The Teutonic Order was created. Knights of the Teutonic Order: the history of the creation of the order, the vestments of the knights, description, faith, symbols, campaigns, victories and defeats. Jan Matejko. Tycoons

The name "Teutonic Order" of the Russians first of all makes us remember the events of 1242, when the German knights, faced with a squad Prince Alexander Nevsky and having been defeated, they went to the bottom of Lake Peipsi under the weight of their own armor.

In fact, the Battle on the Ice is just a small fragment of the vast history of the knightly order, which existed for three centuries as a full-fledged European state.

Hospital under the walls of Acre

The history of the Teutonic Order began in 1189, when German Emperor Frederick Barbarossa with his army took part in the Third Crusade.

At the end of August 1189, the army of the German emperor laid siege to the Syrian fortress of Acre, an ancient city founded around the middle of the 2nd millennium BC.

During the siege, merchants from Lübeck and Bremen organized a field hospital for the wounded crusaders. King of Jerusalem Guy de Lusignan signed a charter by which the hospital was given the right to organize a hospice in Acre after the city was taken.

Pope Clement III with his bull of February 6, 1191, he proclaimed the hospital as "The Teutonic Brotherhood of the Church of St. Mary of Jerusalem."

On July 13, 1191, after an almost two-year siege, Acre was taken, and the field hospital moved to the city, already existing as a hospital monastery.

The position of the "liberators of the Holy Sepulcher" in the Middle East has always been precarious. That is why military functions were assigned, among other things, to hospital monasteries. In 1193, the same Guy de Lusignan entrusted the hospital with the protection and defense of one of the fortifications of Acre in the event of an enemy attack.

"Help - Protect - Heal"

On March 5, 1196, the ceremony of transforming the hospital into a spiritual order took place in the temple of Acre. At the end of the same year Pope Celestine publishes a bull, which recognizes the existence of the monastic Order of St. Mary of Germany of Jerusalem.

The final transformation of the hospital into a military monastic order is completed in 1199, when Pope Innocent III reinforces this status with his bull.

The tasks of the order are proclaimed:

protection of the German knights;
treatment of the wounded and sick crusaders;
fight against the enemies of the Catholic Church.

The motto of the order: "Help - Protect - Heal."

From that moment on, the order very quickly acquires its own regular army, and military functions in its activities become the main ones.

Membership in the order, which is a military-religious community, becomes extremely prestigious among European feudal lords. And although the residence of the head of the order (grandmaster) is located in Acre, his possessions are also growing rapidly in Europe - due to the lands donated by the monarchs, as well as the possessions of the feudal lords who become members of the order.

The Teutonic Order, whose members were supposed to be knights of German blood, which, however, was not always respected, very quickly gained strength, standing on a par with the previously created orders of the Templars and Hospitallers.

The charters of the order divided the members into two classes: knights and priests, who were required to take three monastic vows - poverty, celibacy and obedience, as well as promise to help the sick and fight unbelievers.

Unlike knights, who first had to prove their noble lineage, priests were exempt from this obligation. Their function consisted in the administration of religious services, the communion of knights and the sick in hospitals, and participation in wars as physicians.

The knights lived together, slept in bedrooms on simple beds, ate together in the dining room, had a limited amount of money. They worked daily, training for battle, maintaining their equipment and working with their horses.

The head of the order, like its other leaders, was elected, and his rights were limited by the knights - members of the order.

Conquest of Prussia

Fourth Grand Master of the Teutonic Order Hermann von Salza He was a man with a remarkable analytical mind. A few decades before the final collapse of the crusader state in the Middle East, he realized that the Teutonic Order had no future in these parts, and began to make efforts to transfer its main activity to Europe.

Several attempts to gain a foothold in Europe were unsuccessful, but the stubborn grandmaster was persistent and brought his plan to the end.

In 1217 Pope Honorius III a campaign was announced against the Prussian pagans who seized the lands Polish prince Konrad I of Mazovia.

The Teutonic Knights, starting a war against the Prussian pagans in 1232, used the following tactics - they defeated the Prussian tribal unions opposing them one by one, while the defeated were used as allies in subsequent wars.

On the occupied lands, the order founded its castles, gaining a foothold in these territories "forever". In 1255, Königsberg Castle was founded on the lands of the Prussians.

The Prussian nobility, being under the rule of the knights and becoming their allies, gradually adopted Christianity. Gradually, the Germanization of the Prussian tribes also took place - the German language, without which a successful career in the state of the Teutonic Order was impossible, displaced the Prussian dialects.

On the basis of the edict of the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and the bull of the Pope, Prussia became the possession of the Teutonic Order. So the military monastic order, absorbing and incorporating similar smaller formations, turned into a whole state.

Onslaught to the East

At the turn of the 1230s - 1240s, the Teutonic Order made an attempt to expand the boundaries of its possessions to the East by conquering the weakened Russian lands that had just survived the invasion of Batu. The knights of the order intend to bring the local population, professing Orthodoxy, under the spiritual authority of Rome.

From 1240 to 1242 the knights of the Teutonic Order carried out territorial expansion in the Pskov and Novgorod lands, capturing Izborsk and Pskov. These territorial encroachments culminated in the Battle of Lake Peipsi on April 5, 1242, the results of which are well known to all.

Despite this setback, the order's influence continued to grow. The Teutonic Order waged a desperate struggle for territories with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which controlled most of the Russian lands in the 13th-14th centuries. In the XIV century, the order made more than a hundred trips to Lithuania, trying to subordinate it to its influence.

Such activity of the Teutonic Order in Europe is explained by the fact that its activities in the Middle East ended in May 1291, after the capture of Acre by the army of the Sultan of Egypt.

In 1386, the Lithuanian prince Jagiello converted to Catholicism and became engaged to the heir to the Polish throne, which led to the creation of a personal union - the union of two states (Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania) under the rule of one crown. Subsequently, a personal union will lead to the creation of a full-fledged united state - the Commonwealth.

