Sovereign Military
Order of Malta
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![[Knights of Malta]](smom.gif) -
Adopted 15 Feb 1113
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![[Knights of Malta Flag of the Grand Master]](smom1.gif) -
Flag of the Order's Works
Adopted c.1305
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Note: Though without a territory since 12 Jun 1798, the Sovereign
Military Order of Malta still regards itself, and is regarded by the states
that give it diplomatic recognition¹, as a sovereign state.
The Knights of Malta (full style Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of
St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta [SMOM]) now functions as
a Roman Catholic charitable organization with limited diplomatic status
as a "sovereign entity", complete with passports, coinage (via the world's
smallest national mint), license plates, ITU amateur radio license prefix
(1A) and a post office.
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SMOM website
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Hear
SMOM Anthem "Ave Crux Alba" (Hail, thou White
Cross)
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Text
of SMOM Anthem (in Latin)
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Constitutional
Charter (27 Jun 1961)
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Headquarters: Palazzo di Malta
Via Condotti 68 (Rome, Italy)
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Currency: Scudo
(to 1798 and from 1961)
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National Holiday: 24 Jun
St. John's Day
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Total Knights/Dames Worldwide: 12,500 (2007)
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GDP: $N/A
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Income: $N/A
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Expenditures: $N/A
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Religion: Roman Catholic 100%
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| International
Organizations/Treaties: APM (observer), CE (observer), EU (observer), FAO (observer),
IADB (observer), IAEA (observer), ICCt (observer), ICRM (observer), IFAD (observer), IFRCS (observer), IOM
(observer), LU (observer), OAS (observer), UN (observer), UNEP (observer), UNESCO (observer),
UNHCR (observer), UNIDO (observer), WFP (observer), WHO (observer) |
Sovereign
Military Order
of Malta
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Chronology
c.1050
Order of St. John founded.
15 Feb 1113
Pope Paschal II approved the foundation of the
Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem.
15 Aug 1310
The Knights Hospitaller occupy the island of
Rhodes (Knights of St. John Hospitaller of
Jerusalem and Rhodes).
Apr 1383 - 1409
During the Great Schism in Papacy, the Order on
Rhodes, under Grand Master Fernández de
Heredia, recognizes the Papal court at Avignon.
As a consequence the Popes in Rome declare
Heredia deposed and appointed Lieutenants in
his place, these were not recognized on Rhodes.
24 Dec 1522
The Knights are expelled from Rhodes by Ottoman
Empire.
23 Mar 1530
Malta granted as a fiefdom to the Knights of St.
John Hospitaller by Emperor Charles V (Tripoli
also granted but was relinquished in 1551).
26 Oct 1530
Knights of St. John Hospitaller take possession
of Malta (Sovereign and Military Order of
the Knights of Malta); as a feudal fief
of the Kingdom of "Sicily" (Naples).
18 May 1565 - 8 Sep 1565 Ottoman siege of Malta.
1607
Grand masters also made princes of Holy Roman
Empire (confirmed 1620).
1630
Grand masters ecclesiastical precedence equal to
the dignity of a Cardinal of the Roman Church
with the style of "His Most Eminent Highness."
12 Jun 1798
French occupy Malta, expulsion the Knights.
5 Sep 1800
British occupy Malta (making it a colony in 1814).
14 Dec 1822
By the Treaty of Verona the Order is recognized as
a sovereign state.
1834
Headquarters of the Order moved to the Palazzo di
Malta in Rome (Knights Hospitaller of St. John
of Jerusalem).
1869
The Palazzo di Malta and the Villa Malta receive
extraterritorial rights, in this way becoming
the only "sovereign" territorial possessions of
modern the Order.
27 Jun 1961
Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John
of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta.
11 Jan 1969
Autonomy granted to the Order resident in Rome
by Italy.
