The Knights of Malta in Russia

AD1697, Malta was visited by the Czar's
servant Piotr. A. Tolstoy.

AD 1698
Russian Ambassador Boris Petrovich Sheremetev
is received with honour in Valletta by
Grand Master Raymond de Pereylos.

Russian naval officers were sent to Malta
to conduct special military training with the Knights.

July 1766 –February 1769
Russian Naval officers sent to Malta to serve
and conduct special military training on board
the Order’s Fleet.
Russo-Turkish War (1768-74).

The Cross of devotion, the Habit of the Order and the Grand Cross
were presented to the Emperor.
The inauguration of the Grand Priory of Russia took place on the
29th November/10th December 1797.
Article I
"His imperial majesty the emperor of all the Russias, as an act of
justice, and at the same time to prove, his sentiments of affection
and high consideration for the illustrious order of Malta,
approves, confirms, and ratifies, in his own name and that of his
successors for ever, in the most ample and solemn manner, the
establishment of the said order of Malta in his dominions."

27 th October 1798 Proclamation appointing Czar Paul I as
Grand master was made by 249 Knights present in
Russia.
“We, bailiffs, grand-crosses, commanders, Knights of the
Grand Prior of Russia and all members of the order of St
John of Jerusalem, assembled at St Petersburg, the chief
residence of our order, not only in our names, but in
those other languages, grand-priories in general, and all
their members in particular who shall unite themselves
to us by a firm adhesion to our principals, Proclaim his
Imperial Majesty Paul I Grand Master of the Order of St
John of Jerusalem.

Proclamation
“We, Paul I Emperor of all the Russias and
grand-master of the order of St John of
Jerusalem, by our Imperial authority and by
these presents, a new foundation of the Order of
St John of Jerusalem in favour of the Nobles of
our empire, to the following regulations, which
shall serve in future for the fundamental basis
to the organisation of the said foundation”.

Reunification and
complete reestablishment

Lady Emma Hamilton (Nelson’s Consort) proudly displays the petit cross of the Order given to her by
Czar Paul 1 for her contribution to the Order.

Russian Grand Priory
Hereditary Commanders created in St Petersburg between 1799 and 1805
Bariatinsky Beketov Beloselskoy Bobrinskoy Borch 1 Buturlin Chirikov Davydov
Demidov Dolgoruky Golovkin 2 Khilkov Naryshkin Odoevsky Olsufiev Potemkin
Samoilov Sheremetev Strogonov Tiufiakin Trubetskoy Vorontsov Yusupov Zherebtsov

The Order educated young men at the school, the Corps des Pages, in St.
Petersburg. The Corps des Pages was the academy for the creation of new
Knights of Malta. The graduates of this school became leaders of the
exclusive Guard Divisions and thereby protectors of the Imperial Family
of Russia.
The Maltese Cross was also awarded for military chivalry

•

УКАЗ
именной, данный Генерал-Фельдмаршалу Графу Салтыкову. О распорядке сумм Ордена св. Иоанна Иерусалимского*
{* Печатается: ПСЗРИ. № 24.134, с. 74.}
Граф Николай Иванович! Вам известны соображения, составленные в Комитете Финансов об Ордене Св. Иоанна
Иерусалимского.
По уважениям, от вас Мне представленным, оставляя существование сего Ордена впредь до усмотрения настоящем его
положения, Я признал нужным хозяйственную его часть основать на следующих правилах:
1) Командированные по Ордену сему доходы производить из Государственного Казначества тем, кто ими доселе
пользовался, не делая никаких новых назначений.
2) Респонсии более не отпускать и оставлять суммы сии в распоряжении Казначества.
3) Чиновникам, кои по Ордену доселе получали, производить свое из Казначества до удобнейшего их размещения.
4) Командорства фамильные оставят в настоящем их положении впредь до усмотрения.
5) Обратив на Казначейство расходы по Ордену сему, в предыдущих статьях означенные, за тем оставить уже в
распоряжении его все те суммы, кои доселе по обоим приорствам Ордена сего были отпускаемы.
6) Экономические суммы Ордена, в Банк и Воспитательный дом обращающиеся, по общему о таковых суммах в
Манифесте 2 Февраля положению, имеют поступить в Государственное Казначество.
7) Дом Ордену сему принадлежащий, так как и другие собственности, принять в казну.
На основании сих правил Министру Финансов дано повеление, по сношению с вами и с Графом Литтою, принести все
хозяйственные дела и счеты по Ордену сему к окончанию, и произвесть прием и причисление их в Государственному
Казначейству.
Февраля 26, 1810 г.

