List of Grand Masters of the Knights Hospitaller
Encyclopedia
This is a list of Grand Masters
of the Knights Hospitaller
and its continuation Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
Grand Master (order)
Grand Master is the typical title of the supreme head of various orders of knighthood, including various military orders, religious orders and civil orders such as the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Orange Order...
of the Knights Hospitaller
Knights Hospitaller
The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
and its continuation Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
Early
- The Blessed Gerard (1099-1120)
- Raymond du Puy de ProvenceRaymond du Puy de ProvenceRaymond du Puy de Provence was a French knight and was the first Grand Master of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem from 1120 to 1160. A member of a noble and ancient family in Dauphiné, Rochefort and Montbrun, he was also a relative of Adhemar of Le Puy, the papal legate during the First Crusade...
(1120-1160) - Auger de BalbenAuger de BalbenFra Auger de Balben was a Frenchman who was the third Grand Master of the Knights Hospitallers from 1160 until his death in 1163.-References:*...
(1160-1163) - Arnaud de Comps (1162-1163)
- Gilbert d'AissaillyGilbert of AssaillyGilbert of Assailly was Grand Master of the Knights Hospitallers from 1162/3 to 1170, when he resigned or was deposed. During his time at the head of the Hospitallers, they purchased the land for Castle Belvoir, at Kawkab al-Hawa, north of Beit She'an, and otherwise expanded their fortifications...
(1163-1170) - Gastone de Murols (c. 1170-1172)
- Jobert of SyriaJobert of SyriaJobert of Syria was the seventh Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller from 1172 to his death, which is assumed from his disappearance from history to have occurred in 1177. He succeeded Cast de Murols , while Cast's predecessor, Gilbert d'Aissailly, who was still living, had been deposed...
(1172-1177) - Roger de MoulinsRoger de MoulinsRoger de Moulins was Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller from 1177 to his death in 1187, succeeding Jobert of Syria.The Hospitallers were rivals of the Knights Templar, but Pope Alexander III persuaded Roger to make a truce with them in 1179...
(1177-1187) - Armengol de Aspa (1187-1190) (Provisor, i.e. Overseer; not formally designated Master)
- Garnier of Nablus (1190-1192)
- Geoffroy de Donjon (1193-1202)
- Afonso de Portugal (1203-1206)
- Geoffrey le Rat (1206-1207)
- Garin de Montaigu (1207-1228)
- Bertrand de Thercy (1228-1231)
- Guerin de Montacute (1231-1236)
- Bertrand de Comps (1236-1240)
- Pierre de Vielle-Bride (1240-1242)
- Guillaume de Chateauneuf (1242-1258)
- Hugues de Revel (1258-1277)
- Nicolas Lorgne (1277-1284)
- Jean de Villiers (1284-1294)
- Odon de PinsOdon de PinsEudes de Pin was the 23rd Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller from 1294 until his death in 1296....
(1294-1296) - Guillaume de VillaretGuillaume de VillaretGuillaume de Villaret , a native of Languedoc-Roussillon was the 24th Grand Master of the Knights Hospitallers, a position he held from 1296 to his death. He was succeeded by his nephew, Foulques de Villaret, whose career he had done much to advance.-Biography:Before his position as Master, he had...
(1296-1305)
On Rhodes
- Foulques de VillaretFoulques de VillaretFoulques de Villaret , a native of Languedoc-Roussillon, France, was the 25th Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller, succeeding his paternal uncle Guillaume de Villaret in 1305. His uncle had done much to foster his early career in the Order...
(1305-1319) (first Grand Master that ruled over Rhodes) - Hélion de VilleneuveHélion de Villeneuvethumb|Hélion de Villeneuve.Hélion de Villeneuve was a French-born Grand Master of the Knights of St. John. He was the brother of Saint Roseline.He died on the island of Rhodes....
(1319-1346) - Dieudonné de GozonDieudonné de GozonDieudonné de Gozon was the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes . He was born to a noble family in Languedoc, France. He carried the nickname Extinctor Draconis which means "The Dragon Slayer" in Latin.-The Dragon of Rhodes:...
(1346-1353) - Pierre de CorneillanPierre de CorneillanPierre de Corneillan was the Grand Prior of Saint-Gilles and 4th Grand Master of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, in Rhodes, from 1353 to 1355...