Fatal Grunwald

For the Teutonic Order, which claimed Lithuanian lands, the Polish-Lithuanian union was a very serious threat.

In 1409, a war broke out between the order and the new state association, the cause of which was old grievances. Poland and Lithuania, taking advantage of the uprising in the Zhemoytsky land, which previously belonged to the Principality of Lithuania, decided to try to recapture the territories previously captured by the knights of the order.

The apotheosis of this war was the Battle of Grunwald, which took place on July 15, 1410. This battle, which became one of the largest and most important in the history of medieval Europe, ended with the defeat of the troops of the Teutonic Order. An important role in this battle was played by the regiments of the Russian lands that were part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which showed courage and steadfastness at critical moments.

The defeat for the Teutonic Order turned out to be crushing: out of a 25,000-strong army, 8,000 were killed, about 14,000 were captured. Among those killed were almost the entire military leadership of the order, as well as its knightly elite.

And although the war as a whole ended in 1411 on relatively mild terms for the Teutonic Order, its power was undermined. The destruction of his invincible army almost nullified his influence.

"Master-stripped"

Huge material losses, the need to pay indemnity and ransom the captured knights forced the Teutonic Order to introduce new taxes in the controlled territories, which caused outrage among the population. In March 1440, representatives of the petty nobility and Hanseatic cities from the territory of the Order State organized the Prussian Confederation in order to throw off the dominance of the Teutonic Knights. In February 1454, the Prussian Confederation appealed to Polish King Casimir IV asking for support for their revolution and the inclusion of Prussia in Poland. The king agreed, which was the reason for the beginning of the Thirteen Years' War, also known as the "War of the cities". The result of this war was the transformation of the western part of the former possessions of the order into the Polish province of Royal Prussia, and the remaining eastern part of the possessions of the order became a vassal of the Polish monarch.

The decline of the great history of the Teutonic Order stretched out for several more decades and was very deplorable for the keepers of its traditions. The last grandmaster, or Grand Master of the Teutonic Order Albrecht Hohenzollern, disappointed in his ideals, in 1525 he switched from Catholicism to Lutheranism, resigned as head of the order, announcing the secularization of the Prussian lands - the main territory that belonged to the Teutonic Order.

This decision was made with the approval of the king of Poland, whose vassal was the master of the order.

In the former territories, the Duchy of Prussia was formed, headed by a "defrocked master". This duchy became the first state in Europe whose religion became Protestant, despite the fact that it remained in vassal dependence on Catholic Poland.

Sisters instead of brothers

The Teutonic Order, which had lost its influence, nevertheless retained some territories under control and officially existed until 1809, when it was disbanded during the Napoleonic wars.

The order was revived in 1834 in Austria with the support of Emperor Franz I. There was no more talk of military and political ambitions - the Teutonic Order returned to helping the sick and charitable activities.

The military traditions of the order were carefully preserved in Prussia, where the Order of the Iron Cross was even established, which directly goes back to the symbolism of the Teutons.

After the Nazis came to power in Germany, the praise of the military history of the order began, primarily its attempts to conquer lands in eastern Europe. At the same time, persecution began on the priests of the real Teutonic Order, who were focused on charity.

After the end of the Second World War, the charitable activities of the order were continued. His current residence is located in Vienna. The residence contains unique historical archives on the activities of the Teutonic Order, which had a huge impact on the history of Europe.

Today, the Teutonic Order serves several hospitals and nursing homes in Austria and Germany. An interesting moment - the basis of the modern Teutonic Order, are not brothers, but sisters.

During the 3rd crusade, when Acre was besieged by the knights, merchants from Lübeck and Bremen founded a field hospital. Duke Frederick of Swabia transformed the hospital into a spiritual order, headed by the chaplain Konrad. The order was subordinate to the local bishop and was a branch of the Order of St. John. On February 6, 1191, Pope Clement III approved the founding of the Order. December 21, 1196 The order came under the patronage of Pope Celestine III under the name "Hospital of St. Mary of the Germans in Jerusalem."

On March 5, 1196, the ceremony of reorganization of the Order into a spiritual-knightly Order took place in the temple of Acre. The ceremony was attended by the masters of the Hospitallers and the Templars, as well as the secular and clergy of Jerusalem. Pope Innocent III confirmed this event with a bull dated February 19, 1199, and defined the tasks of the Order: the protection of the German knights, the treatment of the sick, the fight against the enemies of the Catholic Church. The order was subject to the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor. The official name of the order is the "Ordo domus Sanctae Mariae Teutonicorum in Jerusalem" (Ordo domus Sanctae Mariae Teutonicorum in Jerusalem).

In the 13th century The Teutonic Order fought with the Muslims in Palestine. With the support of the Pope and the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, the Order acquired a number of lands in Asia Minor, Southern Europe, and especially a lot in Germany. In 1211 the Order was invited to Hungary to defend Transylvania from the Polovtsians. In 1224 - 1225, due to the desire to create their own separate state on the territory of Hungary, the Order was expelled by the Hungarian king Endre II. Under the agreements of 1226-1230 with the Prince of Mazov Konrad, the Order received the Kulm (Chelm) and Dobzhin (Dobryn) lands and the right to expand its influence on neighboring lands. The right to govern the occupied Lithuanian and Prussian lands was confirmed in 1234 by Pope Gregory IX and in 1226, 1245, 1337 by Emperors Frederick II and Ludwig IV. In 1230, the first units of the Order, 100 knights under the command of master Hermann von Balk, built the Neshavu castle on Kulm land and began to attack the Prussians. From the 4th decade of the 13th c. The order was the main organizer and executor of the Crusades in the Eastern Baltic, declared by the Pope. In 1237, after the Battle of Saul, the Order of the Swordbearers was attached to the order, reorganized into the Livonian Order. Until 1283, with the help of German, Polish and other feudal lords, the Order seized the lands of the Prussians, Jotvings, and Western Lithuanians and occupied territories as far as the Neman. The Prussian uprisings of 1242 - 1249, 1260 - 1274 were suppressed. In the occupied territories in the 13th century. a German theocratic feudal state was formed. The capital of the Order was Acre until it was moved to Venice in 1291. The capital and residence of the grandmaster in 1309 - 1466 was the city of Marienburg. 2/3 of the lands were divided into commanders, 1/3 were under the authority of the bishops of Kulm, Pamed, Semb and Varma. In 1231 - 1242 40 stone castles were built. Near the castles (Elbing, Koenigsberg, Kulm, Thorn) German cities were formed - members of the Hansa.

