What is the Order of Malta. State-like entities as subjects of international law

Original taken from

The Order of Malta retains its sovereignty within the framework of international law; it has been granted permanent observer status at the UN. He has the right to issue his own passports, stamps and mint coins. The Military Order of Malta has diplomatic relations with one hundred countries, its sovereignty is recognized by 105 states.

The Knights of Malta are called upon to cooperate with the Black Nobility, the Vatican and various papal and royal orders, in particular the Jesuits. The core of the Order of Malta is the Order of the Garter and the Pilgrim Society subordinate to it.

World business

Control over central banks and their subordinate financial structures. Examples: Bank of Great Britain (1694), Bank of France (1716/1800), US Federal Reserve (1913), Vatican Bank (1942), Central Bank of Germany (1948/1957), European Central Bank (1998).

Equity participation in the US Federal Reserve: M.M. Warburg & Co (1798, Germany), Chase Manhattan Bank (1799, USA), NM Rothschild & Sons (1811, London), Lazard Brothers Bank (1848, USA), Israel Moses Sieff (Italy), Lehman Brothers (1850, USA) ), Kuhn (1867, now part of Lehman Brothers) and Goldman Sachs (1869, USA).

Banks. Examples: Citibank, Bank of America (under the control of the Jesuit Order),

Clandestine transactions and placement of capital in offshore zones

Insurance companies

Worldwide Foundations: Rockefeller Foundation (1913). Founded (by the Pilgrim Society and Knights of Malta) by John D. Rockefeller Sr.and his son John D. Rockefeller Jr. and their advisor Fredrick T. Gates in New York in 1913.

Ford Foundation (1936)

International Monetary Fund (1944)

World Banking Group (1945)

“The World Bank was formally created on December 27, 1945 after the ratification of the Bretton Woods Agreement, which was the result of the UN Conference on Monetary and Financial Policy (July 1 - July 22, 1944). In fact, the World Bank is part of the UN system.

World Bank Branches:

International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (1945)

International Finance Corporation (1956)

International Development Association (1960)

International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (1966)

Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (1988)

World movement for federalism (1947, Switzerland)

European Investment Bank (1958, Luxembourg)

United Nations Capital Development Fund (1966) (part of the United Nations Program for International Development, 1965)

The Heritage Foundation (1973), supported by about a hundred major corporations, including Chase Manhattan Bank, Dow Chemical Company, Ford Motor Automobile Company, General Motors, GlaxoSmithKline, Mobil, and Procter & Gamble.

Asia Foundation (1974) funded by the American Agency for International Development, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the United Nations Development Program, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom

UN Foundation (1998), in which CNN founder Ted Turner plays a special role.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (2000) is the largest and most transparent "charitable" foundation, sponsored by Bill Gates, Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett. Several Trilaterals are also involved in this “charity” project.

Information corporations: Media, Software / IT, Electronics, Telecom.

Entertainment industry: propaganda of fear and manipulation of consciousness, information repression (strict observance of copyright, monopoly on ideas, control over information policy of the media), supervision of users of social networks, censorship on the Internet.

Military corporations

Energy and mining corporations (oil, coal, metals, diamonds, water)

Transport corporations: water transport, road transport, airlines, aircraft construction, rail transport.

Pharmaceutical corporations

Food corporations

and many others

At the annual meetings of the secret Bilderberg Club (founded by Knight of Malta Joseph Retinger), deals are made with geopolitical considerations in mind.

Intervention in politics and legal issues

Management of global control structures

Political structures

Global financial structures

UN (1919/1945, formerly the League of Nations)

The Order of Malta has permanent missions to the UN and specialized commissions and UN agencies: UNESCO (education, science, culture), World Food Program, Food and Agriculture Organization, World Health Organization, High Commissioner for Refugees, High Commissioner for Human Rights, Industrial Development Committee.

Permanent Court of Arbitration (1899)

The Carnegie Endowment (1903) donated $ 1.5 million for the construction and operation of the Peace Palace (1913). It houses the Permanent Court of Arbitration and the International Law Library. Since 1922, this building also houses a completely separate structure, the Permanent Court of International Justice, which was later named the International Court of Justice in the UN system (1945).

European Court of Human Rights (1950)

World Trade Organization (1944)

The Order of Malta is also a member of such international organizations:

International Committee of the Red Cross (1863, Geneva)

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (1919, Geneva)

International Committee on Military Medicine and Pharmacy (1921, Brussels)

International Institute for the Unification of Private Civil Law (1926, Rome)

Council of Europe (1949, Strasbourg)

European Commission (1951, Brussels)

European Council (1961, Brussels)

International Organization for Migration (1951, Geneva)

Latin Union (1954, Santo Domingo, Paris).

Inter-American Development Bank (1959, Washington)

International Institute for Humanitarian Law (1970, Sanremo, Geneva)

Participation in the global intelligence service (including ECHELON) and in the intelligence services of various countries in order to advance the interests of the Vatican, Jesuits and Freemasons.

Military structures: NATO, UN troops, private military company "Black Water"

Creation of fronts of mercy. This is a favorite pastime of Catholic churches and the Jesuit Order. So they try to hide their reactionary nature from people and disguise their current activities. Sometimes these seemingly harmless charitable organizations use the information they receive to organize espionage in other countries. Examples:

Rotary International (1905). More than 32,000 clubs in 200 countries of the world.

"Members of the Rotary Club are like scouts who have grown and achieved success." This short phrase identifies the origin of the Rotary Club members.

The smallest state in the world. The Order of Malta.

Most of you will assign this fact to the Vatican and you will be right. But only partially. Based on the norms of international law, the Order of Malta is considered the smallest state-like entity.

