The Sovereign Order of Malta: A Landless Nation’s Enduring Legacy
This video embarks on a fascinating journey to uncover the mysteries surrounding the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, a 900-year-old institution often perceived as a modern-day secret society. Despite lacking a physical territory, the Order maintains its status as a legitimate country with a permanent observer seat in the UN, its own passports, and currency, wielding significant global influence.
Origins and Evolution
- Founded in 1048: Just after the First Crusade, the Order began as a community of Catholic knights running a hospital in Jerusalem, dedicated to caring for the sick and wounded.
- Sovereign Status: The Pope granted them sovereign status, allowing them to operate independently of kings and rulers, answering only to the Pope himself.
- Territorial Rule: Over centuries, they built hospitals and forts across Europe and the Middle East, eventually gaining sovereign control over the island of Malta in 1530.
- Loss of Territory: Napoleon’s seizure of Malta in 1798 led to the loss of their territorial rule. However, they remarkably maintained their international sovereign status without a physical landmass.
Secrecy and Influence
- Secretive Membership: The Order’s members, comprising knights and dames led by a grandmaster, are largely ex-military or from aristocratic families, with their list of members kept secret.
- Powerful Connections: Confirmed members include former CIA directors and corporate billionaires, hinting at their extensive influence.
- Humanitarian Mission: Today, their primary mission revolves around providing medical aid, disaster relief, and care for refugees, the sick, and the poor across 120 countries.
A Quest in Rome
The video chronicles the hosts’ attempt to visit the Order’s few remaining physical locations in Rome, where Italian law does not apply within their walls:
- Palazzo Malta: The Order’s headquarters since 1629.
- Villa del Priorato di Malta: Home to the Order’s embassy to Italy.
- Aventine Keyhole: A mysterious, guarded gate offering a unique view of the Vatican.
Despite their persistent efforts to gain access and speak with members, they encounter significant secrecy and security, highlighting the Order’s elusive nature. Their quest coincides with the election of a new Pope, further emphasizing the Vatican’s crucial role in the Order’s continued existence. The experience underscores the profound historical and political complexities that shape this unique, landless sovereign entity.
Vocabulary Table
| Term | Pronunciation | Definition | Used in sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Institution | /ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃən/ | An established organization, especially one dedicated to education, public service, or culture. | The Order of Malta is a 900-year-old institution. |
| Sovereign Status | /ˈsɒvrɪn ˈstætəs/ | The full right and power of a governing body over itself, without any interference from outside sources. | The Pope granted them sovereign status, allowing them to operate independently. |
| Displaced | /dɪsˈpleɪst/ | Forced to leave one’s home or native country. | After Napoleon seized Malta, the order was displaced from their territorial rule. |
| Aristocratic | /ˌærɪstəˈkrætɪk/ | Belonging to or characteristic of the aristocracy (a class of people holding exceptional rank and privileges, especially the hereditary nobility). | The Order’s members are largely ex-military or from aristocratic families. |
| Conclave | /ˈkɒnkleɪv/ | A private meeting, especially one at which cardinals choose a new Pope. | The election of a new Pope happens during a secret conclave. |
| Crucial | /ˈkruːʃəl/ | Decisive or critical, especially in the success or failure of something. | The Pope’s role is crucial to why the Order of Malta still exists as a landless country. |
| Undeterred | /ˌʌndɪˈtɜːrd/ | Persisting with something despite setbacks. | Undeterred by the rejection, they decided to try a different door. |
| Scouring | /ˈskaʊərɪŋ/ | Searching thoroughly and actively for something. | Back at the hotel, they began scouring the internet for other contacts. |
| Dwindled | /ˈdwɪndld/ | Diminished gradually in size, amount, or strength. | As their hopes slowly dwindled, they watched from a distance. |
| Mystique | /mɪˈstiːk/ | An aura of mystery, power, or respect surrounding a particular person or thing. | The Order of Malta maintains an aura of mystique. |
Vocabulary Flashcards
Embedded Video
Fill in the Blanks Exercise
1. The Order of Malta is a 900-year-old .
2. The Pope granted them , allowing them to operate independently.
3. After Napoleon seized Malta, the order lost their territorial rule but maintained their international .
4. The Order’s members are largely ex-military or from families.
5. The election of a new Pope happens during a secret .
6. The Pope’s role is to why the Order of Malta still exists as a landless country.
7. by the rejection, they decided to try a different door.
8. Back at the hotel, they began the internet for other contacts.
9. As their hopes slowly , they watched from a distance.
10. The Order of Malta maintains an aura of .