24 Aug 1994
Permanent observer status at the United Nations. |
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SMOM website
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Diplomatic
Recognition List
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Museum of
the
Order website
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American Assoc.
website |
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Grand Masters¹
Feb 1113 - 3 Sep 1120 Gerardus (Blessed
Gerard)
(d. 1120)
1120 - af.25 Oct 1158 Raymond du
Puy
bf.29Nov1160-af.11Mar1162 Auger, dit de Balben
(some sources Arnaud de Comps,
probably suppositious)
bf.19 Jan 1163 - 1169/1170 Gilbert Assaillit
1169/1170 - 1172
Cast de Murols
1172/1173 - Oct 1177 Gérard
Joubert de Syrie
1177 - 1 May 1187
Roger des Moulins
1188
Borrell (Provisor et custos)
1188 - 1189/1190
Armengaud d'Asp (Provisor et custos)
(by some sources asserted to be Master)
1190 - af.Jun 1192
Garnier de Naplouse
1192 - 1202
Godefroi de Donjon
1202 - 1206
Afonso, infante de Portugal
1206 - af.22 May 1207 Geoffroy Le
Rat
bf.Oct 1207-af.11 Nov 1227 Garin de Montaigu
bf.1 Mar 1228 - 1231 Bertrand
de Thessy
bf.1 May 1231-af.May 1236 Guérin Lebrun
bf.20 Sep 1236-1239/1240 Bertrand de Comps
1239/1240 - 17 Sep 1242 Pierre de Vieille-Brioude
1242 - af.24 Jun 1258 Guillaume de
Châteauneuf
bf.9 Oct 1258-1 Apr 1277 Hugues de Revel
bf.4 Aug 1277-12 Mar 1284 Nicolas de Lorgne
bf.Sep 1285 - 20 Oct 1293 Jean de Villiers
bf.30 Sep 1294-17 Mar 1296 Odon de Pins
26 Mar 1296 - 1305
Guillaume de Villaret
bf.3 Nov 1305 - Sep 1317 Foulques de Villaret (1st
time)
18 Sep 1317 - 1319
Gérard de Pins (Lieutenant)
1317 - 1319
Maurice de Pagnac (in dissidence)
1319 - 13 Jun 1319
Foulques de Villaret (2nd time)
18 Jun 1319 - May 1346 Hélion de
Villeneuve
May 1346 - 3 Dec 1353 Dieudonné
de Gozon
(until 28 Jun 1346, Lieutenant)
8 Dec 1353 - 1355
Pierre de Corneillan
Aug 1355 - 28 May 1365 Roger de Pins
1 Jun 1365 - 16 Feb 1374 Raymond Bérenger
Feb 1374 - 27 Jul 1377 Robert de Juilly
(or de Juillac)
24 Oct 1377 - 24 Mar 1396 Juan Fernández de Heredia
Apr 1383 - 18 May 1395 Riccardo Caracciolo
Rossi dei
conti di Gerace
(appointed by Pope in Rome)
1395 - 25 Apr 1405
Bartolomeo Carafa della Spina
(Lieutenant)
(appointed by Pope in Rome)
1405 - 1409
Nicola Orsini di Campodifiore
(Lieutenant)
(appointed by Pope in Rome)
6 May 1396 - 1421
Philibert de Naillac
1 Jul 1421 - 26 Oct 1437 Antoni de Fluviá
6 Nov 1437 - 19 May 1454 Jean Bonpar de Lastic
1 Jun 1454 - 17 Aug 1461 Jacques de Milly (or Jobert
de Milly)
24 Aug 1461 - 21 Feb 1467 Pere Ramon Zacosta
28 Feb 1467 - 8 Jun 1476 Giovanni Battista Orsini dei
conti di Gravina
17 Jun 1476 - 3 Jul 1503 Pierre d'Aubusson
10 Jul 1503 - 13 Nov 1512 Aimery d'Amboise, dit Chaumont
22 Nov 1512 - 24 Nov 1513 Guy de Blanchefort
15 Dec 1513 - 10 Jan 1521 Fabrizio Del Carretto dei marchesi
del Finale
22 Jan 1521 - 22 Aug 1534 Philippe Villiers de L'Isle-Adam
26 Aug 1534 - 12 Nov 1535 Pietro del Ponte, dei signori di
(d. 1535)
Lambriase e Casal Gros
(takes office 10 Nov 1534)
22 Nov 1535 - 26 Sep 1536 Didier de Saint-Jaille, dit Tholon
(d. 1536)
20 Oct 1536 - 6 Sep 1553 Juan de Omedes y Coscón
(b. 1473 - d. 1553)