Origins

The origins of the Hospitaller movement date back to the first half of the 11th century. Jerusalem at that time became the main place of pilgrimage for Christians. To get there, it was necessary to undertake a long and dangerous journey across the sea, which was dominated by pirates and marauders. People's faith at that time was so sincere and all-consuming that they were ready to endure, as it seemed to them, any trials, just to walk on the ground on which the feet of the Divine Teacher walked. However, having finally set foot on the Holy Land, the pilgrims were often subjected to such severe trials that they could not even imagine. Travelers had to pass through a country torn by wars between constantly rival local leaders. The slave trade, kidnapping for ransom, robbery, murder, looting were commonplace. In order to somehow help their brothers and sisters in faith, several merchants from Amalfia asked permission from the Caliph of Jerusalem to organize a hospitable house - (Latin gospital) for Christian pilgrims.

Permission was obtained and, in 1048, a Christian mission, Hospital, appeared near the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, consisting of two separate buildings - for women and for men. During the mission, a church was built in the name of the Most Holy Theotokos, known as the Church of St. Mary of Latin. This is how a brotherhood arose in Jerusalem, whose main mission was to take care of the safety and health of pilgrims. The hospital offered pilgrims a full range of services, from accommodation and meals, to qualified medical care, and mostly free of charge. At the same time, the Hospital was able to receive and serve up to 2,000 pilgrims. The brothers and sisters who served the Hospital were called Hospitallers.

From brotherhood to order

In 1099. Jerusalem was taken by the crusaders. This was the First Crusade and its leader was Gottfried of Bouillon, who later became the first ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. He highly appreciated the services of the brotherhood to the crusaders and all Christians and granted generous land plots to the brotherhood. Many crusader knights began to join the brotherhood. The ranks of the Hospitaller Brotherhood grew rapidly, as did its material resources and social capabilities.

The rector of the fraternity, a native of Provence, Gerard (Venerable Pater Gerard) proposed to transform the fraternity into an Order. The proposal was unanimously accepted, and the brothers and sisters of the newly formed Order came to the Holy Sepulcher and, in the presence of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, took three vows: obedience, chastity and non-covetousness. The members of the Order were dressed in black robes with a white linen eight-pointed cross (now known as the Maltese cross) sewn in place of the heart.

Soon after its establishment, the Order, under the leadership of Jellal, began building a temple in the name of St. John the Baptist. This magnificent temple was built on the site where, according to legend, the dwelling of St. Zacharias was. By the name of this temple, the members of the Order began to be called the stranger brothers (hospitallers) of St. John of Jerusalem, or, in abbreviated form, the Johannites. Jellal has lived a long and fruitful life. He was reverently called the Founder and Director, and Gerard Beatified - Gerard the Blessed. He died at a ripe old age in 1118, surrounded by universal respect.

To arms!

In 1118. after the death of Gerard the Blessed, difficult times fell in Jerusalem and throughout the Holy Land. The tolerant Arabs were driven out by the more aggressive Seljuk Turks. In the foreground, concern is not about food for the pilgrims and, even, not about their treatment for ailments, but about the preservation of their lives. Jellal's successor, Raymond Dupuis, invited the brothers to take up arms to defend the Holy Land. Before joining the Order, most brothers were already adept at using weapons, but now military affairs are becoming an important part of their ministry. The order becomes a military monastic.

In addition to the attire of the order, a black cloak with a white cross on the left shoulder, similar to the one sewn on their usual clothes, becomes an obligatory attribute of the shape of the ionites. During the campaign, a red supervest (a cloth vest that repeats the cut of a metal cuirass that was worn over or instead of a cuirass) was dressed with the same or a straight white cross in front. The order acquires a military hierarchical structure. A number of insignia are introduced for internal use so that you can determine the place of the interlocutor in the hierarchy of the Order. The Head of the Order is henceforth referred to as the Grand Master or Grandmaster and has the title "Your Advantage". He is not only the spiritual leader, but also the Military Commanders of the knights. At the same time, the Hospital and any other assistance to pilgrims, both Western and Eastern churches, remain central to the activities of the Order.

Crusades

The order quickly became a powerful military-monastic organization. Already at the beginning of the 13th century, the Order numbers 1,000 well-trained, well-armed and disciplined knights and an even greater number of novices. The Order becomes the richest and most powerful spiritual and military alliance in Europe and the Mediterranean. The Hospitallers turned out to be good administrators. They recruited outstanding builders, doctors, architects, armourers of their time to work and created a network of fortified points along the borders of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Already in 1140-1150, the Hospitallers owned about 50 fortified castles. Their ruins can still be seen at the dominant heights over the valleys. On the basis of these fortresses, the Hospitallers organized a kind of border service, which prevented the penetration of Muslim detachments into the country.

In the first half - middle of the XIII century, the Hospitallers were the main military force of Christians in Palestine and were holding back the onslaught of Muslims. They take part in the V, VI, VII Crusades. The struggle against the ever-growing hordes of Muslims is proceeding with varying success. The Crusaders are haunted by one setback after another. The Hospitallers become the rearguard of the last Crusades. They continue to hold their fortresses even when other crusaders are already leaving Palestine. The forces were clearly unequal and at the end of the 13th century (1291) the Hospitallers leave Jerusalem and Palestine.

From Cyprus to Malta.

First, the Johannites move to Cyprus. There they already had large holdings by this time. In addition, the Hospitallers had a strong fleet at their disposal. In the tradition of the order, the Johannites tasked the navy with protecting all Christian Mediterranean sea routes from pirates, marauders and Muslim warships. This task was solved very successfully, for which the Hospitallers received gratitude and support from the church, and the respect of the Cypriots. It is also worth noting the great charitable activity of the Johannites in the capital of Cyprus, Limassol.

