[1] During the reign of Paul I, the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem became, in essence, the highest distinction awarded for civil and military merit.

The successor of Paul I on the Russian throne, Alexander I, removed the Maltese cross from the State Emblem and resigned as Grand Master.

[3] On January 20, 1817, the highest decree "On the Prohibition of Those Receiving the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem at the Present Time to Wear It" followed.

[4] The decree was issued due to the fact that, through the mediation of the holder of the Grand Commander's Cross of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, the envoy of Serra de Capriola, several Russian citizens received this order shortly before the decree was issued.

In the decree, the ban was motivated by the fact that the Russian Priory Order no longer exists.