Brief Biography
Paul I of Russia was acclaimed Grand Master by members of the Russian priory after the loss of Malta.
Sources: Order of Malta: The Grand Masters; Wikipedia: Grand Masters of the Knights Hospitaller.
Life and service to the Order
His position was de facto: the pope did not recognise his election, a distinction retained in the Order's historical lists.
The loss of Malta in 1798 forced the Order to preserve its institutions without its former island territory. Leadership and recognition of the office became central questions in this period.
Vladimir Borovikovsky. Portrait of Paul I, Emperor of Russia. 1800. Oil on canvas. The Russian Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia.
Painting by Salvatori Tonci
Historical context: Order of Malta, The Grand Masters; History of the Order.
Further images from the archive