However, the status of vassals of the Cypriot crown does not suit the Hospitallers and they are looking for a different, more independent place of residence. The island of Rhodes attracts their attention. An advantageous strategic position, fertile land and a good climate would make it possible to control all the main sea communications, not have a shortage of food and provide effective medical care to all those in need. The island belonged to Byzantium and the Hospitallers asked the emperor of Byzantium to transfer the island to them, but were refused. In 1307, under the pretext of protecting the nunnery located in Rhodes, the Hospitallers landed on the island. For two - three years there was a stubborn struggle for Rhodes, and in 1310 the Hospitallers were finally consolidated on the island. The Ioannites owned the island of Rhodes for over two centuries and during this period they were known as the Knights of Rhodes.

In 1312 the history of the Knights Templar ended tragically. After its liquidation, a significant part of the property and land of the Templars was transferred to the Hospitallers. The Johannites own vast lands in Europe and Asia Minor, in the vicinity of Helikarnassos and Smyrna (modern Izmir).

K Aivazovsky Island Rhodes 1845

The order receives large incomes from these possessions and uses them for active charitable and medical work. The Hospitaller fleet continues its constant fight against Muslim piracy. The order during this period is not just military, but naval. It was the fleet, farsightedly created by the Hospitallers during the era of the Crusades, that ensured the prosperity of the order and allowed the Johannites to escape the fate of the Templars and Teutons. Until the end of the 18th century, the Hospitaller fleet, to one degree or another, retained its military-political importance in the Mediterranean. And although most historians assess the activities of the Order's fleet to ensure the safety of sea communications unconditionally positively, it should be noted that the methods of this struggle were not much different from the methods of Muslim pirates. The same hostage-taking for the purpose of ransom, the same raids on settlements, the same hunt for the enemy's merchant ships. It is no coincidence that their opponents called them "pirates in Christ."

In 1345, the Order expels the Turks from Smyrna and begins to control the entire southern part of Asia Minor. The expansion of the Order on the continent was supported by European monarchs, and in 1365 Alexandria came under the control of Christians. This opens up trade routes for Europeans south to Egypt and to the East. The Turks, worried about the growing influence of the Order, make attempts to conquer Rhodes, but to no avail. In 1479, a terrible siege of the island began by the one hundred thousandth army of Mohammed II. Attempts to seize the island were made in July 1480 and in the spring of 1481. But all these attacks were repulsed by the knights under the leadership of the Grand Master d'Aubusson and the siege was lifted. In 1522, the Turkish Sultan Suleiman appeared off the coast of the island with 400 ships and an army of 200 thousand. The Order had only 600 knights and 5 thousand soldiers. Christian Europe did not provide any assistance to the Hospitallers. Apparently, the weakening of the Order, which dominated the Mediterranean Sea, was beneficial not only to the Turks ... Without outside help, the knights under the command of Grand Master Philippe Ville l'Il-Adam held the island for more than a year. The besiegers lost 44 thousand soldiers killed, but further resistance was no longer possible. The Sultan offered honorable terms of surrender. He promised that the Catholic faith would be preserved on the island, the churches would not be desecrated, and the Order would be able to leave the island with all their ships, relics, weapons and riches. These conditions were accepted and, on the night of the new year 1523, the last Hospitaller galley left Rhodes. Thus ended the second period in the life of the Order.

In Malta

In May 1523, knights in 50 galleys arrived in Messina, which the King of Sicily granted to the Order, but the plague forced them to leave the city. Emperor Charles V, seeking to strengthen his influence in the Mediterranean and create a stronghold against the Turks and pirates, presented the Order of the entire Maltese archipelago, with all the fortresses and buildings. According to the Emperor's charter dated March 24, 1530, ratified by Pope Clement VII on April 25, 1530, the Order took possession of the island on October 26 of the same year. The condition for owning the islands was an annual tribute in the form of 1 falcon. This tribute was paid accurately until 1798. From that time on, the knights settled in Malta and began to be called Maltese. The official name of the Order has also changed slightly. It was now called The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order Of Malta.

The glory of the Order of Malta reached its highest peak during the reign of La Valletta (1557-1568), when they had to constantly expect an attack. At La Valette, Malta had to withstand a severe siege. On May 18, 1565, a Turkish landing detachment under the command of Piali Kapitan Pasha landed a hundred thousandth army with 190 ships on the island. The military forces of the Hospitallers numbered, according to various sources, from 400 to 700 knights and about 6-7 thousand soldiers.

The picture shows one of the bastions of Valletta.

The siege of the fortress with repeated assaults lasted until September. However, the Hospitallers, led by Grandmaster Jean Parisot de la Vallette, repulsed all attacks. With the arrival of reinforcements sent to the island at the insistence of Pope Pius V, the Turks had to retreat, having lost over 25 thousand people. The order lost 240 knights and about 5 thousand soldiers.

In 1571, the Order's fleet inflicted a major defeat on the Turkish fleet in the naval battle of Lepanto. These victories of the Order ensured freedom of navigation for European countries in the Mediterranean, as they broke the military power of the Turks and undermined the Turkish state. Nevertheless, piracy in the Mediterranean flourished, and the first three decades of the 17th century passed for the Hospitallers in constant anticipation of attacks. The entrance to the Grand Harbor was almost always blocked by a massive metal chain stretched from Fort Ricassol to Fort Saint Elmo.

The picture shows the entrance to Valletta's Grand Harbor.

In the first half of the 17th century, the Hospitaller fleet remained the largest military force in the Mediterranean. In the archives of the Order, 18 naval battles were recorded during this time, of which the Maltese fleet invariably emerged victorious. Mention are made of the campaigns of individual detachments and ships of the fleet, as participants in the landings (raids) to Tripoli, Tunisia and Algeria, as well as in the transport of "ebony" to the American continent, in order to replenish the treasury of the Order.