Since 1283, under the pretext of spreading Christianity, the Order began to attack Lithuania. He sought to seize Samogitia and the lands near the Neman in order to connect Prussia and Livonia. The strongholds of the Order's aggression were the castles of Ragnit, Christmemel, Bayerburg, Marienburg and Jurgenburg located near the Neman. Velena, Kaunas and Grodno were the centers of the Lithuanian defense. Until the beginning of the 14th century. both sides organized small attacks on each other. The largest battles were the Battle of Medinink (1320) and the defense of Pilėnai (1336). The devastated Lithuanian lands became the so-called. wild. The Order also attacked Poland. In 1308 - 1309, East Pomerania with Danzig was captured, 1329 - Dobzhinsky lands, 1332 - Kuyavia. In 1328 the Livonian Order gave the Teutonic Order Memel and its environs. In 1343, under the Treaty of Kalisz, the order returned the occupied lands to Poland (except for Pomerania) and concentrated all its forces on the fight against Lithuania. In 1346 the Order acquired Northern Estonia from Denmark and transferred it to the Livonian Order.

The Order reached its greatest strength in the middle of the 14th century. during the reign of Winrich von Kniprode (1351 - 1382). The order made about 70 major campaigns to Lithuania from Prussia and about 30 from Livonia. In 1362, his army destroyed the Kaunas castle, and in 1365 for the first time attacked the capital of Lithuania, Vilnius. In 1348 a big battle took place at Streva. In 1360 - 1380 major campaigns against Lithuania were made every year. The Lithuanian army made about 40 retaliatory campaigns in 1345 - 1377, one of them ended in the battle of Rudava (1370). After the death of Algirdas (1377), the Order fomented a war between his heir Jogaila and Kestutis with his son Vytautas (Vytautas) for the princely throne. Supporting either Vytautas or Jogaila, the Order attacked Lithuania especially strongly in 1383-1394, and in 1390 invaded Vilnius. For peace with the Order in 1382 Jogaila and in 1384 Vytautas renounced Western Lithuania and Zanemanya. The order strengthened even more, occupying the island of Gotland in 1398 (until 1411) and in 1402 - 1455 New Mark. Against the aggression of the Order, Lithuania and Poland in 1385 concluded the Treaty of Krevo, which changed the balance of power in the region not in favor of the Order. After the baptism in 1387 Lithuania (Aukštaitija) the Order lost the formal basis for attacking Lithuania. According to the Salina Treaty of 1398, Vytautas gave the Order land up to Nevėžys. In 1401, the rebellious Samogitians expelled the German knights from their lands, and the Order again began to attack Lithuania. In 1403, Pope Banifacius IX forbade the Order to fight with Lithuania. Since 1404, under the Treaty of Rationz, the Order, together with Poland and Lithuania, ruled Samogitia. In 1409 the Samogitians revolted. The uprising served as a pretext for a new decisive war (1409 - 1410) with Lithuania and Poland. The Order lost the so-called. the Great War in the Battle of Grunwald; The Peace of Torun and the Peace of Meln obliged the Order to return Samogitia and part of the lands of the Jotvings (Zanemanye) to Lithuania.

Unsuccessful wars (with Lithuania and Poland in 1414, 1422, with Poland and the Czech Republic in 1431 - 1433) provoked a political and economic crisis, aggravated contradictions between members of the Order, on the one hand, secular feudal lords and townspeople, who were dissatisfied with increased taxes and wanted to participate in government , with another. In 1440, the Prussian Union was formed - an organization of secular knights and townspeople, which fought against the power of the Order. In February 1454, the union organized an uprising and announced that all Prussian lands would henceforth be under the auspices of the Polish king Casimir. Because of this, the Thirteen Years' War of the Order with Poland began. As a result, the Order lost the Eastern Pomerania with Danzig, the Kulm Land, Mirienburg, Elbing, Warmia - they moved to Poland. In 1466 the capital was moved to Konigsberg. In this war, Lithuania declared neutrality and missed the chance to liberate the rest of the Lithuanian and Prussian lands. In 1470 Grandmaster Heinrich von Richtenberg recognized himself as a vassal of the Polish king. The desire of the Order to free itself from Polish suzerainty was defeated (because of this, the war of 1521 - 1522 took place).

In the 20-30s of the 16th century. During the beginning of the Reformation in Germany, Grandmaster Albrecht Hohenzollern, with many brothers, converted from Catholicism to Lutheranism. He secularized the Teutonic Order, declaring its territory his hereditary principality, which was called Prussia. On April 10, 1525, Albrecht recognized the Polish king Sigismund the Old as his vassal. The Teutonic Order ceased to exist as an independent state. During the Livonian War, the Livonian Order also ceased to exist.

Valeria Werd

from lat. Teutonicus - German) is a religious order founded at the end of the 12th century.

Motto of the Teutonic Order:

German Helfen - Wehren - Heilen" ("Help - Protect - Heal")

Founding of the Order

First version

A new institution with the status of a spiritual order was approved by one of the German knightly leaders, Prince Friedrich of Swabia (F?rst Friedrich von Schwaben) on November 19, 1190, and after the capture of the fortress of Acre, the founders of the hospital found her a permanent place in the city.