11 Sep 1553 - 17 Aug 1557 Claude de La Sengle
21 Aug 1557 - 21 Aug 1568 Jean Parisot de La Valette
(b. 1494 - d. 1568)
23 Aug 1568 - 26 Jan 1572 Pietro Guidalotti Ciocchi Del Monte
(d. 1572)
27 Jan 1572 - 21 Dec 1581 Jean L'Évesque de La Cassière
(d. 1581)
1581 - 1581 Maturin de Lescaut, dit Romegas
(lieutenant; in dissidence)
12 Jan 1582 - 4 May 1595 Hugues de Loubenx, des seigneurs
(d. 1595)
de Loubenx et de Verdale
8 May 1595 - 7 Feb 1601 Martín Garcés
(d. 1601)
10 Feb 1601 - 14 Sep 1622 Alof de Wignacourt
(b. 1547 - d. 1622)
17 Sep 1622 - 7 Mar 1623 Luís Mendes de Vasconcelos
(b. 1542/43 - d. 1623)
10 Mar 1623 - 7 Jun 1636 Antoine de Paule
(took office 20 Mar 1623)
16 Jun 1636 - 14 Aug 1657 Giovanni Paolo Lascaris,
(b. 1560 - d. 1657)
conte di Castellar, dei
conti di Ventimiglia
17 Aug 1657 - 6 Feb 1660 Martín de Redín
y Cruzat
9 Feb 1660 - 2 Jun 1660 Annet de Clermont-Chatte,
(b. 1587 - d. 1660)
des seigneurs de Geyssans
5 Jun 1660 - 20 Oct 1663 Rafael Cotoner i d'Olesa
(d. 1663)
23 Oct 1663 - 29 Apr 1680 Nicolau Cotoner i d'Olesa
(b. 1608 - d. 1690)
2 May 1680 - 20 Jul 1690 Gregorio Carafa, dei principi
di Roccella
27 Jul 1690 - 4 Feb 1697 Pierre-Adrien de Wignacourt
(b. 1618/19 - d. 1697)
5 Feb 1697 - 10 Jan 1720 Ramon Perellós i de
Rocafull (b.
1637 - d. 1720)
14 Jan 1720 - 16 Jun 1722 Marc'Antonio Chigi Zondadari dei
(b. 1658 - d. 1722)
marchesi di San Quirico
19 Jun 1722 - 12 Dec 1736 António Manuel de Vilhena
(b. 1663 - d. 1736)
16 Dec 1736 - 15 Jan 1741 Ramon Despuig i Martínez
de (b.
1670 - d. 1741)
Marcilla de los condes de Montealegre
18 Jan 1741 - 24 Jan 1773 Manuel Pinto da Fonseca
(b. 1681 - d. 1773)
28 Jan 1773 - 9 Nov 1775 Francisco Ximénez de
Tejada de los (b. 1703 - d. 1775)
señores de Sobrarbe y condes de
Aragón
12 Nov 1775 - 13 Jul 1797 Jean-Emmanuel-Marie-des-Neiges,
(b. 1725 - d. 1797)
prince de Rohan-Polduc
17 Jul 1797 - 26 Aug 1798 Ferdinand Joseph Freiherr von
(b. 1744 - d. 1805)
Hompesch zu Bollheim
(abandons Malta 22 Jun 1798, abdicates 6 Jul 1799)
10 Sep 1798-23/24 Mar 1801 Pavel Petrovich
(b. 1754 - d. 1801)
(Emperor Paul I of Russia;
to 7 Nov 1798 Protector of the Order
and acting Grand Master)
Lieutenants of the Grand Master (acting as Grand Masters)
27 Mar 1801 - 9 Feb 1803 Prince Nikolay Ivanovich Saltykov
(b. 1736 - d. 1816)
1802 - 9 Feb 1803
Giuseppe Caracciolo dei marchesi (d.
1839)
di Sant'Eramo (1st time)
(in opposition)
9 Feb 1803 - 13 Jun 1805 Giovanni Battista Tommasi
de Cortona (b. 1731 - d. 1805)
17 Jun 1805 - 10 Feb 1809 Giuseppe Caracciolo dei marchesi
(s.a.)
di Sant'Eramo -Grand Master
(2nd time) (in opposition)
29 Nov 1805 - 25 Apr 1814 Innigo Maria Guevara Suardo
(b. 1744 - d. 1814)
26 Apr 1814 - 10 Jun 1821 Andrea Di Giovanni e Centegles
(b. 1742 - d. 1821)
11 Jul 1821 - 19 May 1834 Antonio Busca Arconati Visconti
(b. 1767 - d. 1834)
23 May 1834 - 12 Jul 1845 Carlo Candida
(b. 1762 - d. 1845)
15 Jul 1845 - 9 Oct 1864 Philipp Graf von Colloredo-Mels
(b. 1779 - d. 1864)
und-Waldsee
25 Feb 1865 - 13 Jan 1872 Alessandro Borgia
(b. 1783 - d. 1872)
14 Jan 1872 - 28 Mar 1879 Giovanni Battista Ceschi a Santa
Croce (b. 1827 - d. 1905)
Grand Masters 28 Mar 1879 - 24 Jan 1905 Giovanni Battista Ceschi a Santa
Croce (s.a.)