In fact, this meant that, after the elimination of Turkey as a strategic enemy, such a powerful fleet in the Mediterranean Sea becomes out of work. Moreover, the presence of a powerful military force becomes inconvenient and simply dangerous for coastal states.

The picture shows The Cathedral of Saint John. in the city of La Valletta in Malta.

At the same time, the political and religious situation in Europe in the middle and second half of the 17th century is rapidly changing. The era of the Reformation begins. The Germanic lands, as well as the Danish and Dutch kingdoms, declare their withdrawal from the Catholic Church. This dealt a heavy blow to the Order, as one Priory after another declares their independence, and in England the Order is outlawed and all its property is confiscated.

These attacks significantly undermined the financial capabilities of the Order and its ability to maintain a fleet and other armed formations. By the end of the 17th century, only the threat of a possible Turkish expansion provides the Order with some support from the European monarchies and the Order continues to maintain its sovereignty and autonomy. However, already in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, the Mediterranean states created their own naval forces, sufficient to defend their coastlines. The Order of Malta, with its powerful navy, was becoming unnecessary. Convenient port and strategic position of the island of Malta is becoming a great temptation for the fleets of France, Italy, Spain.

Another powerful blow to the Order is struck by the French Revolution. By a decree of September 19, 1792, the Directory (the highest state body of revolutionary France) announces the termination of the activities and confiscation of all property of the Order on the territory of France, and the Order itself is declared an organization hostile to France. On July 13, 1797, the Directory adopts a declaration on the march to Egypt and the concomitant seizure of Malta. General Napoleon Bonaparte suggested that the Directory suddenly seize the island in September 1797, however, for various reasons, the French fleet went to sea only on May 19, 1798. The fleet entered the bay of Malta on June 9, 1798. 15 French ships of the line and 10 frigates and 15 thousand soldiers, the Order could oppose only four thousand soldiers and knights.

Nevertheless, historians believe that if the 69th Grand Master von Gompesch had been able to organize an effective defense of the island, Bonaparte would probably have abandoned the siege in favor of achieving the main goal of the invasion of Egypt. However, the knights were put in a difficult position - to defend their sovereignty, and to raise arms against compatriots and fellow believers, whom they have defended for centuries, or to refuse resistance. The knights chose the second and on June 10, 1798 decided to surrender the islands. Negotiations began on the morning of June 11, and the peace was signed on the evening of the same day. The island was transferred to Bonaparte. The 268-year reign of the Order of the Hospitallers of Malta ended.

Under the terms of surrender, the French knights were guaranteed immunity from prosecution and confiscation. They could either return to France or stay in Malta, which was declared French territory. In addition, they were provided with state pensions of seven hundred francs each. However, soon all agreements were forgotten and the mass expulsion of the knights from Malta began. After the fall of Malta, the Order lost its sovereign territory and there was a real threat of the complete liquidation of the Order.

In Russia

Let us give the floor to the military historian Yu. Veremeyev: “Emperor Paul was very kind to the Maltese. On the territory of Russia, he provided the members of the Order with "all those distinctions, advantages and honors that the famous Order enjoys in other places." Three commanders were organized, the head of the Main Priory in Russia was introduced to the State Council. The entry of Russian nobles into the Order of Malta was encouraged in every possible way. In 1798, the royal manifesto approved the presence in the country of the Catholic priorship in the amount of 98 commanders, and the insignia of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem was included in the award system of the empire. In 1799, Emperor Paul bestowed the Commander's Cross of the Order on the outstanding Russian commander A.V. Suvorov.

The Maltese, on the other hand, are creating a privileged military educational institution in St. Petersburg Corps of Pages. Only children of the highest dignitaries were admitted to this institution (not lower than grade III according to the Table of Ranks), who, having absorbed the spirit of Catholicism and Maltese knighthood, then, serving in the army and the guard, and advancing to the highest military and state posts, contribute to the development of Catholicism in the empire ...

The Corps of Pages never became the guide of the Roman Church in Russia, but it trained many outstanding military leaders and high officials. All that remains of the Maltese in the corps is the grandiose corpus Catholic church, later transformed into Orthodox, and the white Maltese cross as a badge of graduates of the Corps of Pages. The Holy See closed its eyes to all violations of the Order's charter, seeing in its activities a way of penetrating Catholicism into Russia, replacing Orthodoxy with Catholicism in the empire. " We do not argue with this opinion of the historian, but we will only mention that Paul 1, being elected on October 27, 1798, the 70th Grand Master of the Order, founded the second Russian Grand Priory for the Russian noblemen of the Orthodox faith. There is also an opinion that Paul 1, as best he could, tried to restore the unity of Christianity, its Orthodox and Catholic branches on an equal basis.

“The Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire,” the historian writes further, “Holy Roman Emperor Francis II, with the blessing of Pope Pius VI, demanded that Gompesh renounce the title of grandmaster on July 6, 1799. This was done by the emperor for political purposes and was caused by the desire for rapprochement with Russia "and further:" The main priors of Germany, Bavaria, Bohemia, Naples, Sicily, Venice, Portugal, Lombardy and Pisa, hoping that the protection of the king would guarantee the continuation of the Order, soon Paul's election was officially recognized, and only the Spanish High Priority and the High Priority of Rome refused to recognize him. So, the assertions of Western historians and today's leaders of the Hospitallers that the Order never recognized the Russian Emperor Paul as a grandmaster are groundless and there is nothing more than an attempt to wash off the not too clean cloaks of the Maltese knights, to present them as impeccable Catholics who never accepted the help of schismatics and heretics. "

The Grand Priory of Russia of the Order of Malta (the full name is the Order of John of Jerusalem) was created by Decree of Paul 1 No. 18799 of December 28, 1797 “On the compilation of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem from two Great Priors: Russian-Catholic and Russian and on the law and seniority adopted in this order of persons ".

