This is a list of grand masters of the Knights Hospitaller, including its continuation as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta after 1798. It also includes unrecognized "anti-grand masters" and lieutenants or stewards during vacancies.

In lists of the heads of the Order, the title "grand master" is often applied retrospectively to the early heads of the Order. The medieval heads of the Order used the title of custos (guardian) of the hospital. The title magister (master) is used on coins minted in Rhodes, beginning with Foulques de Villaret. The first to use the title grandis magister (grand master) was Jean de Lastic (reigned 1437–1454). Morris (1884), 17–19. Later grand masters in Rhodes used magnus magister (grand master).

In 1607 Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II created the grand master a prince of the Holy Roman Empire (Reichsfürst). This grant was renewed by Emperor Ferdinand II on July 16, 1620.Gothaisches Genealogisches Handbuch des Fürstlichen Häuser, Fürstliche Häuser Band 2 (Marburg: Verlag des Deutschen Adelsarchivs, 2018), 175."Del titolo di 'Altezza' del Gran Maestro dell'Ordine Gerosolimitano", Rivista del Collegio araldico anno I (1903): 271. On March 20, 1607, Pope Paul V granted the grand master the style of His Eminence and precedence at the Court of Rome immediately after the cardinals.

In 1880 the title of Fürst (prince) was recognised in Austria by the Emperor Franz Joseph I.Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstlicher Häuser Band I (Glücksburg: C. A. Starke, 1951), 178.

On February 2, 1929, the title of principe (prince) and the style of Altezza Eminentissima (Most Eminent Highness) were recognised in Italy by King Victor Emmanuel III."Regio Decreto 21 gennaio 1929, n. 61", articolo 51 Gazzetta Ufficiale del Regno d'Italia, Anno 70, Numero 28 (2 febbraio 1929), 526.

The style currently used by the grand master is: ,Constitutional Charter and Code, Title III, Article 12, Sovereign Order of Malta. ,Carta Costituzionale e Codice, Titolo III, Articolo 12, Sovrano Ordine di Malta. ,Charte constitutionelle et Code, Titre III, Art. 12, Ordre Souverain de Malte. ,Verfassung und Codex, Kapitel III, Artikel 12, Souveräner Malteserorden. .Carta Constitucional y Código, Títolo III, Art. 12, Soberano Orden de Malta.

Numbered lists of the heads of the Order were published beginning in the early 17th century, with updated editions appearing throughout the 18th century.Bibliography: Friedrich von Hellwald, Bibliographie méthodique de l'Ordre souv de St. Jean de Jérusalem (1885), 137f. Examples: Abcontrafeiung aller Großmeister des ritterlichen Johanniter-Ordens, Frankfurt 1611. Chevillard, Jacques-Louis, Les noms, qualités, armes et blasons de leurs Eminences Messieurs les Grands-Maistres de l'Ordre de Saint Jean de Jérusalem, dits de Malte, depuis leur origine jusqu'à présent, — Paris (1697, updated 1741). François Clément, Chronologie historique des grands-maîtres de l'Ordre de St. Jean de Jérusalem in: L'art de vérifier les dates, Paris (1770). Cronologia de i Gran-Maestri dello Spedale del Santo Sepolcro, ec. detti di Malta, dedicated to the then-ruling grand master, Ramon Perellos y Roccaful, printed by Domenico de' Rossi in Rome (1709). An updated version of this work was re-published with English translation in 1962. Cronologia De I Gran Maestri Dello Spedale Della Sacra Religione Militare Di S Gio Gerosolimitano E Dell’Ordine Del Santo Sepolcro Oggi Detti Di Malta. (1099 -1962) — Chronology of the Grand Masters of the Hospital of the Sacred Military Religion of St John of Jerusalem and the Order of the Holy Sepulchre now known as the Order of Malta. (1099-1962), translated by Fra John Edward Critien, photography and design by Daniel Cilia, published in collaboration with Heritage Malta (1962), reprinted in 2005, . Horquet, Karl, Chronologie der Grossmeister des Hospitalordens während der Kreuzzüge, Berlin (1880) The etched portraits used in the list below fictional (with attributed coats of arms) are from a French Histoire des Chevaliers Hospitaliers published in 1726: Monsignor l'Abbe de Vertot, Histoire des Chevaliers Hospitaliers de S. Jean de Jerusalem - appellez depuis les Chevaliers de Rhodes, et aujourd'hui les Chevaliers de Malthe (1726). The numbering of masters and grand masters published in the 1719 Statutes of the Order lists Blessed Gerard as founder without number, Raymond du Puy as 1st Master, and Ramón Perellós (the incumbent as of 1719) as 63rd grand master.Volume che contiene gli statuti della Sacra Religione Gerosolimitana, Orden de Malta, per Antonio Scionico, 1719,1–9 (manual continuation of the chronology to Emmanuel de Rohan-Polduc as 69th). The numbering currently used by the Sovereign Military Order of Malta lists Blessed Gerard as 1st master, Raymond du Puy as 2nd master, Ramón Perellós y Rocafull as 64th grand master, and Giacomo Dalla Torre del Tempio di Sanguinetto as 80th grand master.Numbering according to the SMOM (website orderofmalta.int as of 2017) implies the recognition of Riccardo Caracciolo as 33rd Grand Master, and of Paul I of Russia as 72nd Grand Master (r. 1798–1801).

