No one else has read Fr. Wathen's book? This is an important issue because Protestants accuse the current order of being an occultic--masonic type sect that is a faction behind the v2 N(J)WO--which is probably true. The question is when did it become that.
Czar Paul I is αssαssιnαtҽd in Mar 1801; he had been elected GM of Knights after they were expelled from Malta in 1798. How the Knights could have elected a schismatic as GM can only be ascribed to Revolutionary turmoil. Despite what New Advent says, it is my historical deduction that Paul VI did approve of Paul being elected but--and I believe that Fr. Wathen leaves this out-- a condition would have had to been that Paul( as a schismatic)reconcile the Russian Orthodox Church w/ Rome as spelled out in the Council of Florence. The Knights had historical autonomy but that only goes so far.
After the death of 'Mad'(so called because he wanted Roman Authority recognised in Russia) Paul, his masonic son( who posseses - -w/ James I--the dubious distinction of co-operating w/ the anti-christ judaics in the murder of a saintly parent) was declard GM. But for there would have been an invincible Catholic Europe with Paul checking Napoleons Machaivellian tendencies. Alex I abandoned all plans for a Catholic Russia.
This being to much to handle, Pius VII had to usurp control of the Order to prevent it falling into masonic hands. Even if there was no precedent for Papal autocracy over the order the time for extraordinary action as in the time of Philip and Boniface had come.