After the assassination of Paul 1 in the Mikhailovsky (Engineering) Castle on the night of March 13, 1801, the new Emperor Alexander 1 renounced the title of Grand Master, ordered the removal of the Maltese cross from the state emblem and excluded the Order of St. John of Jerusalem from the list of orders of the Russian Empire. The main Priory of the Order in Russia on March 10, 1810 is deprived of financial support from the state, and on December 2, 1811, the termination of the Order's activities on the territory of the Russian Empire is announced. From February 1, 1817. Russian citizens are prohibited from joining the Order. Thus ended this short period in the life of the Order associated with Russia.

Here are the answers to frequently asked questions:

1) What is the Order of Malta?

The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and Malta, better known as the Sovereign Order of Malta, has a dual nature. It is one of the oldest Catholic monastic orders, founded in Jerusalem around 1048. At the same time, it has always been recognized by states as an independent subject of international law. The mission of the Order can be formulated through its slogan “Tuitio Fidei et Obsequium Pauperum” - “Defense of Justice and Help to the Poor and the Suffering”: education, testimony and defense of faith (tuitio fidei) and service to the disadvantaged and sick in the name of the Lord God (obsequium pauperum).

2) What do we mean when we say that this is a religious Order?

The order began as a monastic brotherhood dedicated to St. John the Baptist. This community, founded by Amalfian merchants around 1050, ran a shelter that provided shelter and shelter for pilgrims to the Holy Land. In 1113 Pope Pascal II. officially recognized it as a religious (monastic) Order. Before they lost the island of Malta (1798), most of the Order's knights were monks who made three vows - poverty, chastity and obedience.

Nowadays, some members of the Order are recognized knights, (i.e., those who have taken vows of poverty, chastity and obedience), others have only taken a vow of obedience. Most of the 13,500 knights and ladies are socialites. Despite the fact that they did not take any religious vows, they all devoted themselves to Christian values \u200b\u200band charity, strive for their spiritual perfection within the Church and devote their strength to the service of the Faith and helping others.

3) Is this a military order?

The order was to become a military to protect pilgrims and the sick, as well as Christian territories in the Holy Land. Having lost the island of Malta in 1798, the Order ceased to carry out its military function. Now the Order is just preserving its military traditions.

4) Is it a Knightly Order?

Traditionally, the Knights of the Order belonged to the chivalrous and noble families professing Christianity. To this day, the Order remains chivalrous, as it adheres to the values \u200b\u200bof chivalry and nobility. And, despite the fact that now most of the members do not come from ancient noble families, they are accepted into the Order for their services to the Church and the Order.

5) What kind of work does the Order do?

Relying on its diplomatic relations established with 104 states, the Order of Malta works in the field of medical and social care and humanitarian assistance in more than 120 countries around the world. The order maintains hospitals, medical centers, dispensaries, nursing homes, and special centers for the terminally ill. In many countries, the volunteer corps of the Order provide first aid and social services, carry out rescue and humanitarian actions.

Malteser International, the Order's worldwide charity agency, is at the forefront of natural disasters and armed conflicts.

Through its organization CIOMAL (International Committee of the Order of Malta), the Order has been fighting leprosy for over 50 years, a disease that, unfortunately, is still a plague in several regions of the world.

The order also conducts work in the field of culture.

6) Who is in charge of the Order?

The life and activities of the Order are determined by its Constitution and Code.

The head of the Order is the 79th Prince and Grand Master Matthew Festing, elected by the Grand Council of State for life. The Grand Master is assisted by the Sovereign Council, in turn elected by the General Assembly (an assembly of representatives of all members of the Order, which meets every 5 years). The new Government Council is an advisory body to the Sovereign Council, it provides advice on political, religious, medical and international issues. The Board of Auditors performs audit functions. Both Councils are also elected by the General Assembly.

Legal matters are handled by the Magistrates appointed by the Grand Master and the Sovereign Council.

7) What is the international structure of the Order?

Today there are organizations of the Order in 54 countries. The Order has 6 Grand Priories, 6 Sub-Priories, and 47 National Associations.

8) How many members are in the Order?

The order consists of over 13,500 Knights and Ladies.

9) Where has the main humanitarian work been carried out in recent years?

The most significant relief projects were carried out in Kosovo and Macedonia, India, post-tsunami Southeast Asia and Afghanistan. Recently, assistance has been provided in Pakistan, Mexico, Congo, South Sudan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Georgia and Haiti.

10) How do you become members of the Order?

Membership of the Order of Malta is by invitation only. Only individuals with impeccable Catholic morality and behavior, who have adequately shown themselves before the Sovereign Order and its organizations, helping them in their work, are allowed to be admitted to the Order. The respective Grand Priory or National Association is responsible for the offer of admission to the Order. The exact addresses can be found here: Europe - Africa - America - Asia and Oceania

12) How does the Order carry out diplomatic activities?

In accordance with international law, the Order maintains bilateral diplomatic relations with 104 states. He has permanent observer status at the UN and the Commission of the European Union, as well as in 18 international organizations such as FAO and UNESCO. Diplomatic relations enable the Order to take timely and effective action in the event of natural disasters and military conflicts. Due to its inherent neutrality, impartiality and apolitical nature, it can act as a mediator when any states turn to it for help in resolving conflicts.

13) How are the activities of the Order funded?

The Order is funded primarily by its members. Funds come from private donations, and the type depends on the country and the situation. Funds for hospitals and medical work are usually subject to contracts with government health and social protection systems. The same happens with the rescue services. Work in developing countries is often supported by grants from governments, the European Commission, or other international organizations. Funds also come from donations and charitable contributions to the activities of the Order.

14) Where is the Order located?