Second version

During the 3rd crusade, when Acre was besieged by the knights, merchants from Lübeck and Bremen founded a field hospital. Duke Friedrich of Swabia transformed the hospital into a spiritual Order, headed by the chaplain Conrad. The order was subordinate to the local bishop and was a branch of the Order of St. John.

Pope Clement III approved the Order as "fratrum Theutonicorum ecclesiae S. Mariae Hiersolymitanae" (Fraternity of the Teutonic Church of St. Mary of Jerusalem) by his papal bull of February 6, 1191.

Order name

Officially, the order was called in Latin:

* Fratrum Theutonicorum ecclesiae S. Mariae Hiersolymitanae

* Ordo domus Sanctae Mariae Teutonicorum in Jerusalem (second title)

In German, two variants were also used:

* full name - Brüder und Schwestern vom Deutschen Haus Sankt Mariens in Jerusalem

* and abbreviated - Der Deutsche Orden

In Russian historiography, the Order was named the Teutonic Order or the German Order.

Order structure

Grand Master

The supreme power in the Order was held by the Grand Masters (German: Hochmeister). The charter of the Teutonic Order (unlike the charter of the Benedictine Order, to which it goes back) does not transfer unlimited power into the hands of the Grand Master. His power has always been limited to the General Chapter. In fulfilling his duties, the Grand Master depended on the assembly of all brothers of the order. However, with the expansion of the Order, the power of the Grand Master is greatly enhanced, due to the inability to convene the General Chapter often. In fact, the relationship between the Master and the Chapter was determined more by legal custom. The intervention of the Chapter was necessary in crisis situations, which sometimes led to the resignation of the Grand Masters from office.

landmeister

Landmeister (German Landmeister) is the next position in the structure of the order. The landmeister was the deputy of the Grand Master and supervised smaller administrative units - balleys. In total, there were three types of Landmasters in the Teutonic Order:

* German landmaster (German Deutschmeister) - for the first time German Landmasters appeared in 1218. From December 11, 1381, their power begins to extend to the Italian possessions of the order. In 1494, Emperor Charles V granted the German Landmasters the status of imperial princes.

* Landmeister in Prussia (German: Landmeister von Preu?en) - the position was established in 1229 with the beginning of the conquest of Prussia by the Order. The first landmeister was Hermann von Balk, who made a significant contribution to the conquest of Prussia. Several castles were founded by his efforts, many campaigns were carried out on the Prussian lands. Throughout the 13th century, the main task of the landmasters was to suppress the constant uprisings of the Prussians and the war with the Lithuanians. In the XIV century, the "duty" to lead constant campaigns in Lithuania completely passed to the Marshals of the order. The position existed until 1324. After the transfer of the capital of the Order in 1309 to Marienburg, the need for a special "deputy" Grand Master in Prussia disappeared. From 1309 to 1317 the office remained vacant. From 1317 to 1324, Friedrich von Wildenberg became the last Landmaster.

* Landmaster in Livonia

Landkomtur

Literally translated as "land commander". Directed the Balley of the Order.

The lowest official unit in the structure of the Order. Komtur led the komturstvo together in the Convention - a meeting of the knights of this komturstvo. The knights who were subordinate to the commander were called trustees (German Pfleger) or vogts (German V?gte) and could have various “specializations” and, in accordance with them, be called, for example: fishmeisters (German Fischmeister) or foresters (German Waldmeister) .

Chief Officers of the Order

In addition, there were five officials in the Order with whom the Grand Master was to confer:

Veliky Komtur

Grand Komtur (German: Grosskomture) - was the Deputy Grand Master, represented the Order during his absence (due to illness, in case of resignation, premature death), carried out other assignments of the Grand Master.

Marshal of the Order (German Marschalle or German Oberstmarschall) - his main duties included directing the military operations of the Order. He spent most of his time either on military campaigns or in Koenigsberg, which was the base for gathering brothers of the Order on campaigns against Lithuania. He was the second person of the Order in battles after the Grand Master.

Supreme Hospitaller

The Supreme Hospitaller (German: Spitler) - in the first years after the creation of the Order, he led the hospitals and hospitals of the Order. After the conquest of Prussia, his residence was in Elbing.

Supreme Quartermaster

The Supreme Quartermaster (German: Trapiere) - his functions included supplying the brothers of the Order with everything necessary in civilian life: clothing, food and other household items. After the conquest of Prussia, his residence was in Christburg Castle.

Chief Treasurer

Chief Treasurer (German Trapiere) - supervised the financial operations of the Order, was in charge of the financial resources of the Order.

Other positions

*Commander. In Russian, the term "commander" is used, although the essence of this word means "commander", "commander".

* Capitularies. It is not translated into Russian, it is transcribed as "capitulier". The essence of the title is the head of the chapter (meetings, conferences, commissions).

* Rathsgebietiger. Can be translated as "Council Member".

* Deutscherrenmeister. It is not translated into Russian. Means roughly "Chief Master of Germany".

* Balleimeister. It can be translated into Russian as "master of the estate (possession)".

History of the order

Start of approval in Eastern Europe

By that time, the influence and wealth of the Teutonic Order was noticed by many powers that wanted to deal with the opposing groups under the banner of "fight against the pagans". The then head of the Teutons, Hermann von Salza (1209-1239), who had significant possessions and became a prominent mediator of the Pope, had a great influence. In 1211, King Andrew II of Hungary (Andras) invited the knights to help in the fight against the militant Huns (Pechenegs). The Teutons settled on the border of Transylvania, while receiving considerable autonomy. However, excessive demands for more independence led the king in 1225 to demand that the knights leave his lands.

The struggle against the Prussian pagans

In the meantime (1217), Pope Honorius III announced a campaign against the Prussian pagans who had seized the lands of the Polish prince Conrad I of Mazovia. In 1225, the prince asked the Teutonic Knights for help, promising them the possession of the cities of Kulm and Dobryn, as well as the preservation of the occupied territories for them. The Teutonic Knights arrived in Poland in 1232, settling on the right bank of the Vistula River. Here was built the first fort, which gave birth to the city of Torun. When moving north, the cities of Chełmno and Kwidzyn were founded. The tactics of the knights were the same: after the suppression of the local pagan head, the population was forcibly converted to Christianity. A castle was built on this site, around which the arriving Germans began to actively use the land.

