of the past, as the noble title emanated from Sovereign prerogative (rex nobilem tantum facere potest).

Today, the nobility is very much part of modern society and has lost its former privileges, even though family names, titles and coats of arms are still protected in various countries. No one can just assume a title of nobility merely because no one is presently using it. 

Membership in the class of nobility is for those holding a title of nobility and or who are members of a legitimate Hereditary Order of Chivalry. Potential prospects considering applying for membership should submit solid evidence. Applications for membership in the Association shall be in writing and include all the documents listed in Membership Regulations. In order to petition for Nobility Membership, the following documents must be submitted:

A - A Letter (or duly filled application form) to the Nobiliary Council requesting admission.

B - Complete Curriculum Vitae (CV) of the applicant.

C - Proof of nobility (Genealogical Proof or Title of Nobility) or of Hereditary Knighthood.

D - Coat of Arms of the applicant, if applicable.

The Nobiliary Council, after having processed documentation, shall verify the authenticity of the documents and the candidate’s suitability and recommend their acceptance to the “Nobility” membership. The Council shall have unlimited freedom of judgment.

Hereditary titles tend to remain in particular families. Lineage must be proven through research by a professional genealogist. Legitimate Orders of Chivalry must be recognized Royal Houses (see our page "World Royal Families”). Should we find problems with your application through this investigation process, we will share them with you in the hope of clarifying whatever is ascertained.

The results of the investigation, whether positive or negative, will not be made public. The information will only be shared with a few key individuals who will keep information confidential and private. At any time during this process, you may withdraw your application to obtain “Nobility Membership” or change it an application for “Titular Membership.”

In order to strengthen the experience and overall knowledge base of TICAN, a group of consultants has been gathered to assist the Advisory Council and provide inputs on various issues. These persons are recognized experts in their respective fields of study, or significant leaders in the respective regions in which they are active in their genealogical and lineage communities.

The Nobiliary Council is a sub-commission of the International Commission and Association on Nobility consisting of the Chair, the Vice Chair, the Secretary and three or more executive representatives elected by the Council from amongst the TICAN membership or from outside the Commission (E.g.: Historians, Heralds and Genealogists). TICAN’s President serves as the Council’s Chair and the Commission’s Executive Secretary as its Vice Chair.

The Council has full power to direct and review the general affairs of the Commission for “Nobility Membership” within the limits set forth in the Commission’s Bylaws.

In this respect, TICAN is governed by Statutes and By-Laws requiring its officers and directors to exercise ordinary and reasonable care, honesty, and good faith in the performance of their duties. Officers and directors must act in a manner which they believe to be in the best interests of the Commission, and with such care, including reasonable inquiry, as an ordinarily prudent person in like position would use under similar circumstances. Occasionally, a board member needs to be removed, whether due to a conflict of interest or to unethical behavior, or due to behavior so obstructive that the board is prevented from functioning effectively.

CHAIRMAN 

Don Salvatore Ferdinando Antonio Caputo

Salvatore Caputo was born in a noble family in 1942 when Italy was a kingdom ruled by the House of Savoy, kings of Italy since the Risorgimento (movement that led to the unification of Italy) and previously rules of Savoy. But after 4 years, monarchy was abolished by popular referendum in June 2, 1946. Italy became a republic.

 Don Salvatore Ferdinando Antonio Caputo is a monarchist that believes that a hereditary Monarchy, with a Sovereign, non-corrupt one with religious values and culture and tradition, conducted with immense kindness and whose role was thrust upon him by accident of birth rather than by being a politician, is the most perfect form of government in a nation.  

Mr. Caputo supports the present heads of exiled or non-reigning Houses as de jure sovereigns, this recognition being co-existent with the realization that the institution is more important than a particular claimant. A monarch through the vestiges of that misunderstood Divine right and because of his symbolic paternal role faces a higher responsibility than a state government.

He advocates of the establishment, preservation and restoration of a monarchy and stays neutral on the issue of juridical recognition of reigning and Sovereign Houses, which is of exclusive competence of their respective State Systems and desires exclusively to support their traditional humanitarian commitment at the service of international collaboration.

