The enormous losses left the Malta Knight Order nursing a deep grudge. Two years ago, when the England and France fleets were locked in battle in the Mediterranean, they refused entry and supplies to the French Warship, and even took the initiative to provide intelligence to the British.
After the British Navy withdrew from the Mediterranean, the Toulon Fleet's Commander-in-Chief, Bluais, dispatched marines to the island, arrested over a hundred Knight Order members who were colluding with the British—at that time, the Malta Knight Order had only just over four hundred members in total—and declared Malta Port a permanent neutral harbor, prohibiting the deployment of any military installations.
After suffering one blow after another, the Malta Knight Order was badly weakened, and just at this time Paul I ascended to the throne, making them overjoyed.