(1353-1355) - Roger de Pins (1355-1365)
- Raymond Berengar (1365-1374)
- Robert de Juliac (1374-1376)
- Juan Fernández de HerediaJuan Fernández de HerediaJuan Fernández de Heredia was the Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller from 24 September 1377 to his death. His tenure was occupied by the "affair of Achaea." He was also a great patron of the translation and composition of historiographical works in the Aragonese language and a counsellor to...
(1376-1396)- Riccardo CaraccioloRiccardo CaraccioloRiccardo Caracciolo was an Italian nobleman from the Kingdom of Naples, who was a rival Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller.-Biography:Caracciolo was born most likely in Naples, in the first half of the 14th century...
(1383-1395) Rival Grand Master
- Riccardo Caracciolo
- Philibert de NaillacPhilibert de NaillacPhilibert de Naillac was Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller from 1396 until his death in Rhodes in 1421....
(1396-1421) - Antoni Fluvià (1421-1437)
- Jean de Lastic (1437-1454)
- Jacques de MillyJacques de MillyJacques de Milly was the 37th Grand Master of the Order of the Knights Hospitaller . He died in 1461.-References:*http://www.smom-za.org/grandmasters/37.htm...
(1454-1461) - Pere Ramon Sacosta (1461-1467)
- Giovanni Battista OrsiniGiovanni Battista OrsiniGiovanni Battista Orsini, or Jean-Baptiste des Ursins, was 39th Grand Master of the Order of the Knights Hospitaller from 1467 to 1476.-References:*Musée de Cluny** who belonged to the Grand Master Giovanni Battista degli Orsini....
(1467-1476) - Pierre d'AubussonPierre d'AubussonPierre d'Aubusson was a Grand Master of the order of St. John of Jerusalem and a zealous opponent of the Ottoman Empire.Pierre probably joined the Knights of St...
(1476-1503) - Emery d'AmboiseEmery d'AmboiseEmery d'Amboise was Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller from 1503 to 1512. He was the 39th Grand Master. He succeeded to Pierre d'Aubusson....
(1503-1512) - Guy de Blanchefort (1512-1513)
- Fabrizio del Carretto (1513-1521)
On Malta
- Philippe Villiers de L'Isle-AdamPhilippe Villiers de L'Isle-AdamFra' Philippe de Villiers de L'Isle-Adam was a prominent member of the Knights Hospitaller at Rhodes and later Malta. Having risen to the position of Prior of the Langue of Auvergne, he was elected 44th Grand Master of the Order in 1521.He commanded the Order during Sultan Suleiman's long and...
(1521-1534) (last Grand Master that ruled over Rhodes, and the first to rule over Malta) - Piero de PontePiero de PonteFra' Piero del Ponte was the 45th Grand Master of the Order of Malta between 1534 and 1535.He hailed from Asti, in northern Italy and was a descendent of the ancient family of Casal-Gros and Lombriax...
(1534-1535) - Didier de Saint-JailleDidier de Saint-JailleFra' Didier de Saint-Jaille was elected as the 46th Grand Master of the Order of Malta in 1535, but died on his way to Malta in 1536....
(1535-1536) - Juan de Homedes y CosconJuan de Homedes y CosconFra Juan de Homedes y Coscon was a Spanish Knights Hospitaller. He was the 47th Grand Master of the Order of Malta, between 1536 and 1553...
(1536-1553) - Claude de la SengleClaude de la SengleFra' Claude de la Sengle was the 48th Grand Master of the Order of Malta, from 1553 his death. His successor was Fra' Jean Parisot de la Valette....
(1553-1557) - Jean Parisot de la ValetteJean Parisot de la ValetteFra' Jean Parisot de Valette was a French nobleman and 49th Grand Master of the Order of Malta, from 1557 to 1568. He succeeded La Vallette as grandmaster and continued the construction of Valletta...
(1557-1568) - Pierre de MontePierre de MonteFra' Pietro del Monte was an Italian who was the 50th Grand Master of the Order of Malta, from 1568 to 1572. He succeeded La Vallette as grandmaster and continued the construction of Valletta. One of his contributions to the military history of Malta was the building of Del Monte Gate which was...
(1568-1572) - Jean de la CassiereJean de la CassièreFra' Jean l'Evesque de la Cassière was the 51st Grand Master of the Order of Malta, from 1572 to 1581. He commissioned the building of the Conventual Church of the Order in Valletta, Malta, and is buried in the Crypt of St...
(1572-1581)- Mathurin RomegasRomegasMathurin d’Aux de Lescout, called Romegas or Mathurin Romegas , was a scion of the aristocratic Gascony family of d'Aux and a member of the Knights of Saint John...
