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History's Hinge - 'Ain Jalut

[Administration]

Rome is - or is host to - the capital of how many sovereign states?

I do not know the answer, but I know what it is not.

[Fleamistress]

Um.  The vatican, the see and lazio?

[Administration]

 
Well, you have one of them - the Vatican State. Italy is, of course, another.
Any more?

[Fleamistress]

Well, you have one of them - the Vatican State. Italy is, of course, another.
Any more?

Dear Capo,

I reckon I can figure it out, but--why do we care? 

Ciao! 

Cyn

[Administration]

Maybe as it has something to do with history and this is History Hunters?

Sovereign Military Order of Malta

The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta (known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM), Order of Malta or Knights of Malta for short) is a Catholic order based in Rome, Italy. The Sovereign Military Order of Malta is a sovereign subject of international law.

It takes its origins from the Knights Hospitaller, an organization founded in Jerusalem in 1080 as an Amalfitan hospital to provide care for poor and sick pilgrims to the Holy Land. After the conquest of Jerusalem in 1099 during the First Crusade, it became a Catholic military order under its own charter. Following the loss of Christian territory in the Holy Land, the Order operated from Rhodes, over which it was sovereign, and later from Malta - where it administered a vassal state under the Spanish viceroy of Sicily.

Although this state came to an end with the ejection of the Order from Malta by Napoleon, the Order as such survived. It retains its claims of sovereignty under international law and has been granted permanent observer status at the United Nations, although its claims of sovereignty are disputed by some scholars. SMOM is considered to be the main successor to the medieval Knights Hospitaller, and today operates as a largely religious, charitable and hospitaller organization.

So here is an ancient Order of hospitaller knights, much like that of the Templars - which is being discussed elsewhere in this forum.

We also learn that a sovereign state does not need territory, which is an interesting concept. I wonder if there is another sovereign state without either a nation, or national territory.

Rome must be the only city in the world which is the capital of 3 (or more) sovereign states.

Now, isn't that interesting?

[Fleamistress]

I was aware there was some kind of military was overseen by the Vatican, but didn't think that had anything to do with Rome/Government; that perhaps was responsible only Vatican City.

Interesting history.  Thank you. 

I find the blurry boundaries between church and state here dizzying.

Cheers!

Cyn

[Administration]

The Vatican State has its own army:

Military of the Vatican

While the Swiss Guard is the most famous military unit in the service of the Vatican City, historically a number of other units existed. The last remaining units other than the Swiss Guards, the Noble Guard and the Palatine Guard, were abolished by Pope Paul VI in 1970.

    * Noble Guard, the former papal horse guards.
    * Swiss Guard, the infantry unit of the papal guards.
    * Palatine Guard, the former militia.
    * Corsican Guard, the former militia.

The most famous of these is The Swiss Guard:


Papal Swiss Guards in traditional uniforms

Swiss Guards are Swiss mercenary soldiers who have served as bodyguards, ceremonial guards, and palace guards at foreign European courts from the late 15th century until the present day (in the form of the Papal Swiss Guard). They have generally had a high reputation for discipline and loyalty to their employers. Some of these units have also served as fighting troops in the field. There were also regular Swiss mercenary regiments serving as line troops in various armies, notably those of France, Spain and Naples until the 19th century who were not household or guard units.

Various "Swiss Guards" have existed. The earliest such detachment was the Swiss "Hundred Guard" (Cent-Garde) at the French court (1497 � 1830). This small force was complemented in 1567 by a Swiss Guard regiment. The Papal Swiss Guard in the Vatican was founded in 1506 and is the only Swiss Guard that still exists. In the 18th century several other Swiss Guards existed for periods in various European courts.



This is unrelated to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, which is the third sovereign state within Rome.

Cheers!