After the loss of the island of Malta, the Order settled in Rome on a permanent basis in 1834. As an extraterritorial property, he owns two head offices: the Main Palace at Via dei Condotti 68, where the residence of the Grand Master is located and the meetings of the Government bodies are held; and the Trunk Villa on the Aventine Hill. The latter houses the Grand Priory of Rome - an ancient association of members of the Order in central Italy - and the Order's Embassy in the Italian Republic.

Meeting of the Head of the House of Romanov and Her Heir to the Prince - Grand Master of the Order of Malta

Interesting fact
In Rome, in the gates of the residence of the Knights of Malta on Aventina, a special hole was made by Piranesi's design. From there you can see the dome of St. Peter's Cathedral and three whole states: Malta (which owns the residence of the order), the Vatican (to which St. Peter's Cathedral is attributed) and Italy (which includes everything in between). It is very easy to distinguish a hole with views from a simple keyhole: a pair of carabinieri are always on duty near it.
There are about 10.5 thousand citizens of the Order who have his passport. The Order of Malta passport is recognized by many countries, its holder has the right to visa-free travel to 32 countries. It is not easy to get it. Official languages \u200b\u200b- Latin, Italian.

Thus, the order formally has a territory over which it exercises its own jurisdiction, however, the question of the actual status of this territory (the order's own territory or the territory of a diplomatic mission temporarily transferred for its needs) is a subject for abstract legal discussions. In fact, the order is an extremely influential structure and its political positions are such that the question of clarifying the status of its headquarters is unlikely to arise in the near future.

The order has a non-profit planned economy. Sources of income - primarily donations, sale of postage stamps, souvenirs, etc.
The allegedly carried out behind-the-scenes interaction between the Order and the USSR during the reign of Gorbachev became the subject of numerous speculations, but reliable documents on this matter were never published.
Diplomatic relations with Russia were restored in 1992 by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation B. N. Yeltsin and are now carried out at the level of Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. Diplomatic relations are carried out by diplomatic missions with accreditation in the states - places of representation. The interests of Russia are represented by the Representative of the Russian Federation at the Vatican.

The oldest of the spiritual knightly orders, the Order of Malta, acquired its present name not so long ago. The Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem began to be called Maltese only from the moment of their settlement on Pravda, their stay there lasted for a relatively short time, given the entire nine hundred-year history of the Order of the Hospitallers - only 268 years.

Order of Malta and Russia

The history of this ancient Order is closely interconnected with the history of Russia. This connection was especially strengthened during the time when the emperor elected by the Grand Master of the Order ruled, after the surrender of Malta by von Gompesh.

Under Emperor Paul I, the famous sovereign Order of Malta was one of the symbols of the Russian Empire. The cross was placed on And after very often the awards included a cross, resembling a Maltese cross. And there is a simple explanation for this - the Order of Malta was considered a symbol of the valor of warriors, consecrated by the legendary victories of the Knights of Malta.

But at the same time, the cross also symbolized aid, humanitarian and medical. After all, the knights of the hospital began with rendering assistance to all those in need. Now that many hospitals and medical centers of the Malta fraternity are open in 80 countries of the world, charity has become their main activity.

Activities of the Order of Malta

At the end of the 17th century, the Order became an independent power with its own fleet. The world's best maritime academy was established in Malta. Many rulers sent their sons to study there. The monarchs of European countries took to their service admirals and captains of the Malta Academy.

The order founded public schools and a public library, which at that time was the largest in Europe. In the famous Maltese library, there were more than 900 thousand rare books and manuscripts, but Napoleon, having captured Malta, tried to take everything out, and the library sank with a ship somewhere near Egypt.

The Order of Malta also founded the most modern hospitals for that time, not only on the island, but also in Europe. It was here that the treatment of the mentally ill was first begun and anatomy was studied.

Information about the Order of Malta

Historically, the Masons have never accepted the Order of Malta, on the contrary, there are quite obvious contradictions between Freemasonry and the Knights of Malta, which are relevant not only for Russia, but for the whole world. Their essence lies in a different attitude towards God. But at the same time, even today there are associations whose members consider themselves both knights of the Maltese order and freemasons.

The Hospitaller Association has the status of a Catholic knightly order with the rights of an independent state, can conclude international treaties, mint coins and issue passports.

But at the same time, the Catholic organization is not a state and is subject to the Holy See.

The main activity of the Knights of Malta is charity, which they do in 120 countries around the world, including the program of the Order includes medical and social support for the disabled and the elderly. As of today, there are officially about 13.5 thousand people who are ready to defend the faith and help the poor as subjects of the order.

Order of Malta

("Order of the Hospitallers"), the official full name is the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Rhodes and Maltese, Italian. Ordine di Malta, Sovrano Militare Ordine di San Giovanni di Gerusalemme, di Rodo e di Malta) is a knightly order. From the point of view of international law, the Order of Malta is not a state, but a state-like entity.

Sometimes it is considered as a dwarf state-enclave, the smallest state in the world (on the territory of Rome, but independent from Italy), sometimes - as an extraterritorial state formation, sometimes - just as a knightly order. In international law, the sovereignty of the Order is considered at the level of diplomatic relations (diplomatic missions), but not as the sovereignty of the state.

Story

The Hospitaller Order grew out of a religious and charitable brotherhood, created initially to help the poor and sick pilgrims at the hospital of St. John the Merciful in Jerusalem. The brotherhood was founded shortly before the first crusade by the wealthy merchant di Mauro from Amalfi. In 1120 Raymond du Puy was elected rector of the Johannites. He turned the brotherhood into a military monastic order, and he himself took the title of "master".

