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)
Person | Connection in Malta | Change of Name | Title |
Michele Apap | Brother of the 1st Marquis Apap | Apapov | Count of the Russian Empire : Extinct 1918. * |
Andrea Apap | Brother of the 1st Marquis Apap | Apapov | Baron of the Russian Empire : Extinct 1919.* |
Aloiseo Apap | Brother of the 1st Marquis Apap | Apapov | Duke of the Russian Empire : Extinct 1955. * |
Michele Sceberras Testaferrata | Younger Son of the Baron of Castel Cicciano | Sceberraski | Prince of the Russian Empire : Extinct 1959. * |
Lazzaro Fournier | Grand Nephew of the 1st Count Fournier | Fournierski | Marquis of the Russian Empire : Extinct 1957. * |
Marc'Antonio Carabott | brother of the 1st Baron of Grua | Carbottski | Count of the Russian Empire : Extinct 1960. * |
Tommaso Preziosi | Great Grandson of the 1st Count Preziosi | Preziosiski |
Marquis of the Russian Empire : Extinct 1859. * illegitimate offspring created Baron 1880: Extinct 1959. * |
Giacomo Preziosi | Descendant of the 1st Count Preziosi parents | Preziosiov | Baron of the Russian Empire : Extinct 1894. * |
Giacomo Testaferrata Castelletti | Son of the 1st Marquis Testaferrata Castettelli | Testaferrataski | Duke of the Russian Empire : Extinct 1925. * |
Salvatore Galea Ferriol | son of the 3rd Baron of San Marciano | Galeaov | Count of the Russian Empire : Extinct 1946. * |
Alessandro Gauci | Grandson of the 1st Duke of Paganica | Gauciski | Baron of the Russian Empire : Extinct 1941. * |
Carmelo Gauci | Brother of Alessandro Gauci | Gauciski | Count of the Russian Empire : Extinct 1893. * |
Ludovico Gauci | Half Brother of Alessandro and Carmelo, son of the Countess of Dundee | Gauciski | Prince of the Russian Empire : Extinct 1965. * |
Chco Deodata Delicata | Elder brother of 1st Marquis of Ghajn Qajjed | Delicatasky | Duke of the Russian Empire : Extinct 1919. * |
Giuseppe Sayd | grandson of Prince Lorenzo Sayd | Saidov | Baron of the Russian Empire |
Salvatore Sayd | younger son of Prince Lorenzo Sayd | Saidov | Count of the Russian Empire : Extinct 1979. * |
Domenico Calleja | Brother of Baron Calleja | Callejov | Baron of the Russian Empire |
Giovanni Desiero | Relative of the Marquis de Piro | Desierov | Baron of the Russian Empire |
Baldassare Fenech Bonici | Son of the Count Fenech Bonnici | Fenechsky | Count of the Russian Empire : Extinct 1846. * |
Antonio Grungo | Descendant of the Counts Ciantar | Grunov | Baron of the Russian Empire : Extinct 1819. * |
Gregorio Heffner | Descendant of the Counts Fournier | Heffnerov | Baron of the Russian Empire : Extinct 1821. * |
Pietro Paolo Agius | Relative of the Barons of Buleben | Agiusovsky | Baron of the Russian Empire |
Alessandro Amato | Amatov or Damatov | Baron of the Russian Empire | |
Simone Assenza | Assence | Baron of the Russian Empire : Extinct 1931. * | |
Nicola Axiaq | Descendant of the Barons Axac | Axacov | Prince of the Russian Empire : Extinct 1953. * |
Giovanni Balbi | Balbisky | Baron of the Russian Empire : Extinct 1949. * | |
Pietro Paolo Bonici | Descendant of the Barons of Buleben | Bonicov | Duke of the Russian Empire : Extinct 1972. * |
Gaetano Cachia Mannarino | Descendant of the Barons of Djar il-Bniet | Cachiov | Count of the Russian Empire : Extinct 1860. * |
Teodoro Meli | Meliov | Baron of the Russian Empire | |
Jacques Isouard Xuereb | Descendant of the Counts of Santa Sofia | Isouardov | Count of the Russian Empire |
Franco Xuereb | Descendant of the Barons d'Daniele | Xuerebski | Prince of the Russian Empire |
Carlo Zerafa | Son of a Famous Architect | Zerafov | Hereditary Knight of the Russian Empire and of St John of Malta in Russia : Extinct 1955. * |
Antoine Xerri | Son of Sir Raffale Xerri | Xerrov | Hereditary Knight of the Russian Empire and of St John of Malta in Russia : Extinct 1900. * |
Baldassare Borg | Brother of the Chev Vincenzo Borg | Borgovsky | Hereditary Knight of the Russian Empire and of St John of Malta in Russia |
Andre Speranza | Sicilian feudal family | Speranzov | Hereditary Knight of the Russian Empire and of St John of Malta in Russia : Extinct 1894. * |
Riccardo Salvarozza | Corsican nobility | Salvarozzov | Hereditary Knight of the Russian Empire and of St John of Malta in Russia : Extinct 1864. * |
Albino Portughes | Landed Gentry | Portughesky | Hereditary Knight of the Russian Empire and of St John of Malta in Russia : Extinct 1912. * |
Carlo Lavanzin | Descendant of Baron Passalacqua | Lavanzinski | Hereditary Knight of the Russian Empire and of St John of Malta in Russia : Extinct 1937. * |
Clement Scivoli | illegitimate son of Fra von Hohenlohe | Scivoliski | Hereditary Knight of the Russian Empire and of St John of Malta in Russia : Extinct 1953. * |
Michele Grima | Grandson of the Count Fenech Bonici | Grimov | Hereditary Knight of the Russian Empire and of St John of Malta in Russia |
Ignor Preziosisky | illegitimate son of the Marquis Preziosky | Preziosiky | (Created 1880): - Baron of the Russian Empire Extinct. * |
Biagio Tagliaferro | Merchant family in Malta and in Russia | Tagliaferro | (Created 1810) Knight of St George of Russia, Hereditary Knight of the Russian Empire and of St John of Malta in Russia - (Extinct/Abeyance) 1913 * |