Knights Hospitaller (1099–1310)

Title Name Tenure Notes1Founder and Rector Gerardo Sasso1099/1113–1118/20Order established in 1099 and given papal recognition by Pope Paschal II in his bull Pie postulatio voluntatis in 1113.2GuardianRaymond du Puy1118/20–1158/60Succeeded Gerardo Sasso after Pierre de Barcelona and Boyant Roger served in ad interim capacity. Began the use of the Hospitallers as a military force in the Holy Land and codified rules of conduct for the Order. Introduced the Order's Great Seal.The Order's Great Seal, or leaden bulla, remained in use, with some modifications, from the 12th century until 1798. Until 1278, when Nicholas de Lorgne introduced a separate conventual bulla, there was no distinction between the seal of the Grand Master and that of the order. The general design of the seal featured, on the obverse, the Grand Master kneeling in prayer before the patriarchal cross. This image was usually accompanied with the sacred letters alpha and omega, which referenced the Second Coming of Christ. The central image was surrounded by a legend with the Master's name followed by the official designation CVSTOS. Barbara Packard, Seals of the Grand Masters, Museum of the Order of St John, 14 October 2015.3Auger de Balben1158/60–1162/634Arnaud de Compsc. 1162–1163Historicity uncertain. Arnaud de Comps is today considered by some as a master who never existed, his name having appeared in the chronological lists placed at the top of the statutes, but his rank is still maintained in the lists of the grand masters.5Gilbert of Assailly1163–1169Supported Amalric of Jerusalem in the Crusader invasions of Egypt.6Gastone de Murolsc. 1170–11727Jobert of Syriac. 1172–1177Acted as regent for king Amalric of Jerusalem in 1172. In 1174, opposed Miles of Plancy in favour of Raymond III of Tripoli.8Roger de Moulins1177–1187Killed at the Battle of Cresson. Commander William Borrel was appointed grand master ad interim, and he was killed at the Battle of Hattin, 3 months later.9ProvisorArmengol de Aspa1187–1190Grand master ad interim during the loss of Jerusalem in 1187, headquarters moved to Acre. Included in the canonical list of grand masters compiled in the early modern period. After the capture of Acre and the consolidation of the order, Armengol abdicated, and Garnier de Nablus elected as grand master.10GuardianGarnier de Nablus1190–1192Supported Richard I of England in the Third Crusade.11Geoffroy de Donjon1193–1202After his death, succeeded by Pierre de Mirmande as grand master ad interim.12Afonso de Portugal1202–1206Resigned in 1206.13Geoffroy le Rat1206–1207First structured the Order by nationality, or langues.14Guérin de Montaigu1207–1228Fifth Crusade.15Bertrand de Thessy1228–1231Sixth Crusade.16Guérin Lebrun1231–1236Conflict with Bohemond IV of Antioch.17Bertrand de Comps1236–1240Barons' Crusade. Headquarters moved to Jerusalem.18Pierre de Vieille-Brioude1240–1242Battle of Gaza. Conflict with the Templars.19Guillaume de Chateauneuf1242–1258Fall of Jerusalem in 1244. Headquarters moved to Acre, Krak des Chevaliers, and Margat. Captured at La Forbie in 1244. Jean de Ronay served as grand master ad interim, dying in 1250 at Mansurah. De Chateauneuf was released by the Ayyubids on 17 October 1250.20Hugues de Revel1258–1277Loss of Krak des Chevaliers in 1271.21Nicolas Lorgne1277–1285Loss of Margat in 1285. Upon his death, Grand Commander Jacques de Taxi served as grand master ad interim until his successor Jean de Villiers arrived in the Holy Land.22Jean de Villiers1285–1294Siege of Acre. 23Odon de Pins1294–1296Headquarters moved to Limisso, Cyprus.24Guillaume de Villaret1296–130525Foulques de Villaret1305–1310Nephew of Guillaume de Villaret. Headquarters moved to Rhodes in 1310.

Knights of Rhodes (1310–1530)

Title Picture Name Tenure Notes25MasterFoulques de Villaret1310–1319Headquarters moved from Cyprus in 1310. Resigned at request of Pope John XXII in 1319. Died in 1327.Anti-MasterMaurice de Pagnac1317–131926MasterHélion de Villeneuve1319–134627Dieudonné de Gozon1346–135328Pierre de Corneillan1353–135529Roger de Pins1355–136530Raymond Berengar1365–137431Robert de Juilly (de Juliac)1374–137632Juan Fernández de Heredia1376–1396Appointed by Pope Gregory XI. Later supported Antipope Clement VII. Deposed by Pope Urban VI in 1382. Continued as Anti-Master at Rhodes until his death.33Riccardo Caracciolo 1383–1395Appointed by Pope Urban VI in 1382.34Philibert de Naillac1396–142135Anton Flavian de Ripa1421–143736Grand Master Jean de Lastic1437–1454Siege of Rhodes (1444). First use of the title "Grand Master" (Grandis Magister).37Jacques de Milly1454–146138Piero Raimondo Zacosta1461–146739Giovanni Battista Orsini1467–147640Pierre d'Aubusson1476–1503Siege of Rhodes (1480)41Emery d'Amboise1503–151242Guy de Blanchefort1512–151343Fabrizio del Carretto1513–152144Philippe Villiers de L'IsleAdam1521–1530Siege of Rhodes (1522). Headquarters moved to Malta in 1530.

Knights of Malta (1530–1799)