When the crusaders were expelled from the Holy Land, the Hospitallers, after a period of stay in Cyprus (1291-1308), conquered the island of Rhodes, where they created their order state. In 1522 the order was forced to leave Rhodes after months of siege by the Ottoman Turks. In 1523-1530. the order stayed in Italy. In 1530, Emperor Charles V handed over the island of Malta to the Hospitallers, on which the order state was located until 1798, when Malta was captured by the French troops of Napoleon Bonaparte. In 1799, the French, in turn, were expelled by the British, who occupied the island.

Geography

After the abandonment of Malta and the Mediterranean islands, the Order possesses only a complex of mansions in Rome (the Maltese Palace at Via del Condotti, 68, residence) and Malta (Fort Saint Angel), the territory of which is sometimes considered the territory of the smallest state in the world.

Interesting fact

In Rome, in the gates of the residence of the Knights of Malta on Aventina, a special hole was made by Piranesi's design. From there you can see the dome of St. Peter's Cathedral and three whole states: Malta (which owns the residence of the order), the Vatican (to which St. Peter's Cathedral is attributed) and Italy (which includes everything in between). It is very easy to distinguish a hole with views from a simple keyhole: a pair of carabinieri are always on duty near it.

Population

There are about 10.5 thousand citizens of the Order who have his passport. The Order of Malta passport is recognized by many countries, its holder has the right to visa-free travel to 32 countries. It is not easy to get it. Official languages \u200b\u200b- Latin, Italian.

Government

Currently, the seat of the order is in Rome. The Italian Republic recognizes the existence of the Order of Malta on its territory as a sovereign state. The head of the Order is the Grand Master (since 2008, Matthew Festing), the head of the executive branch is the Chancellor.

Economy

The order has a non-profit planned economy. Sources of income - primarily donations, sale of postage stamps, souvenirs, etc.

International relationships

The order has diplomatic relations with 81 states. Has observer status at the UN.

The relationship of the Order of Malta with Russia has changed several times. Emperor Paul I established close cooperation with him, accepting the status of Grand Master and Protector of the Order. The order system of Russia and the Order of Malta itself were partially integrated.

However, after the assassination of Paul I, relations with the Order were severed rather quickly and were absent until the end of the existence of the Russian Empire. The Russian priors of the order were liquidated in the period 1803-1810.

The allegedly carried out behind-the-scenes interaction between the Order and the USSR during the reign of Gorbachev became the subject of numerous speculations, but reliable documents on this matter were never published.

Diplomatic relations with Russia were restored in 1992 by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation B. N. Yeltsin and are now carried out at the level of Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. Diplomatic relations are carried out by diplomatic missions with accreditation in the states - places of representation. The interests of Russia are represented by the Representative of the Russian Federation at the Vatican.

Catholic encyclopedia... EdwART. 2011.

See what the "Order of Malta" is in other dictionaries:

- (Order of St. John of Jerusalem), a Catholic military monastic order, founded in Palestine in the 12th century, in 1530 took possession of the island of Malta. In November 1797, Paul I, at the request of the Sacred Council of the Order, accepted the title of protector (patron saint) of M ... Russian history

MALTIC ORDER, see article Johannites ... Modern encyclopedia

See in Art. Johnites ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

See article Johannites ... Historical Dictionary

Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem Rhodes and Malta Italian. Sovrano Militare Ordine Ospedaliero di San Giovanni di Gerusalemme di Rodi e di Malta… Wikipedia

Flag of the Order of Malta Coat of arms of the Order of Malta Order of Malta ("Jerusalem Hospitaller Order"), the official full name Sovereign Military Hospitable Order of St. John, Jerusalem, Rhodes and Malta, Italian. Sovrano militare ... ... Wikipedia

The history of the Maltese Order, whose members were formerly called the Johannites (see) and the Knights of Rhodes, begins in 1530, when the knights received from Emperor Charles V a fief of Malta with two neighboring islands, Gozzo and Comino, ... Encyclopedic Dictionary of F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

THE MALTIC KNIGHTS (also known as the Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem, the John of Jerusalem, and later as the Knights of Rhodes), a spiritually knightly order founded in Jerusalem in the 11th century. It owes its origin to merchants from Amalfi (a town south of ... ... Collier's Encyclopedia

See Johnites. * * * MALTIC ORDER MALTIC ORDER, see Art. Johnites (see Johnites) ... encyclopedic Dictionary

Spiritually knightly order, founded by the crusaders in 1000 in Palestine, the order of the Johannites. In 1530 he settled in Malta. In 1834 the seat of the order was transferred to Rome. Currently, there are branches of the order in a number of countries of the West. Europe. Mail. adm ... Big philatelic dictionary

Books

Collection of the Russian Historical Society. Volume 9. The Order of Malta and Russia,. The main section of the volume contains materials and articles devoted to the relationship between Russia and the Order of Malta - the legendary knightly state that still exists today, whose history ...

Order of Malta

The Order of Malta (Ionites, Hospitallers, Knights of Rhodes) is a spiritual knightly order of St. John, which was founded around 1070 as a brotherhood. The symbol of the Order of Malta is an eight-pointed white cross (Maltese) on a black cloak (Appendix # 5).

At the moment, the Italian Republic recognizes the existence of the Order of Malta on its territory as a sovereign state, as well as the extraterritoriality of its residence in Rome (the Palace of Malta, or the Main Palace in Via Condotti, 68, residence, and the Villa of the Aventina). Since 1998, the Order also owns Fort Sant'Angelo, which also has an extraterritorial status for 99 years from the date of the agreement with the government of the Republic of Malta. Thus, the Order formally has a territory over which it exercises its own jurisdiction, but the question of the actual status of this territory (the Order's own territory or the territory of a diplomatic mission temporarily transferred for its needs) is a subject for abstract legal discussions.

There are not so many scientific works on the international legal status of the Order of Malta among Russian scientists. This question is most fully disclosed by the candidate of historical sciences V.A. Zakharov. In this paragraph, we will rely on his articles.