(1581) Lieutenant 1577-1581 and Rival Grand Master 1581
- Mathurin Romegas
- Hugues Loubenx de VerdalleHugues Loubenx de VerdalleFra' Hugues Loubenx de Verdalle was the 52nd Grand Master of the Order of Malta, between 1581 and 1595. He is mainly remembered for the reconstruction of the hunting lodge at Boschetto which was renamed Verdala Palace in his honour. He is buried in a sarcophagus in the Crypt of the Co-Cathedral of...
(1581-1595) - Martin GarzezMartin GarzezFra Martin Garzes was the 53rd Grand Master of the Order of Malta, between 1595 and 1601. He became the Grand Master of the Order after the death of Hugues Loubenx de Verdalle. His suit of armour is found in the Palace Armoury at Valletta....
(1595-1601) - Alof de WignacourtAlof de WignacourtFra' Alof de Wignacourt was the 54th Grand Master of the Order of Malta, from 1601 to 1622. He was of the langue of France. His reign was notable for the construction of a number of coastal fortifications , and of the aqueduct that brought water from the plateau above Rabat to Valletta...
(1601-1622) - Luís Mendes de VasconcellosLuís Mendes de VasconcellosFra' Luis Mendes de Vasconcellos was the 55th Grand Master of the Order of Malta, between 1622 and 1623.He was born in Évora, Portugal, c. 1542 and died on March 7, 1623 in Malta...
(1622-1623) - Antoine de Paule (1623-1636)
- Jean Baptiste de Lascaris de Castellar (1636-1657)
- Martin de RedinMartin de RedinFra' Martin de Redin was a Spanish military and politician, and the 58th Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta.He became Grand Prior of the Order of Malta of Navarra in 1641, and Viceroy of Sicily in 1656....
(1657-1660) - Annet de Clermont-GessantAnnet de Clermont-GessantFra' Annet de Clermot-Gessant was the 59th Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta. He only reigned as Grandmaster of the Order in 1660. He was buried in the Chapel of Auvergne in St. John's Co-Cathedral.-External links:*...
(1660) - Raphael Cotoner (1660-1663)
- Nicolau Cotoner (1663-1680)
- Gregorio CarafaGregorio CarafaFra' Gregorio Carafa was the 62th Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta from 1680 to 1690. Italian by birth, he was elected Grand Master after the death of Nicolas Cotoner. He is buried in the Italian Chapel in the Co-Cathedral of St. John, Valletta, Malta.-External links:*...
(1680-1690) - Adrien de WignacourtAdrien de WignacourtFra' Adrienne de Wignacourt was the 63rd Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta from 1690 to 1697. He was the nephew of Fra Alof de Wignacourt. He was elected Grand Master after the death of Fra Gregorio Carafa in 1690. He died in 1697 and was succeeded by Fra Ramon Perellos.-External...
(1690-1697) - Ramon Perellos y RoccafulRamon Perellos y RoccafulFra' Ramon Perellos de Rocaful was the 64th Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta between 1697 and 1720. He lived in Malta in 1653, as soon as he entered the order. In 1658 he joined the board of the Master and in 1697 was elected Grand Master...
(1697-1720) - Marc'Antonio ZondadariMarc'Antonio ZondadariFra' Marc'Antonio Zondadari, from Siena, was the 65th Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta, from 1720, after the death of Fra Ramon Perellos de Roccaful, till 1722. Although his reign only lasted for two years, he was popular with the Maltese...
(1720-1722) - António Manoel de VilhenaAntónio Manoel de VilhenaDom Fra' António Manoel de Vilhena was the 66th Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta from 19 June 1722 to his death in 1736....
(1722-1736) - Ramon DespuigRamon DespuigFra' Ramon Despuig was the 67th Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta. He was elected to the position in 1736 and served for 5 years until his death. He was succeeded by Manuel Pinto da Fonseca. During his reign, the legislation the small state was renewed and the Cathedral of St. John ...
(1736-1741) - Manuel Pinto da Fonseca (1741-1773)
- Francisco Ximenes de TexadaFrancisco Ximenes de TexadaFrancisco Ximenes de Texada was the 69th Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta from 1773 to 1775. He was regarded by many as highly unpopular and his reign was marked by a revolt of the priests.-External links:* *...
(1773-1775) - Emmanuel de Rohan-PolducEmmanuel de Rohan-PolducFra' Sir Emmanuel de Rohan-Polduc was a member of the wealthy and influential Rohan family of France, and 70th Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta from 1775 to 1797....
