About the book: 2009 / The book talks about the phenomenon known as “fake” or “self-proclaimed” Orders of Malta, the first of which appeared at the beginning of the 20th century. Aspects of the sovereignty of the historical (still existing) Sovereign Military Order of Malta in the 19th and 20th centuries are examined in detail, the emergence of numerous structures mimicking the genuine Order of Malta is described, and issues of the legitimacy of existing orders and various structures calling themselves such are discussed. A list of self-proclaimed orders is provided with details of their origin and activities. The appendices publish (many of them for the first time) the statutory documents of both the genuine Order of Malta and the self-called “Maltese” Orders. For a wide range of readers.