Since the inception of the Order of Malta, its history has been inextricably linked with such a legal category as sovereignty. Its entire history is a struggle for its recognition as a sovereign state.

According to V.A. Zakharov, “we are used to the phrase“ Order of Malta ”in relation only to the Catholic“ Sovereign Order of Malta. ”But at the beginning of its existence, this structure was called the Order of the Hospitallers, later also the Order of the Ionites, then the geographical names of the territories owned by the order were added to it. The Order began to be called the Maltese only after it received the possession of Malta. Subsequently, no longer having territories, it retained this very name. "

The modern name of the Order of Malta sounds in the Italian officially recognized by the order: "Sovrano Militare Ordine Ospedaliero di San Giovanni di Gerusalemme di Rodi e di Malta", which translates into Russian: "Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and Malta".

The main law of the Sovereign Order of Malta since 1961 is its Constitution, which was drawn up with the closest participation of Vatican strategists after the crisis that erupted in the Order at the end of World War II.

Article 1 of the 1961 Constitution contained a short and categorical definition "The Order is a legal entity and solemnly recognized as the Holy See. It has the legal qualifications of a subject of international law." Article 3 notes: "The close connection of the two qualities of the Order, which is both religious and sovereign, does not contradict the autonomy of the Order both in relation to the exercise of sovereignty and the associated prerogatives of the Order as a subject of international law in relations with states. ".

Consider some of the historical moments of the creation of the Order of Malta.

Between 1052 and 1066 A wealthy citizen from the Italian city-republic of Amalfa, Constantino di Pantaleone, together with other ascetics, built in Jerusalem on the site of an old hospice from the time of Abbot Probus, next to the church of St. John the Baptist, a new home for sick pilgrims. This is where the name of the Hospitallers came from.

In 1099 the Brotherhood of the Hospitallers was transformed into the Manas Order. The political situation in the field of the creation of the Kingdom of Jerusalem by the Crusaders prompted the Order of the Hospitallers to assume military responsibilities to protect not only the pilgrims and the sick, but also the territories obtained as a result of the Crusades. This is how the spiritual-knightly order was formed.

The first document representing the Order of Malta as a subject of international law is the bull Paschalia II of 1113. This document allowed the order to "freely elect its head" regardless of any secular and spiritual authorities.

The legal position of the Order as a member of the international legal community was recognized by the states of Western Europe without restrictions. In this capacity, the Order was represented at the Peace Congress of Westphalia (1643-1648), as well as at the Nuremberg negotiations of the sovereigns. He also takes part in the conclusion of peace treaties in Nijnmegen (1678) and in Utrecht (1713), in the signing of international legal agreements with Poland (1774-1776) and with Russia (1797).

From the middle of the XIX century. The order focuses on medical and charitable activities. National associations of knights appear: 1859 in Rhine-Westphalia, 1875 - in England, 1877 - in Italy, etc.

Since the end of the XIX century. the residence of the Sovereign Order of Malta is located on the state territory of Italy, the Italian state and its courts have repeatedly dealt with the issue of the international legal status of the Order.

The Council of State of Italy, in its opinion of November 10, 1869, declared that the Order of Malta was a sovereign institution, therefore the decrees of the Grand Master of the Order did not need the exequatur of the King of Italy.

The sovereign position of the Order of Malta is also confirmed in the Convention of the Italian Ministry of War and the Order of February 20, 1884 and in the legislative decrees of the Italian government of October 7, 1923, November 28, 1929 and April 4, 1938.

In the history of the Order of Malta of the twentieth century. there was a period that could well have ended with the loss of the order, both of its sovereignty and of its religious, spiritual and knightly character.

The issue of the sovereignty of the Order of Malta was considered after the Second World War. In 1953, the Commission of the Grand Tribunal adopted a verdict, which once again reaffirmed the sovereignty of the Order of Malta.

In order to declare its sovereignty on a global scale, the Order of Malta made an attempt in the 30s of the twentieth century. then diplomatic relations with the Holy See were first established. In 1937, a similar relationship was formalized with Franco Spain.

In the second half of the twentieth century. diplomatic relations were established between the Order of Malta and with a large number of countries in Latin America and Africa.

However, in 1960 the Order of Malta was declared a corporation, which, from the point of view of international law, cannot be regarded as a religious, military, aristocratic or sovereign community. Salvation came from the Italian government. The relationship between the Italian Republic and the Order of Malta was finally determined by diplomatic notes exchanged between the parties on January 11, 1960.

Thus, the Italian Republic recognized the existence of the Order of Malta in its territory as a sovereign state with which it maintains diplomatic relations. However, state recognition from outside not only European, but also the main world powers still did not follow.

Finally, the issue of the sovereignty of the Order of Malta was resolved with the adoption by the Italian Supreme Court of a ruling, which stated, in particular, the following. "In January 1960, 32 years ago, SMOM and the Italian government signed an agreement in which SMOM is recognized as a state. But this agreement has never received an agreement from the Italian parliament and never had the status of a treaty. In any case, SMOM cannot be a state. because it does not have territory, citizens, and as a result, there is no required conformity. "

Until recently, the life and work of the order was regulated by the constitution approved by the Holy See (Apostolic Epistle of June 24, 1961) and the code (set of laws), which entered into force on November 1, 1966, with amendments approved by Pope John Paul II in May 1997. ...

S. M. O. M. has its own courts of first instance and courts of appeal with presidents, judges, prosecutors and assistants with an advisory vote of the Sovereign Council.

Currently, the Order maintains diplomatic relations with more than 120 states.

In the twentieth century. The Order of Malta has not acquired sovereignty, according to experts in international law, at present it is a state-like entity, "Its sovereignty and international legal personality are a legal fiction. This opinion is shared by the UN."