Expanding Influence

Despite the active actions of the Order in Europe, its official residence (together with the Grand Master) was in the Levant. In 1220, the Order buys part of the land in Upper Galilee and builds the Starkenberg (Montfort) fortress. The archive of the Order and the treasury were located here. Only in 1271, after the capture of the fortress by Baybars, the leader of the Mamluks, did the residence of the Order move to Venice. In 1309, the city of Marienburg became the capital of the Teutonic Knights (German: "Mary's Castle"; Polish name - Malbork). Gradually, all of Prussia fell under the rule of the Teutonic Order. In 1237, the Teutonic Order merged with the remnants of the military brotherhood of the Knights of the Sword (Knights of Christ), thereby gaining power in Livonia. During the aggressive campaign against Gdansk (1308) under the slogan "Jesu Christo Salvator Mundi" (Jesus Christ the Savior of the World), almost the entire Polish population (about 10,000 local residents) was destroyed, German settlers arrived on the occupied lands. By the same time, the acquisition of Eastern Pomerania dates back, which was of great importance: the seizure no longer pursued religious goals. Thus, by the end of the 13th century, the order actually becomes a state. By the middle of the XIII century there was a split in the church, and the order led an active offensive to the east, in support of the old German idea of \u200b\u200bdriving out the Slavs [source?] [neutrality?] "Drang nach Osten". Over time, two more similar organizations of knights arose in the Baltic states - the Order of the Sword and the Livonian Order.

Relations with the Russian principalities and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania

The conquest of the Estonians led to a clash between the order and Novgorod. The first conflict took place in 1210, and in 1224 the Teutons captured a strategically important point of the Novgorodians - the city of Tartu (Yuriev, Derpt). The confrontation went for spheres of influence, but by the 1240s. there was a real threat of a coordinated attack by all Western forces against the Russian lands proper, weakened by the Mongol invasion. At the end of August 1240, the order, having gathered the German crusaders of the Baltic states, the Danish knights from Reval and enlisting the support of the papal curia, invaded the Pskov lands and captured Izborsk. An attempt by the Pskov militia to recapture the fortress ended in failure. The knights besieged Pskov itself and soon took it, taking advantage of the betrayal among the besieged. Two German Vogts were planted in the city. Further, the knights invaded the Novgorod principality and built a fortress in Koporye. Alexander Nevsky arrived in Novgorod, and in 1241 he liberated Koporye with a swift raid. After that he returned to Novgorod, where he spent the winter, waiting for the arrival of reinforcements from Vladimir. In March, the united army liberated Pskov. The decisive battle took place on April 5, 1242 on Lake Peipus. It ended in a crushing defeat for the knights. The order was forced to make peace, according to which the crusaders renounced their claims to Russian lands.

Another Russian principality that faced the order was Galicia-Volyn. In 1236, Prince Daniil Romanovich stopped the expansion of the knights to South-Eastern Russia at the battle of Drogochin. The object of the dispute in this region was the Yatvingian lands. In 1254, the vice-master of the Teutonic Order in Prussia, Burchard von Hornhausen, Daniel and the Mazovian prince Zemovit concluded a tripartite alliance in Rachenzha to conquer the Yotvingians.

The Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Russian lands (mainly Belarusian principalities), which became part of it, were subjected to the most massive onslaught of the Order. The struggle with the Order was started by a contemporary of Alexander Nevsky, the Lithuanian prince Mindovg. He inflicted two crushing defeats on the knights at the Battle of Saul (Shauliai) in 1236 and at the Battle of Lake Durbe (1260). Under the successors of Mindovg, princes Gediminas and Olgerd, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Russia became the largest state in Europe, but continued to be subjected to fierce attacks.

In the XIV century, the Order made over a hundred campaigns within the borders of Lithuania. The situation began to improve only from 1386, when the Lithuanian prince Jagiello converted to Catholicism and became engaged to the heir to the Polish throne. This marked the beginning of the rapprochement between Lithuania and Poland (the so-called "personal union" - both states had one ruler).

Decline of the Order

The Order began to experience difficulties from 1410, when the combined Polish-Lithuanian troops (with the participation of Russian regiments) inflicted a crushing defeat on the Order's army in the Battle of Grunwald. More than two hundred knights and their leader died. The Teutonic Order lost its reputation as an invincible army. The Slavic army was commanded by the Polish king Jagiello and his cousin, the Grand Duke of Lithuania Vitovt. The army also included Czechs (it was here that Jan Zizka lost his first eye) and the Tatar guard of the Lithuanian prince.

In 1411, after a two-month, unsuccessful siege of Marienburg, the Order paid an indemnity to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. A peace treaty was signed, but minor skirmishes took place from time to time. In order to reform, the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III organized the League of Prussian States. This subsequently provoked a thirteen-year war, from which Poland emerged victorious. In 1466, the Teutonic Order was forced to recognize itself as a vassal of the Polish king.

The final loss of power occurred in 1525, when the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, the "Grand Elector" of Brandenburg Albrecht Hohenzollern converted to Protestantism, resigned as Grand Master and announced the secularization of the Prussian lands - the main territory that belonged to the Teutonic Order. Such a step became possible with the consent of the Polish king and through the mediation of Martin Luther, the author of this plan. The newly formed Duchy of Prussia became the first Protestant state in Europe, but continued to remain a vassal of Catholic Poland. The order was dissolved in 1809 during the Napoleonic Wars. The possessions and territories that remained under the rule of the order were transferred to the vassals and allies of Napoleon. It was only during the First World War that the Teutonic Order was reorganized.