Caputo speaks and writes fluently Italian, English, Spanish, and Portuguese, read French.  

His Company Caputo International Ltd was founded in September 1985, Toronto, Canada, in December 1990 in U.S.A. and in Guatemala on March 1993. Mr. Caputo was educated in Italy, Canada and US.

SPECIAL NOTE 

While Salvatore Caputo is descended from an ancient lineage, he makes no claim to royal, princely or ducal titles against what might appear on some websites or blogs and makes no pretension or claim to be such. His family belongs to a family whose origins and ancestors are well documented. To insert in a biography reporting that the person has a noble title it does not mean to be recognized as such, nor will be recognized as monarchy.  

 Vice Chairman

Jean-Paul Gauthier de la Martinière 

  Mr. Gauthier, is an Expert-Advisor to the World Bank Group and former Sr. Manager at Deloitte Consulting, has over 30 years of experience, working in or with over 80 countries worldwide, in trade, investment, and institutional development. Over the course of his career, he has led teams in technical assistance projects for a number of international donor agencies, including the World Bank and its sister institutions the IFC and MIGA. Mr. Gauthier has designed and managed tens of millions of dollars in development assistance projects, including complex, multi-year, multi-phase projects, with staffs of dozens of members of personnel, and launched numerous projects and 5 field offices. He has 17 years of experience in recruiting, deploying, leading and managing implementation teams for the World Bank, Deloitte, Bearing Point, and others.

Attorney in good standing with the Bar of Quebec, Canada, he holds an MA in International Economics from John Hopkins University (SAIS), Ll.B. in Civil Law from Université de Montréal and Mc Gill University, as well as Certificates from such leading international institutions as the Yale School of Management (SOM). Mr. Gauthier is published and has spoken at numerous public events in his areas of expertise. He is native to near-fluent in English, French, Spanish & Russian, and has resided and worked long-term in Jordan, Morocco and in Russia.

Interested of historical, genealogical, nobility, chivalry and heraldic.

Armiger of the Commonwealth Realm of Canada    

(http://archive.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/project.asp?lang=e&ProjectID=1291). 

Knight (with Shell) of the Holy Sepulchre (EOHSJ) -currently transferring from the US Mid-Atlantic Lieutenancy to the Lieutenancy of England & Wales), a recipient of the Holy Land Pilgrims? Shell (Silver¨ Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land/Holy See), a member of the SMOM Auxiliary (US Federal Association) as well as of the SMOM Brotherhood of Blessed Gerard.

 Secretary

Professor Noel Cox 

Dr Noel Cox was Professor of Law, Department of Law and Criminology, Aberystwyth University, United Kingdom, the oldest law school in Wales. His major field of research interest is aspects of the Crown, State, and sovereignty. His work has been published in the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, Japan, New Zealand, and elsewhere. He has presented conference papers in many countries, and been a visiting fellow at the University of Cambridge (Wolfson and St Edmund?s Colleges) and The Australian National University. He taught for a decade at the Auckland University of Technology, where he was head of the department of law, and in the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, and Poland. He is a barrister of the Inner Temple, and admitted to practice in New Zealand, and seven Australian states.  He is also a Priest in the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia.

Dr Cox was Chairman of The Monarchist League of New Zealand (now Monarchy New Zealand) 2000-2010 (Vice-Chairman 1996-2000, and a life fellow 2010), a Patron of the Australian Monarchist League, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, the Burgon Society, and the International Association of Amateur Heralds. He is the author of 14 books and 150 other works, including a number of the laws and practices of nobiliary and heraldic law. 

  Social scientist, Research genealogy

Glen W. Covert

Glen W. Covert, a social scientist, has researched genealogy and family history for over 30 years. His genealogical research, reports, and publications are informed by his multidisciplinary interests in US and Central European cultural history, international relations, and theatre.  He has a BA in History and German from Willamette University, is an alumnus of Portland Actors Conservatory, earned a master?s in the Social Sciences (focus: 19th century Austrian cultural history) from The University of Chicago, and received a postgraduate certificate in International Studies from the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna.

