PONTIFICAL ORDER OF
KNIGHTS BACHELOR OF YUGOSLAVIA

Preserving the Propagation of the Faith 
and the Legacy of H.M. King Peter II of Yugoslavia


Under the protection and leadership of the Pontifical Imperial State of Rome-Ruthenia
United Roman-Ruthenian Church


King Peter II of Yugoslavia (left) and King George of Greece (right) at the signing of an accord to establish a customs and economic union between Yugoslavia after the Second World War. The original photograph is
held in the Stephenian Archives of the United Roman-Ruthenian Church.

The Pontifical Order of Knights Bachelor of Yugoslavia is a religious association serving as a successor to the Royal Association of Knights Bachelor of Yugoslavia founded by H.M. Peter II, the last reigning King of Yugoslavia. The order was founded under the protection and authority of the Pontifical Imperial State of Rome-Ruthenia, United Roman-Ruthenian Church. It counts among its foundational legacy a nobleman who is a Knight Bachelor of Yugoslavia and knew King Peter II. Coupled with the Stephenian Archives, it maintains rare records of Peter II and the honour of Yugoslavian Knight Bachelor.


King Peter II of Yugoslavia
(art commissioned by the Pontifical Order of KtBY)

Those who are Knights Bachelor of Yugoslavia may be admitted as members. On rare occasions, the honour of Knight Bachelor of Yugoslavia is conferred by the United Roman-Ruthenian Church, as it is among the few that can grant the award. It is conferred exclusively by the Bishop of Rome-Ruthenia. By statutes of the order, knights who receive the honour of Knight Bachelor of Yugoslavia from the Bishop of Rome-Ruthenia permanently cede the right to confer the honour on anyone else unless directly authorised by the Supreme Pontiff on a single-case, single-investiture basis.

The recipients of the honour, by express written wish of Peter II, are accorded the prenomial title of Sir.

The order is not the only association of Knights Bachelor of Yugoslavia. Others exist, though they are not affiliated with this order. Also, this order is not affiliated with the present titular Serbian royal family, which indeed appears to have repudiated the acts of Peter II despite a lack of authority to do so. Nevertheless, this order proceess forward without malice to preserve the great legacy of H.M. Peter II.

Lineage of the Knight Bachelor of Yugoslavia in
the Pontifical Imperial State and United Roman-Ruthenian Church

Peter II, King of Yugoslavia
Sir Alan Weaver-Hazelton  and Sir Robert Elwood Gamble
Prince Robert de St. Germain-Iler
Baron Johnson*
Rutherford I, Bishop of Rome-Ruthenia

*Additionally attested by brevet from Peter II



Example of a brevet conferring the rank and dignity of Knight Bachelor of Yugoslavia
as used by the Pontifical Order of Knights Bachelor of Yugoslavia


His Holiness Bishop Rutherford I of Rome-Ruthenia  in the early 2000s in the church cape as an
honourary Bailiff Grand Cross of Justice of the Yugoslavian Order of St. John founded  under the
protection of Peter II of Yugoslavia. The Order of St. John (Knights of Malta) that had been placed
under the leadership of Tsar Pavel I of Russia was given to the Yugoslavian Royal Family by Tsar
Nicholai II. Bishop Rutherford was later admitted to one of the successor orders to the Yugoslavian
branch of the order recognized by Prince Troubetskoy, whose lineage as a hereditary Knight Commander
of the Russian Order of St. John dates to the time of Pavel I. The rank of Bailiff Grand Cross of the order,
as well as Knight Bachelor of Yugoslavia, has become linked to the office of Bishop of Rome-Ruthenia.


Insignia of the Yugoslavian Order of St. John, with "trophy"
(as it is called - in silver at the top of the medal) as a
Knight Bachelor of Yugoslavia given to and owned
by His Holiness Bishop Rutherford I of Rome-Ruthenia.
The trophy contains the Yugoslavian/Serbian
double-headed eagle and the cypher of King Peter II
of Yugoslavia in the centered, rendered in Cyrillic (П II).


Lapel rosette of a Bailiff of the Yugoslavian Order of St. John
as currently used within the Pontifical Imperial State.


Insignia as currently used by H.H. the Bishop of Rome-Ruthenia
as Bailiff Grand Cross of Justice of the Yugoslavian Order of St. John.
The Order of St. John otherwise is not conferred by the United
Roman-Ruthenian Church and Pontifical Imperial State.


H.H. Bishop Rutherford I in earlier years as a layman conferring
the accolade of Knight Bachelor of Yugoslavia in an
outdoor investiture ceremony at a Roman Catholic church.


Traditional insignia of the Royal Association of Knights Bachelor of Yugoslavia
(image held in the Stephenian Archives)


Excerpt of a brevet of Peter II conferring the honour of
Knight Bachelor of Yugoslavia.
(image held in the Stephenian Archives)


Document of King Peter II of Yugoslavia appointing the
Knight Chancellor of the Royal Association of Knights Bachelor,
signed by the King.
(image held in the Stephenian Archives)


Cover page to the Statutes of the Royal
Association of Knights Bachelor of Yugoslavia
(image held in the Stephenian Archives)


Document detailing duties of various officers of the association
signed by both Peter II and Sir George Lennox Wilson,
Grand Chancellor of the Royal Association of Knights Bachelor
(image held in the Stephenian Archives)


Document of Peter II  pertaining to the customs of
Knights Bachelor of Yugoslavia, signed by the King.
(image held in the Stephenian Archives)


Excerpt of the statutes of the Royal Association of Knights Bachelor,
signed by King Peter II of Yugoslavia.
(image held in the Stephenian Archives)