Pretenders for the legacy of the Order

Order and Prussia

Prussia, despite being a Protestant state, claimed to be the spiritual successor of the Order, especially in terms of military traditions.

In 1813, the Order of the Iron Cross was established in Prussia, the appearance of which reflected the symbol of the Order. The history of the Order was taught in Prussian schools.

The Order and the Nazis

The Nazis considered themselves the successors of the Order, especially in the field of geopolitics. The doctrine of the Order "onslaught on the East" was fully assimilated by the leadership.

The Nazis also claimed the material property of the Order. After the Anschluss of Austria on September 6, 1938, the remaining possessions of the Order were nationalized in favor of Germany. The same thing happened after the capture of Czechoslovakia in 1939. Only the order's hospitals and buildings in Yugoslavia and southern Tyrol retained their independence.

There was also an attempt, inspired by Heinrich Himmler, to create some kind of own "Teutonic Order" in order to revive the German military elite. This "order" included ten people, headed by Reinhard Heydrich.

At the same time, the Nazis persecuted the priests of this Order, as well as the descendants of those Prussian families whose roots dated back to the knights of the Order. Some of these descendants, such as von der Schulenburg, joined the anti-Hitler opposition.

Restoration of the Order. Order today

The restoration of the order took place in 1834 with the assistance of the Austrian emperor Franz I. The new Order was deprived of political and military ambitions and concentrated its efforts on charity, helping the sick, etc.

During the period of Nazi persecution of the Order, its activities were actually curtailed.

After the end of the war, the Austrian possessions annexed by the Nazis were returned to the Order.

In 1947, the decree on the liquidation of the Order was formally annulled.

The order was not restored in socialist Czechoslovakia, but was revived in Austria and Germany. After the collapse of the Soviet bloc, branches of the Order appeared in the Czech Republic (in Moravia and Bohemia), Slovenia and some other European countries. There is also a small (less than twenty people) community of members of the Order in the USA.

The residence of the Grand Master is still located in Vienna. There is also the order's treasury and a library that stores historical archives, about 1000 old seals, and other documents. The order is ruled by an abbot-hochmeister, although the order itself consists mainly of sisters.

The order is divided into three possessions - Germany, Austria and South Tyrol, and two commanderies - Rome and Altenbysen (Belgium).

The order fully serves with its nuns one hospital in the city of Friesach in Carinthia (Austria) and one private sanatorium in Cologne. The sisters of the Order also work in other hospitals and nursing homes in Bad Mergengem, Regensburg and Nuremberg.

Modern symbols of the Order

The symbol of the Order is a Latin cross in black enamel with a white enamel border, covered (for the Knights of Honor) with a helmet with black and white feathers or (for members of the society of St. Mary) with a simple circular decoration of black and white sash.

Information sources

* Hartmut Bockmann, The German Order: Twelve Chapters from its History, Trans. with him. V. I. Matuzova. Moscow: Ladomir, 2004 ISBN 5-86218-450-3 ISBN 978-5-86218-450-1

Great Definition

Incomplete definition ↓

The Teutonic Order of Knights, or the Brotherhood of the Teutonic Church of St. Mary of Jerusalem, arose in February 1191. Warrior monks who took a vow of chastity, obedience and poverty very quickly turned into a real force that everyone in Europe reckoned with. This organization combined the spirit and fighting traditions of the Templars with the charitable activities of the Hospitallers, at the same time being the conductor of the aggressive policy in the East, pursued by Western Europe. The article is devoted to the history of the Teutonic Order: the origin, development, death and heritage that has passed through the centuries.

The position of Christians in the Holy Land during the Third Crusade

The Crusades to the Holy Land became fertile ground for the emergence of the first spiritual knightly orders. They became the embodiment of the medieval religious spirit, the mood of European society, eager to protect Christian shrines and fellow believers from the aggression of Islam. On the one hand, it was a forced need to consolidate all reserves, and on the other hand, the Roman Catholic Church skillfully took advantage of this to strengthen its own influence.

The history of the Teutonic Order dates back to the time of the Third Crusade (1189-1192). The situation for Christians at that time was extremely difficult: they were squeezed out of Jerusalem. Only the city of Tire in the Principality of Antioch survived. Conrad of Montferrat, who ruled there, successfully held back the onslaught of the Muslims, but his strength was dwindling. The situation was changed by the reinforcements that arrived from Europe, the composition of which was very motley: warriors, pilgrims, merchants, artisans and many incomprehensible people who followed any army during the Middle Ages.

First appearance of the German-speaking chivalry in the Holy Land

On the southern side of the peninsula, washed by the Gulf of Haifa, at that time the port city of Acre was located. Thanks to its excellent protection, the port was able to unload and load cargo in almost any weather. This tidbit could not go unnoticed by the humble "warriors of the Lord." Baron Guy de Lusignan made a desperate attempt to besiege the city, even though the defending garrison exceeded his forces several times.

However, the biggest test and misfortune during all medieval wars was the lack of medicine. Unsanitary conditions, a huge concentration of people in one place were excellent conditions for the development of various diseases, such as typhus. The Knights of the Teutonic Order, the Hospitallers, the Templars fought this scourge as best they could. Almshouses became the only place where help was provided by the forces of pilgrims, who thus tried to get to heaven for their deeds. Among them were representatives of the commercial circles of Bremen and Lübeck. Their initial task was to create a German-speaking brotherhood of knights to help the sick and injured.

In the future, the possibility of building some kind of military organization to protect and support their trade operations was considered. This was done in order to no longer depend on the Knights Templar, which had a huge influence in the region.

The son of the drowned Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa favorably reacted to this idea and at first supported the almshouses being created. This explains the fact that the knights of the Teutonic Order had excellent relations with the Holy Roman Empire. Very often they even acted as intermediaries between its rulers and the heads of the Roman Catholic Church. With such comprehensive support, the Brotherhood of the Teutonic Church of St. Mary of Jerusalem, created in 1198, did everything possible to justify the high trust.

