Order of Malta: Grand Masters and Locum Tenentes: 1697-1798The beginning of each term of office corresponds to the date when the Grand Master took the oath of office following his election. During the interregna, a Locumtenens vacantis Magistratus exercised the functions of Grand Master. The title of the Grand Master in full: Dei Gratia Sacrae Domus Hospitalis Sancti Ioannis Hierosolymitani et militaris Ordinis Sancti Sepulchri Dominici Magister humilis pauperumque Iesu Christi custos. The phrase et militaris Ordinis Sancti Sepulchri Dominici ceased to be effective 4 Nov 1497, but was not deleted. |
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| Magnus Magister | |
| 7 Feb 1697 - 10 Jan 1720 | Ramon Rabassa de Perellós i de Rocafull, [dels senyors de Benetússer i Barons de Dosaigües]
election and swearing-in: 7 Feb 1697; end of tenure: 10 Jan 1720 (died) |
| Locumtenens vacantis Magistratus | |
| 11? Jan 1720 - 13 Jan 1720 | Ramon Despuig i Martínez de Marcilla
election: 11? Jan 1720; end of tenure: 13 Jan 1720 (election of Grand Master Zondadari) |
| Magnus Magister | |
| 13 Jan 1720 - 16 Jun 1722 | Marc'Antonio di Ansano Zondadari
election and swearing-in: 13 Jan 1720; end of tenure: 16 Jun 1722 (died) |
| Locumtenens vacantis Magistratus | |
| 17? Jun 1722 - 19 Jun 1722 | Ramon Despuig i Martínez de Marcilla
election: 17? Jun 1722; end of tenure: 19 Jun 1722 (election of Grand Master Vilhena) |
| Magnus Magister | |
| 19 Jun 1722 - 12 Dec 1736 | António Manuel de Vilhena
election and swearing-in: 19 Jun 1722; end of tenure: 12 Dec 1736 (died) |
| Locumtenens vacantis Magistratus | |
| 13? Dec 1736 - 16 Dec 1736 | Ramon Despuig i Martínez de Marcilla
election: 13? Dec 1736; end of tenure: 16 Dec 1736 (election of Grand Master [himself]) |
| Magnus Magister | |
| 16 Dec 1736 - 15 Jan 1741 | Ramon Despuig i Martínez de Marcilla
election and swearing-in: 16 Dec 1736; end of tenure: 15 Jan 1741 (died) |
| Locumtenens vacantis Magistratus | |
| 16 Jan 1741 - 18 Jan 1741 | Pietro Francesco Federico Roero di Guarene
election: 16 Jan 1741; end of tenure: 18 Jan 1741 (election of Grand Master Pinto) |
| Magnus Magister | |
| 18 Jan 1741 - 24 Jan 1773 | Manuel Pinto da Fonseca
election and swearing-in: 18 Jan 1741; end of tenure: 24 Jan 1773 (died) |
| Locumtenens vacantis Magistratus | |
| 26 Jan 1773 - 28 Jan 1773 | Giovanni Battista d'Afflitto
election: 26 Jan 1773; end of tenure: 28 Jan 1773 (election of Grand Master Ximénez) |
| Magnus Magister | |
| 28 Jan 1773 - 9 Nov 1775 | Francisco Antonio Ximénez de Tejada y Eslava
election and swearing-in: 28 Jan 1773; end of tenure: 9 Nov 1775 (died) |
| Locumtenens vacantis Magistratus | |
| 9 Nov 1775 - 12 Nov 1775 | Ferdinando Rosselmini, di Pisa
election: 9 Nov 1775; end of tenure: 12 Nov 1775 (election of Grand Master Rohan) |
| Magnus Magister | |
| 12 Nov 1775 - 13 Jul 1797 | François-Marie-des-Neiges-Emmanuel de Rohan
election and swearing-in: 12 Nov 1775; end of tenure: 13 Jul 1797 (died) |
| Locumtenens vacantis Magistratus | |
| 15 Jul 1797 - 17 Jul 1797 | Pierre de Lombard-Montauroux
election: 15 Jul 1797; end of tenure: 17 Jul 1797 (election of Grand Master Hompesch) |
| Magnus Magister | |
| 17 Jul 1797 - 12 Jun 1798 | Ferdinand Joseph Hermann Anton Freyherr von Hompesch zu Bollheim [1]
election and swearing-in: 17 Jul 1797; end of tenure: 12 Jun 1798 (transfer of sovereignty over Malta and other territories) |
- After the transfer of the sovereignty over the islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino to France (12 Jun 1798), Hompesch left Malta on 17 Jun 1798 and was deposed at a meeting of the Russian Grand Priory attended by the knights from other priories in St. Petersburg, Russia, on 15/26 Aug 1798.
Last update: 08 May 2025