"...Count Nicholaj Ivanovich! We hope you are informed about
the intentions of the Finance Committee concerning the Order
of St John of Jerusalem. Under the authority given to Us, We
will do our best to let the Order continue its activities and,
having recognised the necessity, we would like to settle the
questions connected with its funds in accordance with the
following rules:
1. The members of the Order who used to be paid according
to the list, should be paid from the profits of the State
Treasury. No new appointments are to be added.
2. No other obligations (Responcia) are to be paid and the
funds should be placed at the disposal of the State Treasury.

3. The officials who are now receiving a salary from the Order,
should be paid from the State Treasury and should be found a place
to serve at the first opportunity.
4. The Family Commanders should remain for the time being until a
decision is taken about their future.
5. All the expenses connected with the maintenance and running of
the Order should be paid from the State Treasury, as mentioned
above, and the funds which had been allocated to both Priories of
the Order should be held under the responsibility of the Treasury.
6. The Funds of the Order held in the Bank and Education House as
stated in the Manifest of February 2nd should be placed under the
responsibility of the State Treasury.
7. The House of the Order, like the rest of the property belonging to
the Order should be taken by the State Treasury. To comply with
these regulations, the Minister of Finance has been ordered together
with you (Count Saltikov) and Count Litta to put in order
everything concerning the maintenance of the Order and the
relevant bills, close all pending items and deposit all the
possessions of the Order in the State Treasury."

• Приложение № 22.
•
• УКАЗ
•
• сенатский. О родовых имениях
• фамильных Командорств
• ордена св. Иоанна Иерусалимского*
•
• {* Печатается: ПСЗРИ. № 24.882, с. 908.}
•
• Правительствующий Сенат слушали представление Министра Финансов, Г. Действительного Тайного
Советника, Сенатора и Кавалера Дмитрия Александровича Гурьева: что Высочайше утвержденным
положением Государственного Совета 10 Апреля сего года о родовых имениях фамильных Командорств
ордена Св. Иоанна Иерусалимского, чрез Государственного Секретаря к нему Г. Министру сообщенным,
поставлено:
• 1-е, всем Командорам, фамильные Командорства установившим, предоставить свободу внести в казну
капитал, соразмерный доходу, поступающему в пользу ордена с командорских имений; и когда сии ими
будет исполнено, тогда оные имения обратить в полное их распоряжение.
• 2-е, Командоры, кои не пожелают внести всего капитала единовременно, обязаны продолжать по смерти
их взнос доходов в казну на основании правил, ныне существующих.
• 3-е, Доходы, с командорственных имений по 2 статье взносимые, имеют поступать в Казначейство для
удовлетворения из них расходов, по ордену сему предназначенных; капиталы же, по 1 статье сего
положения взносимые единовременно, сообразно первоначальному установлению сего ордена, имеют
быть обращены на благотворительные заведения в пользу военнослужащих, и вносимы в Заемный Банк
или Воспитательный дом для приращения.
•
• Ноября 20, 1811 г.

Appendix No. 22.
DECREE
Senate. About patrimonial estates of Family Commanders
Order of the Holy. John of Jerusalem
{* Reprinted: PZSRI. No. 24.882, p. 908.}
*
The Governing Senate listened to the presentation of the Minister of Finance, G. The Acting
Privy Counselor, Senator and Chevalier Dmitry Alexandrovich Guriev: that the Highest
approved position of the State Council on April 10 of this year is about the family estates of the
family Commanderies of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, through the Secretary of State to
him, , Delivered:
1-e, to all the Commanders, the family Commander-in-Chiefs, to grant freedom to invest in the
treasury, commensurate with the income coming in favor of the Order from the Commander's
estates; And when these are fulfilled by them, then these are to be turned into their full disposal.
2nd, Commanders, who do not want to contribute all the capital at a time, are obliged to
continue on death their contribution to the treasury on the basis of the rules that now exist.
3rd, Incomes, from the commandant's estates under article 2 are paid, they have to go to the
Treasury to meet expenses from them, according to the order of those intended; The same
capital, according to Article 1 of this provision, lump-sumed at the same time, in accordance
with the original establishment of this order, shall be converted to charitable institutions for the
benefit of servicemen, and be contributed to the Loan Bank or the Upbringing House for
increment.
• November20, 1811

Count Fyodor Rostopchin (Knight of St John) was responsible for the defence of
Moscow against Napoleon