Soon, like their colleagues, the organization of the Knights of the Teutonic Order acquired large land holdings not only in the Holy Land, but mainly in Europe. It was there that the main, most combat-ready forces of the brotherhood were concentrated.

Structure of the Teutonic Order

The provinces (komturii) of the order were located on the territory of Livonia, Apulia, Teutonia, Austria, Prussia, Armenia and Romania. The chronicles mention seven large provinces, but there were also smaller possessions.

Each position and title in the order was elective. Even the head of the order, the Grand Grandmaster, was elected and was obliged to confer with 5 grandgebiters (Great Lords). Each of these 5 permanent advisers was responsible for a specific direction in the order:

Grand Komtur (the right hand of the head of the order and his quartermaster).
Supreme Marshal.
Supreme Hospitaller (managed all hospitals of the organization).
Quartermaster.
Treasurer.

The control of a certain province was carried out by the Land Komtur. He was also obliged to confer, but already with the chapter. Even the commander of the fortress garrison (castellan) made this or that decision with an eye to the opinion of the soldiers under his command.

According to the chronicles, the Teutonic Knights were not distinguished by discipline. For the same Templars, the orders were much tougher. Nevertheless, at first, the organization coped quite effectively with the tasks assigned to it.

Composition of the organization

Members of the knightly brotherhood were divided into categories, each of which had certain functions. At the very top, as was customary in those days, there were knight brothers. These are the descendants of noble families who made up the elite of the troops of the order. Slightly lower in status in this structure were brother priests who organized the ceremonial, ideological component of service in the order. In addition, they were also engaged in various sciences and were perhaps the most educated members of the community.

Commoners who were engaged in both military and church service were called other brothers.

The knights of the Teutonic Order also attracted laity into their ranks, who were not bound by solemn vows, but nevertheless brought considerable benefits. They were represented by two main categories: half-brothers and familiars. Familiars are generous donors from among the wealthiest segments of the population. And half-brothers were involved in various economic activities.

Knighting of the Teutonic Order

There was a certain selection for all candidates wishing to join the movement of the "liberators" of the Holy Sepulcher. It took place on the basis of a conversation, during which important details of the biography were clarified. Before starting the questions, the chapter warned of a life full of hardships. This is service to a higher idea until the end of life.

Only after that it was necessary to make sure that the newcomer had not previously been in another order, had no wife and no debts. He himself is not anyone's creditor, and if he is, he has forgiven or already settled this delicate issue. Dog-knights of the Teutonic Order do not tolerate money-grubbing.

The presence of a serious illness was a significant obstacle. In addition, it was necessary to have complete personal freedom. Everything secret sooner or later becomes clear. If unpleasant facts of deceit were revealed, then, despite their merits, such a member of the brotherhood was expelled.

When consecrated to the knights of the Teutonic Order, a sacred oath was given to observe chastity, obedience and poverty until death. From now on, fasting, prayers, military deeds, hard physical labor were to tame the body and spirit on the way to gaining a place in paradise. Despite such harsh conditions, more and more people wanted to become part of the "army of Christ", with fire and sword to carry his word to the lands of the pagans.

Religious fanaticism in the immature minds of the crowd, who do not want to think and live independently, at all times is skillfully fueled by various kinds of preachers. In the Middle Ages, the romantic halo surrounding robbers, rapists and murderers, and concurrently also “defenders of the Christian faith”, was so blinding that many young men from the most noble and respected families of that time did not hesitate to choose the path of a warrior-monk.

The virgin knight of the Teutonic Order could find solace only in prayers and in the hope that sooner or later his soul would rush to heaven.

Appearance and symbolism

On a white background - one of the brightest and most recognizable symbols of the order. So in popular culture it is customary to portray the Teutonic. However, not all members of this community had the right to wear such a garment. For each hierarchical level, the regulations clearly defined the symbolism. She was reflected in coats of arms, robes.

The coat of arms of the head of the order emphasized his vassal devotion to the German emperor. Another yellow cross with a shield and an eagle was superimposed on a black cross with a yellow border. The issue of heraldry of other hierarchs causes a lot of controversy and disagreement. But it is known for sure that the leadership of smaller administrative units had special wands indicating their supremacy and the right to hold courts.

Only brother knights were allowed to wear white cloaks with black crosses. For all other categories of knights of the Teutonic Order, the vestments were gray cloaks with a T-shaped cross. This extended to mercenary commanders as well.

Asceticism

Even Bernard of Clairvaux, the spiritual leader and one of the ideological inspirers of the crusades, drew a clear line between the monk-knights and the mundane. According to him, traditional chivalry was on the side of the Devil. Lush tournaments, luxury - all this alienated them from the Lord. A true Christian warrior is dirty, with a long beard and hair, despising worldly fuss, focused on fulfilling a sacred duty. When going to bed, the brothers did not take off their clothes and boots. Therefore, there is nothing surprising in the fact that typhus and the knights of the Teutonic Order have always walked hand in hand.

However, almost all "cultural" Europe for a long time, even after the Crusades, neglected the rules of elementary hygiene. And as punishment - multi-shift outbreaks of plague and smallpox, which destroyed most of its population.

Having a huge influence in society, Bernard of Clairvaux (even the papacy listened to his opinion) easily pushed through his ideas, which excited minds for a long time. Describing the life of a knight of the Teutonic Order of the 13th century, it should be mentioned that, despite the high rank in the hierarchy of the organization, any of its members had the right to have only a certain set of personal belongings. These included: a pair of shirts and two pairs of boots, a mattress, a surcoat, a knife. There were no locks on the chests. Wearing any fur was forbidden.

It was forbidden to wear their coats of arms and boast of their origin during hunting, tournaments. The only recreational activity allowed was wood carving.

There were various penalties for violating the rules. One of these was "removing the robe and eating on the floor." The guilty knight did not have the right to sit at a common table with other brothers until the penalty was lifted. Such punishment was most often resorted to for serious violations in the campaign. For example, disruption.

