Grand Masters of the Teutonic Knights The grand master ( ; ) is the holder of the supreme office of the Teutonic Order . It is equivalent to the grand master of other military order s and the superior general in non - military Roman Catholic religious order s . " Hochmeister " , literally " high master " , is only used in reference to the Teutonic Order , as " Großmeister " ( " grand master " ) is used in German to refer to the leaders of other orders of knighthood . An early version of the full title in Latin was " Magister Hospitalis Sancte Marie Alemannorum Jerosolimitani " . Since 1216 , the full title " Magister Hospitalis Domus Sancte Marie Theutonicorum Jerosolimitani " ( " Master of the Hospital House of St . Mary of the Germans at Jerusalem " ) was used . Compared to other medieval governments , transfer of power within the Teutonic Knights was run efficiently . Upon the death of a grand master , the vice master called a capitulum of the leading officers of the order . The general chapter would select a twelve - person electoral college composed of seven knights , four sergeants , and one priest . Once a majority - candidate for grand master was chosen , the minority electors would concede to support unanimity . These elections usually provided a succeeding grand master within three months . Candidates for the position of grand master had experience as senior administrators for the order and were usually chosen on merit , not lineage . This changed only after the order had entered a steady decline , with the selection of Frederick of Saxony and Albert of Brandenburg - Ansbach , members of the powerful Wettin and House of Hohenzollern dynasties . When the Teutonic Knights were originally based in Acre in Outremer , the grand masters spent much of their time at the papal and imperial courts . The grand masters were most powerful after the order ' s 13th century conquest of Prussia during the Northern Crusades and the creation of the militarized State of the Teutonic Order ( " Ordenstaat " ) , which lasted until 1525 . After the order ' s capital moved from Venice to Marienburg in 1309 , the grand master ' s power was at its height . He had ultimate control over Prussia , which gave him command over the Prussian commanders . When the general chapter would meet in Elbing , he was able to use this influence to ratify administrative measures he proposed . The grand master also served as the castellan of Marienburg and was aided by the order ' s treasurer . He was also a member of the Hanseatic League , allowing him to receive some of the league ' s custom dues . Grand Master Albert of Brandenburg - Ansbach converted to Lutheranism and turned the Ordenstaat into the secular , Lutheran Duchy of Prussia in 1525 . The Teutonic Order retained its holdings in Germany and autonomous Livonia , however . Due to being limited to their possessions in other parts of Germany , which were led by the " Deutschmeister " , the titles " Hochmeister " and " Deutschmeister " were combined during the reign of Walter von Cronberg , who was appointed by Emperor Charles V . This dual - title lasted until 1923 . For centuries the " Jägerregiment Wien " of the Military of Austria was known as the " Hoch - und Deutschmeister Regiment " . The Teutonic Order is still led by a grand master , although the organization is now a clerical Roman Catholic religious order . List of Grand Masters of the Teutonic Order . Leaders of the early Brotherhood , 1190 – 1198 . The Teutonic Order as a hospice brotherhood in Outremer : Grand Masters of the Order , 1198 – 1525 . The Teutonic Order as a spiritual military order : 1929 – present - day . Time of the Teutonic Order as a clerical Roman Catholic religious order