• Приложение №23.
•
• Высочайше утвержденное
•
• ПОЛОЖЕНИЕ
•
• Комитета Министров.
• О недозволении получающим
• в нынешнее время Орден св. Иоанна Иерусалимского носить оный*
•
•
• {* Печатается: ПСЗРИ. № 26626, с. 29.}
•
•
• Слушали внесенный Генералом от Артиллерии Графом Аракчеевым рапорт Начальнику Главного Штаба Его
Императорского Величества, Командира отдельного корпуса внутренней стражи Генерал-Адъютанта Графа Комаровского, о
дозволении Адъютанту его Корнету Лазареву, носить орден св. Иоанна Иерусалимского. Адъютант Графа Комаровского
Лейб-гвардии Гусарского полка Корнет Лазарев, получив чрез посредство Посланника Дюка Серра Каприола грамоту о
пожаловании его Кавалером Ордена св. Иоанна Иерусалимского, просит исходатайствовать ему Высочайшее дозволение
носить сей Орден, каковое последовало уже и двум братьям его, служащим в Коллегии Иностранных дел, сей же Орден
получившим. Генерал-Адъютант Граф Комаровский, представляя о сем на рассмотрение Начальника Главного Штаба, просит
исходатайствовать ему, Лазареву, Высочайшее дозволение носить упомянутый Орден. На вопрос, сделанный Лазареву: за
какое пожертвование получил он грамоту на Орден, он отозвался, что Орден сей получил по доказательствам о древнем
дворянстве его фамилии и по правилам Российского Приорства. Комитет полагал: хотя Корнет Лазарев и объясняет, что он
получил означенный Орден, по правилам Российского приорства, но поелику оного в России не существует; то не
дозволять как Лазареву носить тот Орден, так и прочим, получающим его в нынешнее время. При подписании сего журнала,
Генерал от Артиллерии Граф Аракчеев объявил, что Государь Император по рассмотрении мемории, высочайше соизволил
утвердить положение Комитета. Комитет определил: сообщить об оном выписками из сего журнала С.-Петербургскому
Военному Генерал-Губернатору к общему исполнению, а Военному Министру для извещения Начальника Главного Штаба
Его Императорского Величества.
•
• Января 20, 1817 г.
•

Decision of the Committee of his IMPERIAL MAJESTY the EMPEROR of all the RUSSIAS
as to the wearing of a Decoration of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem issued by the Italian
Order of Malta - 20th January (OS) 1st February (NS) 1817.
Reading was made of the report presented by General of Artillery Count Araktcheeff to the Chief
of Staff of His Imperial Majesty, and coming from the Commandant of the special Corps of
Internal Defence, General Aide-de-Camp Count Komarovsky, relating to permission for his own
aide-de-camp', Cornet Lazareff, to wear the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.
The aide-de-camp to Count Komarovsky, Cornet Lazareff, of the Regiment of Hussars of the
Imperial Guard, having been awarded the diploma on his nomination as Knight of the Order of St.
John of Jerusalem through the mediation of the Minister, the Duke of Serracapriola, requests
Imperial license to wear this Order, license which has already been granted to his two brothers,
officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who were invested with the same Order.
Aide-de Camp, General Count Komarovsky, referring the matter to the Chief of Staff, requests
that Imperial license be obtained for Lazareff to wear the said Order.
When Lazareff was asked through what deed of gift he had been awarded the diploma of this
Order, he replied that such award had been made on proof being produced of the ancient nobility
of his family, and in accordance with the Regulations of the Russian Priory.
The Committee has decided that, although Cornet Lazareff explained that he had received the said
Decoration according to the Regulations of the Russian Priory, nevertheless, since the latter does
not exist in Russia, Lazareff, as all those who may now receive the Order, shall be forbidden to
wear it.

The background to this decision is that in 1817, the Roman Catholic Order of
Malta began awarding its decorations through the Duke of Serracapriola.
One of these was awarded to an Ensign Lazarev, who following standing
procedure, requested authorization from the government to wear it. The
Council of Ministers, set up a committee to examine it. The committee
recommended that Lazarev's request be denied, which was done in a
Ministerial Decision issued on 20 January 1817.
Those being awarded the decoration via the Duke of Serracapriola were
being made members of the Roman Catholic Order, no longer recognised in
Russia (unlike the domestic Russian Grand Priory). What it was that had
ceased to exist in Russia, was the "stated Order," that is the Sovereign Order
of Malta, rather than the Order understood as the Russian Grand Priories.
The Papal Order did not admit any Orthodox Knights since 1819.

