Maltese in RUSSIA?

It's hard for me to believe as I have never heard of the Maltese in Russia but it's true.  I was curious as to why I have so many followers on my blog from RUSSIA. And then I found this article which has opened my eyes to another avenue that we all can take in our genealogy search. This interesting article explains how the Russian-Maltese Chamber of Nobility came to be. It all starts with the take over of Malta in 1798 by that darn Napoleon.  If you are Russian-Maltese we would love to hear from you either by a comment on this blog or a private email to MaltaMade@gmail.com.
 

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(7) 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.

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