Life of Being a Crown Prince in France

Chapter 1207: Chapter 1112: Russia’s Direction

The enormous loss left the Malta Knight Order resentful. Two years ago, when the British and French fleets clashed in the Mediterranean, they refused to let the French warships enter the port for resupply and even actively provided intelligence to the British.

After the British Navy withdrew from the Mediterranean, the commander of the Toulon fleet, Bluais, sent marines to the island, arrested hundreds of knights colluding with the British—at that time, the Malta Knight Order only had over 400 members in total—and declared Malta Port a permanently neutral port, prohibiting the deployment of any military facilities.

The Malta Knight Order, having suffered consecutive blows, was greatly weakened. Just then, Paul I ascended the throne, and they were overjoyed.

This Tsar had been obsessed with knight culture from a young age, and the Malta Knight Order was the only knight order currently recognized by the Vatican, so decades ago, they had close relations with the Russian Crown Prince.

The Malta Knight Order immediately decided to almost move the entire Order to Saint Petersburg, attaching themselves to the new Tsar, and even proclaimed Paul I as the patron of the Order.

Paul I was also very generous, directly rewarding them with a palace as a base and providing an annual activity fund of 500,000 Rubles.

Then Paul completely let loose, not only setting up a knight’s chapel in the Imperial Palace for the nobles to pray but also enforced the full set of knightly etiquette and rules, including:

Bowing with one knee upon seeing the Emperor; wearing full classic knight attire, otherwise not being allowed to enter the Gatchina Palace; adhering to knightly virtues, prohibiting extravagant feasting, and adultery; all nobles adhering to the schedule of a medieval monastery, going to sleep after 9 p.m., and so on.

Most critically, he also established a Knight Glory Court, composed of 12 Malta knights serving as judges to specifically handle cases of nobles violating knightly spirit.

In no time, all Russian nobles found it insufferable, and many even feigned to perform ‘knightly retreats’ to flee Saint Petersburg.

As for Paul I himself being an Eastern Orthodox while the Malta Knight Order was Catholic?

He simply didn’t see it as an issue.

Since his youth, he believed himself to be the ‘incarnation of the savior,’ obligated to unify Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy and create a ‘Universal Church’ for all Christians.

Of course, since the Eastern Orthodox Church was still very powerful at the time, Paul I only dared to make small moves, keeping the Universal Church in a secretive stage.

Admiral Orlov thought for a moment and said with a bitter face, “I don’t know who can connect with those Maltese people, they seem to only listen to the Emperor.”

“I’ve met their envoy, Julio Lita, twice…”

Just as Suvorov was speaking, Zubov came rushing from behind breathlessly: “Marshal, great, I finally found you.”

Suvorov frowned secretly.

He had quite a dislike for the old Tsar’s favorite; previously, they barely exchanged pleasantries, so why had he suddenly sought him out?

Zubov didn’t show any of the arrogance he had during the late Ye Er’s time, proactively greeting Suvorov and Orlov with a hand on his chest, then stepped closer, whispering:

“Marshal, there’s a big trouble. For the future of the Empire, we must unite!”

“What exactly happened?”

“I heard the Emperor intends to withdraw all the troops from the Transcaucasia.”

Suvorov exclaimed in shock, “Are you sure?”

“My people heard it from Rostopchin.”

Rostopchin was a trusted minister of Paul I, currently overseeing Russia’s foreign affairs.

Suvorov urgently said, “Quickly, go find Count Herabovitzky and Count Bezbediko, and I will contact Marshal Rumyantsev…No, the Emperor doesn’t quite like him…”

“You should find Count Osterman.”

“Okay.”

Suvorov nodded and headed toward the carriage with Zubov: “Do you know why the Emperor wants to do this?”

“It is said that the Emperor believes there’s no interest for us in the Middle Eastern direction, only a waste of military expenditures.”

Suvorov frowned even more.

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Aleksey Grigorievich Orlov (Алексей·Григоръевич·ОРЛОВ, 1737.9.24—1807.12.24), Russian military strategist and statesman, Admiral (1769). Grigory Grigorievich Orlov (Григо́рийГриго́рьевичОрло́в, 1734年10月17日—1783年4月24日) was the second of the famous five Orlov brothers, he joined the Cadet Corps in 1749, later becoming an artillery officer, and participated in the Battle of Czołnów during the Seven Years’ War, returning to Petersburg after being wounded.

Aleksey Grigorievich Orlov [1737.9.24 (10.5) in Lyublino Town, now part of Kalinin State—1807.12.24 (1808.1.5) in Moscow] was a Russian military strategist and statesman, Admiral (1769). He started his military career in the Preobrazhensky Lifeguard Regiment and was the third of the five Orlov brothers. Promoted to sergeant in early 1762. Later, along with his brother Grigory Grigorievich Orlov, became a lover of the Crown Princess Catherine. Although not as handsome as the second brother, with a long scar on his face, his bravery was no less, with ambition, wisdom, and a stronger character. He actively participated in the 1762 palace coup, supporting the enthronement of Catherine II, and compelling Emperor Peter III Fedorovich to sign an abdication document, subsequently receiving the rank of Brigadier. Although he did not hold key positions, he greatly influenced his colleagues. During the reburial ceremony of Peter III (2 photos), he stood at the forefront holding the Emperor’s crown. After retiring in 1775, he established a stud farm, breeding a superior Orlov Trotters horse breed. He fell out of favor after the accession of Paul I Petrovich in 1796; Paul I never acknowledged him as one of the Orlov lineage, declaring the only father he recognized was Peter III, even publicly reburial Peter III to affirm his rightful rule. Aleksey Orlov was arranged to hold the Emperor’s crown at the forefront during this ceremony, but at least he was not killed, only dismissed, and took residence abroad. He returned to Russia in 1801.