Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Chivalut,
was the £ text GraniLM ^ and was ; s . uj & - ' ceeded by Emanuel d first ^ et was to ; restore the strength of the ( W & e ^ decay . He obtained the restitution of some toreign possessions : in JSiwari & M ^ the Order f and &
Order of St . i ^ nth persons afflicted Witt lepr ^ in 1768 . In ^ Messina and Beggioiii ruins . iLs soon as the sad news reached Msilta ^ the gallies of the Order were equipped , and ^^ fo and tents ^ conveyed ; to that the virtues feat through all time had afe shed their lustre o ^
The Trench revolution , which overthrew lipt spare this illustrious fraternity . Pirst came a d eeree that its possessions should be taxed , as all other property ; next an enactment that every frenchman \ vho was a member of any order of knighthood should cea ^ e to be a citizen of -France ; and in 1792 the Order
of St ; John was declared to its possessions were annexed to the national dominions . The Knights were obliged to fly ; and their residence , the Temple , was converted into a prison , in which Louis XVI . and his unhappy family were incarcerated . The Knights , despoiled of their homes , entered into the service of the powers allied against the revolutionary army of France . In 1797 , the Emperor Paul of Eussia granted to the Order the restoration of their estates , which , on the division of Poland , fell
to his share ; and , with his concurrence , the Grand Priory of Eussia was created , Eohan died in this year , and Perdinand de Hompesch succeeded him . His first , act was to ratify the convention with Eussia ; and the cross of La Valette was forwarded to the emperor , who was entreated by the Fraternity to become their chief , under the title of " Protector of the Order . " He allowed the ambassador
to brace on him a superb coat of mail , and suspend from his neck the cross of La Yalette . The heir apparent was also invested with the Grand Cross , and the exiled Prince of Gonde was named Grand Prior of Eussia , In Jane , 1798 , a Prench squadron , having on board a considerable body of troops , commanded by General Bonaparte , summoned the
Knights to surrender . The craven Hompesch made some show of resistance , but finally complied with the invader ' s demand . So strong were the fortifications , that General Oaffarelli signified to Bonaparte as they passed in , " It is well , general , that there was some one to open these gates to us ; we should have had some trouble in entering ^ 7
if the place had , been altogether empty . ' All their property was confiscated , and the Knights sent adrift : the weak old Hompesch died in obscurity at Montpelier , in 1804 . The Knights dispersed themselves over the continent of Europe , and took service in various armies * Several took refuge in Eussia , and there held a Chapter ^
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Chivalut,
was the £ text GraniLM ^ and was ; s . uj & - ' ceeded by Emanuel d first ^ et was to ; restore the strength of the ( W & e ^ decay . He obtained the restitution of some toreign possessions : in JSiwari & M ^ the Order f and &
Order of St . i ^ nth persons afflicted Witt lepr ^ in 1768 . In ^ Messina and Beggioiii ruins . iLs soon as the sad news reached Msilta ^ the gallies of the Order were equipped , and ^^ fo and tents ^ conveyed ; to that the virtues feat through all time had afe shed their lustre o ^
The Trench revolution , which overthrew lipt spare this illustrious fraternity . Pirst came a d eeree that its possessions should be taxed , as all other property ; next an enactment that every frenchman \ vho was a member of any order of knighthood should cea ^ e to be a citizen of -France ; and in 1792 the Order
of St ; John was declared to its possessions were annexed to the national dominions . The Knights were obliged to fly ; and their residence , the Temple , was converted into a prison , in which Louis XVI . and his unhappy family were incarcerated . The Knights , despoiled of their homes , entered into the service of the powers allied against the revolutionary army of France . In 1797 , the Emperor Paul of Eussia granted to the Order the restoration of their estates , which , on the division of Poland , fell
to his share ; and , with his concurrence , the Grand Priory of Eussia was created , Eohan died in this year , and Perdinand de Hompesch succeeded him . His first , act was to ratify the convention with Eussia ; and the cross of La Valette was forwarded to the emperor , who was entreated by the Fraternity to become their chief , under the title of " Protector of the Order . " He allowed the ambassador
to brace on him a superb coat of mail , and suspend from his neck the cross of La Yalette . The heir apparent was also invested with the Grand Cross , and the exiled Prince of Gonde was named Grand Prior of Eussia , In Jane , 1798 , a Prench squadron , having on board a considerable body of troops , commanded by General Bonaparte , summoned the
Knights to surrender . The craven Hompesch made some show of resistance , but finally complied with the invader ' s demand . So strong were the fortifications , that General Oaffarelli signified to Bonaparte as they passed in , " It is well , general , that there was some one to open these gates to us ; we should have had some trouble in entering ^ 7
if the place had , been altogether empty . ' All their property was confiscated , and the Knights sent adrift : the weak old Hompesch died in obscurity at Montpelier , in 1804 . The Knights dispersed themselves over the continent of Europe , and took service in various armies * Several took refuge in Eussia , and there held a Chapter ^