Russia Knights of St John of Malta

The Russian Maltese Chamber of Nobility  (1798-1919)  and thereafter- "Alleged"

 Creation of titles in Russia

This chamber was formed on the creation of titles by Tsar Paul I of Russia 1799 to be governed under the Order of St John of Malta in Russia. This chamber was of those and their descendants with the expectation of those titled and serving as a Knight of the Russian Order of St John.

In 1798 following Napoleon's taking of Malta, the Order of Malta (Order of St John of Jerusalem) was dispersed, but with a large number of refugee Knights sheltering in St Petersburg, where they elected the Russian Emperor, Paul I as their Grand Master - a rival Grand Master to Ferdinand Hompesch then held in disgrace. Hompesch abdicated in 1799 leaving Paul as the only Grand Master. 

When Tsar Paul I of Russia had succeeded as Grand Master of Malta, a group of Maltese whom closely connected to the established Nobility had travelled with Conte Litta to St Petersburg to support and unite the Order. For this the following were carried Nobility under the Russian Empire, Knights of St John of Malta and the Imperial Order of St George.

Yet, the truly momentous period in the life of the Corps des Pages dawns with the ascension to the throne of Emperor Paul I, especially from the time he assumes the dignity of Grandmaster of the Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, the Knights of Malta. All the policy of the new Tsar is dictated by his fear and hatred of the French Revolution, to which he seeks to oppose a united Christendom ; he takes active steps to promote a Union between the Eastern and the Western Churches which - he hopes - will be joined by the Protestants as well. The Maltese Cross becomes a symbol of the planned new crusade, the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem - the carriers « par excellence » of its ideology. The Order is to become ecumenical - open to all Christians of noble descent ; to swell the ranks of the Western Maltese Knights who took their refuge in Russia, Paul creates 118 new Knight-Commanders, and allows the creation of Ancestral/Hereditary Commanders among the highest nobility of his Empire and - by his Ukase of 4th (l5th new style) December 1797, establishes THE RULES FOR THE EDUCATION AND MILITARY UPBRINGING of these Knights' descendants : this training is to begin at the age of 15, the rank of Commissioned Officer AND KNIGHT-COMMANDER of the Order to be attained at the age of 22 ; the Graduate is to wear the White Maltese Cross.

( http://www.maineworldnewsservice.com/caltrap/russian%20connection.htm ) The fall of Malta enraged the Tsar who convoked a Conventual College in St. Petersburg. It consisted of knights of the Russian Grand Priory, others who had followed the Count of Provence into exile at Mittau in the Russian Baltic province of Kurland, and those knights who had accompanied de Litta to Russia. At the urging of the Count of Provence, French knights who had been loyal to Hompesch had gone to Germany or Austria after leaving Malta also joined the Russian Grand Priory, as did de Litta. Many, Bosredon-Rancijat among them, had given up their vows and married. (8) In 1797, the newly instituted body had consisted of sixteen members, six of whom were non-Russian. At the end of 1798 there were one hundred and seventeen members, ninety-seven of whom were non-Russian, and at the end of 1799, there were one hundred and eighty-four members, one hundred and sixty-six of whom were non-Russian. On 6 September 1798, members of the Russian Grand Priory and other knights of the Order residing in Russia deposed von Hompesch, declaring him "guilty of the most stupid negligence." On 7 November 1798 they elected the Protector, Paul I, Grand Master. A fortnight later, he accepted, assuming the responsibilities of the Order in keeping, as he put it, with his Imperial prerogatives.

 Reference: The Russian Maltese Chamber of Nobility, Paris, France and St Petersburgh Russia- Personal communications with the President 2006, 2009, 2015.

Also note: Read the disclaimer from HIH, Grand Duchess Maria of Russia regarding the History of the Order of St John of Malta: - (Press).

The List of Creations of 1799 at St Petersburg Russia: 

(All titles were to Male descendants not inherited by female descendants)

    The Russian Maltese Chamber of Nobility (1799-1919).

Maltese Knights of the Russian order of St John of Malta.