(1775-1797) - Ferdinand von Hompesch zu BolheimFerdinand von Hompesch zu BolheimFerdinand von Hompesch zu Bolheim was the 71st Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta, the first German to be elected to the office....
(1797-1799) (last Grand Master that ruled over Malta)
After expulsion from Malta
- Paul I of RussiaPaul I of RussiaPaul I was the Emperor of Russia between 1796 and 1801. He also was the 72nd Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta .-Childhood:...
(1798-1801) de facto- Count Nikolay SaltykovNikolay SaltykovCount Nikolay Ivanovich Saltykov , a member of the Saltykov royal family, was a Russian Field Marshal and imperial courtier....
(1801-1803) Lieutenant de facto
- Count Nikolay Saltykov
- Giovanni Battista TommasiGiovanni Battista TommasiFrà Giovanni Battista Tommasi was an Italian nobleman and 73rd Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta.-1731-1798:...
(1803-1805)- Innico Maria Guevara-SuardoInnico Maria Guevara-SuardoInnico Maria Guevara-Suardo was a member and leader of the Knights Hospitaller .-Life:...
(1805-1814) Lieutenant - André Di Giovanni (1814-1821) Lieutenant
- Antoine Busca (1821-1834) Lieutenant
- Carlo CandidaCarlo CandidaCarlo Candida was a lieutenant of the Sovereign Order of Malta from 1834 to his death, succeeding Antonio Busca.-Life:...
(1834-1845) Lieutenant - Philippe di Colloredo-Mels (1845-1864) Lieutenant
- Alessandro Borgia (1865-1871) Lieutenant
- Giovanni Battista Ceschi a Santa CroceGiovanni Battista Ceschi a Santa CroceFra' Giovanni Battista Ceschi a Santa Croce was a leader of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, succeeding Alessandro Borgia as its lieutenant in 1871, and then being chosen as the 74th Prince and Grand Master in 1879, a decision approved by pope Leo XIII on 28 March that year...
(1871-1879) Lieutenant
- Innico Maria Guevara-Suardo
- Giovanni Battista Ceschi a Santa CroceGiovanni Battista Ceschi a Santa CroceFra' Giovanni Battista Ceschi a Santa Croce was a leader of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, succeeding Alessandro Borgia as its lieutenant in 1871, and then being chosen as the 74th Prince and Grand Master in 1879, a decision approved by pope Leo XIII on 28 March that year...
(1879-1905) - Galeazzo von Thun und HohensteinGaleazzo von Thun und HohensteinFra' Galeas von Thun und Hohenstein was the 75th Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta from 1905 to 1931...
(1905-1931) - Ludovico Chigi Albani della RovereLudovico Chigi Albani della RovereFra' Ludovico Chigi Albani della Rovere was the 76th Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta from 1931 to 1951....
(1931-1951)- Antonio Hercolani-Fava-Simonetti (1951-1955) Lieutenant
- Ernesto Paternó Castello di CarcaciErnesto Paternó Castello di CarcaciErnesto Paternò Castello di Carcaci was Lieutenant General of the Sovereign Order of Malta from 1955 to 1962 . In 1962 Carcaci retired from the post on the election of Angelo de Mojana di Cologna as Grand Master....
(1955-1962) Lieutenant
- Angelo de Mojana di ColognaAngelo de Mojana di ColognaFra' Angelo de Mojana di Cologna was the 77th Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta from 1962 to 1988...
(1962-1988)- Jean Charles PallaviciniJean Charles PallaviciniJean Charles or Giancarlo Pallavicini was a member of the Sovereign Order of Malta, serving as its Lieutenant during 1988 in the interim between the Grand Masterships of Angelo de Mojana di Cologna and Andrew Bertie....
(1988) Lieutenant
- Jean Charles Pallavicini
- Andrew Bertie (1988-2008)
- Giacomo dalla Torre del Tempio di SanguinettoGiacomo dalla Torre del Tempio di SanguinettoGiacomo Dalla Torre del Tempio di Sanguinetto is a member of the Sovereign Order of Malta. In 2008 he served as its Lieutenant General in the interim between the Grand Masterships of Andrew Bertie and Matthew Festing-Sources:...
(2008) Lieutenant ad interim
- Giacomo dalla Torre del Tempio di Sanguinetto
- Matthew FestingMatthew Festing-Titles and style:The full title of Fra' Matthew is: His Most Eminent Highness Fra' Matthew Festing, Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St...
(2008-)