A Refuge in Trieste: The Last Hope of a Dying Order

In the waning years of the 18th century, the once-mighty Knights Hospitaller found themselves in a desperate struggle for survival. Their grand master, Ferdinand von Hompesch, accompanied by twelve knights and two sergeants, arrived in the Adriatic port city of Trieste—a place that would become the unlikely stage for the order’s final bid for revival. Here, Hompesch sought the protection of Holy Roman Emperor Francis II, the last ruler of the crumbling empire and the first emperor of Austria.

The Knights Hospitaller, also known as the Order of St. John, had been driven from their stronghold in Malta by Napoleon’s forces in 1798. Hompesch, hoping to leverage the emperor’s influence and the remaining German-speaking knights, envisioned a resurgence. But fate had other plans.

The Russian Gambit: Paul I and the Hospitaller Schism

News of Malta’s surrender reached distant Russia in August 1798, igniting fury among the Russian branch of the order. They declared Hompesch a traitor, nullified his surrender treaty with Napoleon, and turned to Tsar Paul I for leadership. The tsar, a longtime admirer of the order and a proponent of unity between Catholic and Orthodox churches, eagerly accepted. He invited the order’s surviving branches to St. Petersburg, where he was proclaimed the 72nd Grand Master—an unprecedented violation of centuries-old traditions.

This move fractured the order. While German knights largely supported Paul I, Spain, Bohemia, and Bavaria remained loyal to Hompesch. The French and Italian branches, decimated by revolution, were powerless. The Hospitallers now faced an existential split.

The Fall of Hompesch: Diplomacy and Defeat

In Trieste, Hompesch fought to defend his legitimacy, gaining unexpected support from the Castilian branch. But as political tides shifted, even his staunchest allies abandoned him. Bavaria’s new elector, Maximilian I, bowed to Russian pressure, and Louis XVIII of France urged French knights to pledge allegiance to Paul I. Emperor Francis II, balancing alliances, ultimately pressured Hompesch to resign.

On July 6, 1799, Hompesch stepped down, transferring sacred relics—including the revered right arm of St. John—to St. Petersburg. The order’s headquarters now stood in Russia, but its soul was divided.

The Ill-Fated Russian Experiment

Paul I’s reign as grand master was brief and turbulent. He poured resources into the order, even deploying a fleet under Admiral Fyodor Ushakov to reclaim Malta. But his erratic diplomacy—suddenly allying with Napoleon—alienated Britain and Austria. In 1801, Paul I was assassinated, leaving the order leaderless once more. His death dashed any hope of reclaiming Malta, as Britain, wary of Russian influence, chose to occupy the island instead.

The Long Road to Recovery

The 19th century saw the Hospitallers stripped of lands, fractured by politics, and reduced to a shadow of their former glory. Yet they endured. Under Pope Gregory XVI, the order refocused on its original mission: caring for the sick. By the 20th century, it had reinvented itself as a global humanitarian force, operating hospitals, aiding refugees, and negotiating diplomatic recognition.

Legacy and Modern Revival

Today, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta—no longer a military power but a sovereign entity—maintains diplomatic relations with over 100 countries. Its modern knights, clad not in armor but in humility, continue the nine-century-old mission: “Defending the faith, serving the suffering.”

From the ashes of exile, the Hospitallers found redemption not in conquest, but in compassion.