Malta: Grand Masters the Order: 1697-1798
The Grand Master (Magnus Magister) of the Order was elected for life. Upon his death, the statutes (stabilimenta) of the Order prescribed the election of a Lieutenant of the Vacant Magisterium (Locumtenens Magisterii vacantis), who served until the electoral assembly convened to elect a new Grand Master and chose a Praeceptor electionis to preside over the proceedings. Normally, following the proclamation of election, the Grand Master-elect would take the oath of office. If absent, however, the assembly elected a Lieutenant of the Absent Grand Master (Locumtenens absentis Magni Magistri) to serve until the arrival and swearing-in of the elected incumbent.
| Magnus Magister | |
| 7 Feb 1697 - 10 Jan 1720 | Ramon Rabassa de Perellós i de Rocafull
election and swearing-in: 7 Feb 1697; end of tenure: 10 Jan 1720 (died) |
| Locumtenens Magisterii vacantis | |
| 11 Jan 1720 - 13 Jan 1720 | Roberto Solaro [1]
election and swearing-in: 11 Jan 1720; end of tenure: 13 Jan 1720 (election of praeceptor electionis) |
| 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 Magisterii vacantis | |
| 17 Jun 1722 - 19 Jun 1722 | Ramon Despuig i Martínez de Marcilla
election and swearing-in: 17 Jun 1722; end of tenure: 19 Jun 1722 (election of praeceptor electionis) |
| 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 Magisterii vacantis | |
| 14 Dec 1736 - 16 Dec 1736 | Francesco Maria Ferretti
election and swearing-in: 14 Dec 1736; end of tenure: 16 Dec 1736 (election of praeceptor electionis) |
| 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 Magisterii vacantis | |
| 16 Jan 1741 - 18 Jan 1741 | Pietro Francesco Federico Roero di Guarene
election and swearing-in: 16 Jan 1741; end of tenure: 18 Jan 1741 (election of praeceptor electionis) |
| 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 Magisterii vacantis | |
| 26 Jan 1773 - 28 Jan 1773 | Giovanni Battista d'Afflitto
election and swearing-in: 26 Jan 1773; end of tenure: 28 Jan 1773 (election of praeceptor electionis) |
| 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 Magisterii vacantis | |
| 9 Nov 1775 - 12 Nov 1775 | Ferdinando Rosselmini, di Pisa
election and swearing-in: 9 Nov 1775; end of tenure: 12 Nov 1775 (election of praeceptor electionis) |
| 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 Magisterii vacantis | |
| 15 Jul 1797 - 17 Jul 1797 | Pierre de Lombard-Montauroux
election and swearing-in: 15 Jul 1797; end of tenure: 17 Jul 1797 (election of praeceptor electionis) |
| Magnus Magister | |
| 17 Jul 1797 - 12 Jun 1798 | Ferdinand Joseph Hermann Anton Freyherr von Hompesch zu Bollheim [2]
election and swearing-in: 17 Jul 1797; end of tenure: 12 Jun 1798 (transfer of sovereignty over Malta and other territories) |
- Namesake of Roberto Solaro who served as Locumtenens Magisterii vacantis in 1697.
- After the transfer of sovereignty over the islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino to France (12 Jun 1798), Hompesch left Malta on 18 Jun 1798. He 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. Hompesh signed two letters of resignation, both dated 6 Jul 1799, addressed to Emperor Franz II. and Emperor of All Russia Pavel I.