6 Mar 1905 - 26 Mar 1931 Galeazzo Graf von Thun und
Hohenstein (b. 1850 - d. 1931)
26 Mar 1931 - 30 May 1931 Pio Franchi de' Cavalieri
(b. 1869 - d. 1960)
(ad interim lieutenant; acting)
30 May 1931 - 14 Nov 1951 Ludovico Chigi Della Rovere Albani,
(b. 1866 - d. 1951)
principe di Farnese, di Campagnano
e di Soriano
14 Nov 1951 - 25 Apr 1955 Conte Palatino Don Antonio Hercolani
(b. 1883 - d. 1962)
Fava Simonetti
(ad interim lieutenant; acting)
25 Apr 1955 - 11 May 1962 Ernesto Vittorio Maria Vincenzo
Luigi (b. 1882 - d. 1971)
Paternò-Castello dei duchi di Càrcaci
(lieutenant of the grand master; acting)
11 May 1962 - 17 Jan 1988 Angelo di Mojana dei signori di
(b. 1905 - d. 1988)
Cologna
17 Jan 1988 - 11 Apr 1988 Giancarlo Pallavicini
(b. 1911 - d. 1999)
(ad-interim lieutenant; acting)
11 Apr 1988 - 7 Feb 2008 Andrew Willoughby Ninian Bertie
(b. 1929 - d. 2008)
7 Feb 2008 - 11 Mar 2008 Giacomo
Dalla Torre del Tempio di (b. 1944)
Sanguinetto
(ad-interim lieutenant; acting)
11 Mar 2008 -
Matthew Festing
(b. 1949)
Grand Chancellors
Nov 1978 - Feb 1980 Vittorio
Marullo di Condojanni (d. 1982)
15 Feb 1980 - 1997
Felice, barone Catalano di Melilli (b. 1914 - d. 2003)
1997 - Oct 2001
Carlo, conte Marullo di Condojanni, (b. 1946)
principe di Casalnuovo
(acting for di Melilli 1995-1997)
Oct 2001 - 16 Apr 2005 Count Jacques de
Liedekerke
(b. 1928)
(acting to 1 Jan 2002)
16 Apr 2005 -
Jean-Pierre Mazery
(b. 1942)
(acting for Liedekerke from 3 Nov 2004)
¹ full style of the Grand masters:
(a) to 1798: Dei Gratia Sacrae Domus
Hospitalis Sancti Ioannis Hierosolymitani et militaris Ordinis Sancti Sepulchri
Dominici Magister humilis pauperumque Iesu Christi custos (the phrase et militaris Ordinis Sancti Sepulchri Dominici
ceases to be effective 4 Nov 1497, but is not deleted)("by the Grace of God,
Grand Master of the Sacred Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem and of the
military Order of the Holy Sepulcher, humble guardian of the poor of Jesus
Christ");
(b) 10 Dec 1798 - 24 Mar 1801: Velikiy Magistr Ordena Svyatogo Ioanna Ierusalimskogo ("Grand master of the Holy Order of St. John of Jerusalem");
(c) from 1803: Gran Maestro ("Grand master"); in common official use to 1805: Principe e Gran Maestro
("Prince and Grand master"); Long form: "His Most Eminent Highness, Prince
and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John
of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, Most Humble Guardian of the Poor of
Jesus Christ."
2 Currently the SMOM maintains diplomatic
relations
with 103 countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Austria,
The Bahamas, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Brazil,
Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic,
Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Kinshasa), Costa
Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic,
East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial
Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Georgia, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,
Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati,
Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Macedonia, Madagascar,
Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Micronesia, Moldova,
Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua,
Niger, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia,
Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, São Tomé
and Príncipe, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, The Sudan, Suriname, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uruguay,
Vatican City and Venezuela. The Order of Malta also has official relations
with: Belgium, Canada, European Commission, France, Germany, Luxembourg and Switzerland.
©2001 Ben Cahoon |