"The Knights do not 'claim' sovereignty, the Knights ARE a sovereign."

Interesting, too, to compare and contrast the history and role of the Knight's sovereignty in Europe and world with Tribal Sovereignty/Territorial Sovereignty among Native Peoples in the US. There are vast differences, mighty disparities, but a group/people claiming sovereignty in the US (whole peoples claiming it) is not alien to us at all, especially considering our American appetite in history for conquest, cultural control and uniformity, which meant acquiring land and resources, almost at any cost (moral or honorable), and dominating sovereign peoples -- black, red brown --both at home and abroad (as noted in Steven Hahn book: A NATION WITHOUT BORDERS). Europe seems relaxed with its 7 or so tiny sovereign states, including Vatican City, Andorra, Liechtenstein, etc., as we should be with the sovereignty of our many Tribal Nations, given our relentless history for conquest and subjugation without mercy.