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Grand Master (Latin:Magister Magnus;German:Großmeister orGerman:Hochmeister (literally 'High Master');French:Grand Maître;Spanish:Gran Maestre;Portuguese:Grão-Mestre;Swedish:Stormästare) is atitle of the supreme head of variousorders, includingchivalric orders such asmilitary orders anddynastic orders of knighthood.
The title also occurs in moderncivilfraternal orders such as theFreemasons, theOdd Fellows, and various otherfraternities. Additionally, numerous modernself-styled orders attempt to imitate habits of the former bodies.
In medieval military orders such as theKnights Templar or theLivonian Brothers of the Sword, the Grand Master was the formal and executive head of a military andfeudal hierarchy, which can be considered a "state within the state", especially in thecrusader contextsensu lato, notably aimed at theHoly Land orpagan territories inEastern Europe, as well as thereconquista in theIberian Peninsula.
If an order is granted statehood and thus widely consideredsovereign, the Grand Master is also itsHead of State.
Except the modern continuation of the organisations of medieval foundation, the title ofGrand Master has been used by the heads ofGrand Lodges ofFreemasons since 1717, and byOdd Fellows since the 18th century.
The title of Grand Master is also used by various other fraternities, including academic ones associated withuniversities. The national leader of theKappa Sigma fraternity goes by the title "Worthy Grand Master".[1] The heads of local chapters use the title of "Grand Master".
Asovereignmonarch often holds the title of Grand Master of the highest honorary dynastic orders of knighthood, or may confer or entrust it upon another person including aprince of the royal family, regularly theheir to the throne, who in other orders may hold another high rank/title.
The term "Sovereign" is generally used in place of "Grand Master" for the supreme head of various orders in Britain and other Commonwealth nations. In theSovereign Military Order of Malta, the Grand Master is styled "Sovereign", e.g.Sovereign Grand Master, due to its status as an internationally independentsovereign entity.
In republican nations, a president may also serve as the grand master of the various state orders such as in France, where the president is the grand master of theLegion of Honour,[2] and Portugal.[3]
InFreemasonry, the Grand Master is an office given to a Freemason elected to oversee aMasonic jurisdiction.
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