Count Aleksyei Andreevitch Araktcheev had a full
understanding of the Russian Grand Priory, and in fact
he was a Knight Commander of the Order. On the 8th
January 1799, he was presented to a Commandery of
the Order by Paul I - see Almanach de la Cour pour
l'Annie 1811, À St Petersbourg de l'Imprierie de
l'Acadèmie Imp: des Sciences, page 453. He would
have been more than aware of the differences between
the Roman Order, and the domestic Russian Grand
Priory.

The one time Professor of Law at St Petersburg University,
and Adviser to the Foreign Office of Nicholas II, Baron
Michel de Taube wrote concerning this episode; "The
Emperor interdicted the reception of insignia from Italy of
the Order and their wear in Russia without a previous
authorisation of Tsar.
This measure was taken by the Cabinet of ministers and
sanctioned by the Emperor on the request of military chiefs
of three junior officers Lazareff, who had received one after
another, directly from Italy, crosses of Malta and were
suspected to have obtained them thanks to sizable amounts
being poured into the treasury of the Grand Magistracy",
L'Empereur Paul I de Russie, Grand Maître de l'Ordre de
Malte, et son Grand Prieuré Russe, Paris 1955, page 42.

Books mentioning the Order in the 19 th Century

Russian Imperial badge of
111 Land Donskoy Regiment
Russian Imperial badge to the
officer of Kolomensky regiment
1798 -1898 commemoration military badges
Representing the 100 years of the Order in Russia
Russian Imperial badge of the 116th
Maloyaroslavets Infantry Regiment

Royal Protectors
*1825* Senior Grand Duke Czar Nicholas I
*1855* Senior Grand Duke Czar Alexander II
*1881* Senior Grand Duke Czar Alexander III
*1894* G D Vladimir Czar Nicholas II

DIRECTOR OF HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY'S CHANCERY
Division of Petitions. 8 Appendixes Count Alexander Vladimirovitch,
Dear Sir,
His Majesty, having heard my respectful report about your petition, this day of November 15, has
Most Graciously acceded to grant you the right to wear the insignia of the Order of St. John of
Jerusalem, with the transfer of this right, after your death, to your son, Count Vladimir Armfeldt,
but not before he attains majority.
Of this Monarchic decision, I have the honour to inform Your Excellency, respectfully asking you to
accept the assurance of my respect and devotion.
17th of November, 1912 No. 96803
Signature.
To his Excellency Count A. B. Armfeldt

Prince Grand Master
Lt. Grand
Master
President of the Sovereign
Council
Grand Prior Grand Chancellor Protector
1913
Grand Master
Grand Duke
Alexander
Michaelovich
President of the
American Grand
Priory: W S Bryant
President of the White
Cross Hospital &
Relief Assoc.: W.W.
Butcher
President of the
Latino - Slavic
League: Major
General Cherep
Spirodovich
American
Grand
Priory: W.N.
Cromwell
Russian Grand
Priory: Grand
Duke Cyril
Vladimiroich
Chancellor of
the American
Grand
Priory: J.G.B.
Bulloch
Chancellor of
the White
Cross Hospital
& Relief
Assoc.: A.
MacNaughton
Czar
Nicholas II

A jewelled insignia of the Order in gold, silver, white enamel and diamonds; the reverse of the trophy with doubled
ribbon-ring, this struck with the cyrillic maker‘s mark "M. BERSH & Co." and gold assay mark; ribbon, missing; in
old, fitted case, covered with dark green morocco, lined with blue silk. A magnificent and most rare piece,
traditionally belonged to Lt. General Count Keller, a famous personality of Russian history from the beginning of XX
Century, to the Civil War.

Prince Awaloff's personal banner of the
Graf Keller Corps, Sovereign Order of
Saint John of Jerusalem
Black Maltese Cross with Crown of Thorns,
memorializes General Graf Keller, OSJ,
murdered by the Bolsheviks

Prince Grand
Master
Lt. Grand
Master
President of the
Sovereign Council
Grand Prior
Grand
Chancellor
Protector
1919
Grand Duke
Alexander
Michaelovich
1922 Grand Duke
Alexander
Michaelovich
W.N. Cromwell
President of the
American Grand
Priory:John J.
Sheridan
President of the
White Cross Hospital
& Relief
Assoc.: W.W. Butcher
President of the
Polish White
Cross: Count Potocki
President of the
Latino - Slavic
League: Major
General Cherep
Spirodovich
W.N. Cromwell
J.P. West
J.G.B.
Bulloch, MD
Chancellor of
the American
Grand
Priory:H.J.
Bowen
Chancellor of
the White
Cross
Hospital &
Relief
Assoc.: A.
MacNaughto
n
Grand Duke Cyril
Vladimirovich
Grand Duke Cyril
Vladimirovich