As a genealogist, Glen channels his multidisciplinary expertise into his passion for genealogy to help others find their family histories.  He specializes in researching the family trees and histories of commoner, noble, and royal families from Austria, Germany, and the region of Trentino-South Tyrol. 

Glen is a native speaker of English, is fluent in German, and can read Kurrent and Sütterlin (old German) script.

Member

Duane Leroy Charles Mealman Galles, Esq.

Duane L.C.M. Galles, son of Lester Galles and his wife Nettie Mealman is a native of Adrian, Minnesota.  Mr. Galles holds degrees from George Washington University (B.A.), William Mitchell College of Law (J.D.), University of Ottawa (Ph.D.) and Saint Paul University, Ottawa. (J.C.D.).  He has a distinguished career as an attorney, counselor-at-law and canonist.  Mr. Galles was called to the Bar of the Supreme Court of the State of Minnesota in 1977, and the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States in 1981.

Memberships* Connecticut Society of the Cincinnati

* National Gavel Society * Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York * Colonial Order of the Acorn * Colonial Society of Pennsylvania * Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Wisconsin * Veteran Corps of Artillery in the State of New York * National Society Sons of Colonial New England (Honorary Governor    General) * National Society of Sons of the American Colonists (Honorary Governor    General) * Order of Americans of Armorial Ancestry (Honorary President General) * Order of Descendants of Colonial Physicians and Chirugiens (Honorary    President General) * National Society Sons of the American Revolution (recipient of the Minute    Man Award; former Vice President General, North Central District) * General Society Sons of the Revolution (former Vice President General) * Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts * Flagon and Trencher * Hereditary Order of Descendants of Colonial Governors (former    Corresponding Secretary General) * Jamestowne Society * Military Society of the War of 1812 * National Order of the Blue and Gray (Commanding General) * National Society of Old Plymouth Colony Descendants * National Society Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims (former Editor    General) * Order of Founders and Patriots of America (former Treasurer General) * Order of Indian Wars of the United States (former Recorder) * Society of the Descendants of the Colonial Clergy (former Chancellor Gene).

 Member

Angelo Sedacca 

Professionally, Angelo Sedacca Angelo is a community leader in his home of New York, USA. An Officer of the NYPD since 1998, he is a highly decorated veteran of the tragic events of 9/11/2001, including with the World Trade Centre Breast Star of 2001 and as an Officer of the Venerable Order of St-John. He is the Supervisor of the NYPD Detective Squad. An expert in narcotics, he daily implements practical solutions to today?s social challenges, is motivated by a desire to build a better society, and shows his commitment to social progress.

Former positions in The Augustan Society; namely: Justiciar General, Arms Sub-Committee, Member, Chivalry Committee, Member, Royalty & Nobility Committee.

Chivalric Orders, titles, Honors and Awards

Royal House of Babiito, Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom (Uganda); styled The Most Honourable, Hereditary Knighthood (Omukungu - "Shield Chief"), Royal Order of the Engabu, Royal House of Babiito; styled "The Most Honourable". Grand Officer, Equestrian Order of Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, Ufficiale (Officer), Order of Merit of the House of Savoy, Officer, Most Venerable Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knight Commander, Equestrian Order of Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, Associate Member, American Society of Italian Legions of Merit.

His Majesty King Kigeli V, the de jure sovereign of Rwanda in exile conferred on him four hereditary baronial titles: Baron Sedacca of St. Michael, Baron Sedacca of St. Peter, Baron Sedacca of St. Nicholas and Baron Sedacca of St. Jean.

Member

Patrick O?Shea d´Albeville  

Patrick Michael O?Shea d?Albeville is Doctor of Musical Arts and Director of Choral Activities & Vocal Music Chair, Department of Music at Saint Mary?s University of Minnesota Winona, Minnesota www.smumn.edu

He is also a Board of Governors, American College of Heraldry and wrote multiple articles on heraldry in The Armigers News, the quarterly journal of the College of Heraldry.

Chivalric Orders, titles, Honors and Awards

Knight of the Order of Saint Michael of the Wing (House of Braganza, Portugal), Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, Baron of the Kingdom of Rwanda, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society, Who?s Who in America, Who?s Who Among America´s Teachers.