Ludwig Hoffmann-Rumerstein

Fra' Ludwig Hoffmann-Rumerstein
Fra' Ludwig Hoffmann-Rumerstein
	Hoffmann-Rumerstein in 2018
Grand Commander of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta
	In office; 31 May 2014 – 1 May 2019
Monarchs	Matthew Festing; Giacomo dalla Torre
Preceded by	Carlo d'Ippolito di Sant'Ippolito
Succeeded by	Ruy Gonçalo do Valle Peixoto de Villas Boas
	In office; 1994–2004
Monarch	Andrew Bertie
Preceded by	Matthew Festing
Succeeded by	Giacomo dalla Torre
Lieutenant ad interim of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta
	In office; 28 January 2017 – 30 April 2017
Preceded by	Matthew Festing
Succeeded by	Giacomo dalla Torre
Personal details
Born	Ludwig Franz Xaver Irenäus Joseph Peter Raimund Maria Hoffmann von Rumerstein; 21 January 1937; Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria
Died	13 December 2022 (aged 85); Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria
Education	University of Innsbruck; Pontifical Gregorian University

Fra' Ludwig Hoffmann von Rumerstein (German: [ˈluːtvɪç hɔfman fɔn ˈruːmɐʃtaɪn]; 21 January 1937 – 13 December 2022) was a Grand Commander of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. He was acting head of the order for some months in 2017.

Early life

Hoffmann-Rumerstein was the son of Ernst Hoffmann von Rumerstein and of his wife, Baroness Pia Riccabona von Reichenfels.^[1] He was baptised with the names Ludwig Franz Xaver Irenäus Joseph Peter Raimund Maria.^[1]

Hoffmann-Rumerstein studied law at the University of Innsbruck graduating in 1962.^[2] He then studied philosophy at the Pontifical Gregorian University. After he completed his military service, he practised as a lawyer in Innsbruck from 1970 to 2002.^[2]

Order of Malta

Hoffmann-Rumerstein’s work with the Sovereign Military Order of Malta began as a volunteer. In 1968, he co-founded the Order’s Austrian volunteer corps in North Tyrol. In 1970, he joined the Order as a Knight of Honour and Devotion. From 1971 to 1979 he led the Order’s group of volunteers in Innsbruck. From 1979 to 1986 he was a member of the board of directors of the Malteser Hospitaldienst Austria (de).

In 1984, Hoffmann-Rumerstein took vows as a Knight of Justice. That same year he was elected a member of the Order’s Sovereign Council. He served as Grand Commander of the Order from 1994 to 2004. He was re-elected Grand Commander in 2014.^[3]

From the end of January until the end of April 2017, Hoffmann-Rumerstein was the acting head of the Order, as Lieutenant ad interim, after the resignation of Fra' Matthew Festing as Prince and Grand Master.^[4]^[5] He retained this office until 29 April 2017, when the Complete Council of State elected Fra' Giacomo dalla Torre del Tempio di Sanguinetto as Lieutenant of the Grand Master for a period of one year.

Personal life and death

Hoffmann-Rumerstein died in Innsbruck, Tyrol on 13 December 2022, at the age of 85.^[6]

Honours

1989: Grand Decoration of Honour in Silver with Sash of the Republic of Austria
1990: Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
1994: Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Sash of the Republic of Austria
1994: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
1998: Order of the White Double Cross, 2nd Class, of the Republic of Slovakia
1999: Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas
2009: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary
2000: Honorary Companion with Breast Star of the National Order of Merit (Malta)
2004: Decoration of Honour of the State of Tyrol
2016: Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Romania
Grand Cross of the Order of Pope Pius IX
Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour

References

^ ^a ^b Genealogische Handbuch des Adels, Adelige Häuser B, 2002.
^ ^a ^b Grand Commander
^ "The Chapter General of the Sovereign Order of Malta was held in Rome". Order of Malta. 31 May 2014. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
^ "The Grand Master Fra' Matthew Festing resigns from office". Order of Malta. 28 January 2017. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
^ "Article 17. Extraordinary Government" (PDF). Constitutional Charter: 29–30. 27 June 1961. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
^ "Fra' Ludwig Hoffmann von Rumerstein dies in Innsbruck". Order of Malta. 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.

Political offices
Preceded by Matthew Festing	Grand Commander of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta 1994–2004	Succeeded by Giacomo dalla Torre
Preceded by Carlo d'Ippolito di Sant'Ippolito	Grand Commander of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta 2014–2019	Succeeded by Ruy de Villas Boas
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Matthew Festing	Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta Acting 2017	Succeeded by Giacomo dalla Torre

[ghda-1] Genealogische Handbuch des Adels, Adelige Häuser B, 2002.

[gcommander-2] Grand Commander

[3] "The Chapter General of the Sovereign Order of Malta was held in Rome". Order of Malta. 31 May 2014. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2020.

[4] "The Grand Master Fra' Matthew Festing resigns from office". Order of Malta. 28 January 2017. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2020.

[5] "Article 17. Extraordinary Government" (PDF). Constitutional Charter: 29–30. 27 June 1961. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2020.

[6] "Fra' Ludwig Hoffmann von Rumerstein dies in Innsbruck". Order of Malta. 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.

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