Johann Loesel

A native of Strasbourg, Loesel joined the order at Eichen (Eichhof) near Weißenburg.

In 1440, he was given the rank of great bailiff at Rhodes, an office created for the German tongue of the order in 1428.

The grand bailiff of the German tongue was responsible for the fortifications of Rhodes.

The commandery at Rheinfelden was destroyed in an attack by Hans von Rechberg in 1449.

In 1455, Loesel was in Vienna at the court of Archduke Albert to ask for permission to rebuild the destroyed commandery.

Johann Loesel, shown with the eight-pointed cross on a flag and his habit in his role as mediator in the Old Zürich War in February 1446 (illustration of Gerold Edlibach 's chronicle, c. 1500)