The Grand Master of the Sacred Apostolic Hospice (Gran Maestro del Sacro Ospizio), or Quartermaster-General of the Sacred Palaces, is an hereditary official of the Pontifical Household. The title and office became hereditary on June 28, 1808, when Pope Pius VII

Pope Pius VII

Pope Pius VII , born Barnaba Niccolò Maria Luigi Chiaramonti, was a monk, theologian and bishop, who reigned as Pope from 14 March 1800 to 20 August 1823.-Early life:...

 appointed Prince Francesco Ruspoli

Ruspoli

The Ruspoli are an old and noble Italian family .The origins of the family can be traced back to the Ruspolis of Florence in the 13th Century and through the family's claimed direct descent from Marius Scotus in the 8th Century and the Marescottis of Bologna...

 as Grand Master.

The Grand Master is a Participating Privy Chamberlain and the sole lay member of the Noble Privy Antechamber, as well as a Participating Privy Chamberlain of the Sword and Cape (made up of laymen, traditionally holding hereditary posts).

Position by date

1808-1829 Prince Francesco Ruspoli, III Prince of Cerveteri

Francesco Ruspoli, 3rd Prince of Cerveteri

Francesco, Principe Ruspoli was the 3rd Prince di Cerveteri, 3rd Marchese di Riano and 8th Conte di Vignanello, son of Alessandro Ruspoli, 2nd Prince of Cerveteri and second wife and first cousin Prudenza dei Conti Marescotti-Capizucchi. His uncle was Bartolomeo Ruspoli...

1829-1842 Prince Alessandro Ruspoli, IV Prince of Cerveteri

Alessandro Ruspoli, 4th Prince of Cerveteri

Alessandro, Principe Ruspoli was the 4th Prince di Cerveteri, 4th Marchese di Riano and 9th Conte di Vignanello, son of Francesco Ruspoli, 3rd Prince of Cerveteri and second wife HIH Leopoldina Gräfin von Khevenhüller-Metsch. His granduncle was Bartolomeo Ruspoli...

1842-1876 Prince Giovanni Ruspoli, V Prince of Cerveteri

Giovanni Nepomucene Ruspoli, 5th Prince of Cerveteri

Giovanni Nepomucene, Principe Ruspoli was the 5th Principe di Cerveteri, 5th Marchese di Riano and 10th Conte di Vignanello, son of Alessandro Ruspoli, 4th Prince of Cerveteri and wife Mariana Gräfin Esterházy de Galántha and ancestor of the Line I of the Principi Ruspoli. His great-uncle was...

1876-1907 Prince Francesco Ruspoli, VI Prince of Cerveteri

Francesco Maria Ruspoli, 6th Prince of Cerveteri

Francesco Maria, Principe Ruspoli was the 6th Principe di Cerveteri, 6th Marchese di Riano and 11th Conte di Vignanello, son of Giovanni Nepomucene Ruspoli, 5th Prince of Cerveteri and wife Barbara dei Principi Massimo. His great-great-uncle was Bartolomeo Ruspoli...

1907-1942 Prince Alessandro Ruspoli, VII Prince of Cerveteri

Alessandro Ruspoli, 7th Prince of Cerveteri

Alessandro, Principe Ruspoli was the 7th Principe di Cerveteri, 7th Marchese di Riano and 12th Conte di Vignanello, son of Francesco Maria Ruspoli, 6th Prince of Cerveteri and wife Egle dei Conti Franchesi. His great-great-great-uncle was Bartolomeo Ruspoli...

 (post was confirmed May 26, 1916)

1942-1989 Prince Francesco Maria V Ruspoli, VIII Prince of Cerveteri

Francesco Ruspoli, 8th Prince of Cerveteri

Francesco, Principe Ruspoli was the 8th Principe di Cerveteri, 8th Marchese di Riano and 13th Conte di Vignanello, son of Alessandro Ruspoli, 7th Prince of Cerveteri and wife Marianita dei Duchi Lante Montefeltro della Rovere. His maternal grandmother was an American heiress from New York City,...

 

1989-2005 Prince Alessandro "Dado" Ruspoli, IX Prince of Cerveteri

Alessandro Ruspoli, 9th Prince of Cerveteri

Alessandro "Dado", Principe Ruspoli was an occasional actor and a playboy and eccentric aristocrat, the 9th Principe di Cerveteri, 9th Marchese di Riano and 14th Conte di Vignanello, who is said to have inspired Federico Fellini into making his famous movie La Dolce Vita...

2005- Prince Francesco Ruspoli, X Prince of Cerveteri

Francesco Ruspoli, 10th Prince of Cerveteri

Francesco, Principe Ruspoli is the current 10th Principe di Cerveteri, 10th Marchese di Riano and 15th Conte di Vignanello, son of Alessandro Ruspoli, 9th Prince of Cerveteri and second wife Nancy de Girard de Charbonnières. He is the first cousin twice removed of Brazilian television and film...