Armor

The basis of the full-length protective equipment of the knight of the Teutonic Order was chain mail with long sleeves. A chain mail hood was attached to it. Under it they wore a quilted gambizon or caftan. A quilted cap covered the head over the chain mail. A shell was put on top of the listed uniform. German and Italian blacksmiths paid close attention to the issue of armor modernization (their English and French colleagues did not show such agility). The result was a significant increase in plate armor. Its chest, dorsal parts were connected at the shoulders, having lacing on the sides.

If until about the middle of the 14th century the breastplate was relatively small, designed to protect the chest, then later this oversight was corrected. The belly was now also covered.

Experiments with steel, a lack of qualified personnel, a combination of German and Italian styles in weapons business led to the fact that "white" steel became the main material for the manufacture of such equipment.

Leg protection was usually made up of chain mail stockings, steel knee pads. They were worn on thigh pads. In addition, there were leggings made from a single plate. The spurs of the knights were studded and gilded.

Armament

The uniform and armament of the knights of the Teutonic Order were distinguished by excellent efficiency. There was an influence not only of the best traditions of the West, but also of the East. If we touch on the topic of small arms of that time, then, judging by the surviving documents describing in detail the characteristics and type of the cocked mechanism, some conclusions arise:

ordinary, rifle and composite crossbows stood out;
firearms were enthusiastically mastered;
part of this type of weaponry the order had the opportunity to manufacture independently.

Swords were considered more noble weapons, but some of the heads of the Catholic Church anathematized crossbows. True, few people paid attention to it. In war, all means are good.

The most favorite means of close combat were considered battle axes and hammers. After a stay in Palestine, the shape of the ax blade was borrowed there. They could easily break through the armor. The sword could not boast of such characteristics.

Fighting traditions

The knights of the Teutonic Order favorably differed from the lay knights in their discipline. The charter of the order regulated every little thing, not only in battle. Usually the knight was accompanied by several of his squires with marching horses who did not participate in hostilities. The warhorse was used only in combat, but even with a few spare animals, warriors most often traveled long distances on foot. It was strictly forbidden to mount a horse or put on armor without an order.

In military matters, the Teutons were pragmatic. Traditional chivalry on the battlefield could easily start a quarrel for the right to be the first to attack in order to cover the name with glory. Even while in battle, they could easily break the system or give a signal without permission. And this is a direct path to defeat. Among the Teutons, such offenses were punishable by death.

Their battle formation was carried out in three lines. The reserve was placed in the third line. Heavy knights came to the forefront. Behind them, in the form of an elongated quadrangle, horsemen and auxiliary forces usually lined up. The order infantry closed the formation.

There was a certain sense in such a distribution of forces: a heavy wedge violated the enemy’s battle formations, and the less combat-ready units following behind finished off the reeling enemy of chivalry.

Battle of Grunwald

Most of all, the Teutonic Order annoyed the Poles and Litvins. They were his main enemies. Even having a numerical superiority, Jagiello and Vitovt understood that the victory in this battle would go to the one whose morale was stronger. Therefore, they were in no hurry, despite the displeased whispers of their most ardent warriors, to get involved in the battle.

Before appearing on the battlefield, the Teutons covered a huge distance in the rain and settled in open space under the cover of their artillery, languishing from the heat. And their opponents took refuge in the shadow of the forest and, despite the accusations of cowardice, were in no hurry to leave.

The battle began with the battle cry "Lithuania" and the Litvin cavalry destroyed the cannons. Competent construction made it possible to get to the Teutons with minimal losses. This sowed panic in the ranks of the German infantry, and then death, but from his own cavalry - Grand Master Ulrich von Jungingen spared no one in the heat of battle. The light cavalry of the Litvins completed their task: the guns were destroyed, and the heavy cavalry of the Teutons joined the wheelhouse ahead of schedule. But there were losses on the side of the combined forces. The Tatar cavalry ran without looking back.

Poles and chivalry clashed in a cruel cabin. The Litvins, meanwhile, lured the crusaders into the forests, where an ambush was already waiting for them. All this time, the Poles and soldiers from Smolensk courageously resisted the best army in Europe at that time. The return of the Litvins raised the morale of the Poles. And then the reserve of both sides was introduced into the battle. Even the peasants of the Litvins and Poles rushed to the rescue in this difficult hour. The Great Grandmaster also participated in this cruel, merciless rag, where he met his doom.

The ancestors of the Poles, Belarusians, Russians, Ukrainians, Tatars, Czechs and many other peoples stopped the faithful dogs of the Vatican. Nowadays, you can only see a photo of a knight of the Teutonic Order or visit the annual festival of the Battle of Grunwald - another common victory that united the destinies of different peoples.

Warband was a German, knightly community with a spiritual ideology, which was formed at the end 12th century.
According to one version, the founder of the order was a noble duke Friedrich of Swabia November 19, 1190. During this period, he captured acre fortress in Israel, where the hospital guests found a permanent home for him. According to another version, at the moment when the Teutons captured Acre, a hospital was organized. Ultimately, Frederick transformed it into a spiritual knightly order headed by the clergyman Conrad. AT 1198 the community of knights was finally approved under the name of the spiritual knightly order. Many spiritual personalities of the Templars and Hospitallers, as well as clergy from Jerusalem, arrived at the solemn event.
The main goal of the Teutonic Order was to protect the local knights, heal the sick and fight against heretics, who by their actions contradicted the postulates of the Catholic Church. The most important leaders of the German community were Roman Pope and Holy Roman Emperor.
AT 1212-1220. The Teutonic Order was moved from Israel to Germany , in town Eschenbach, which belonged to the lands of Bavaria. Such an initiative came to Count Boppo von Wertheim and he turned his idea into reality with the permission of the church. Now the spiritual and chivalric order has become rightfully considered German.
By the same time, the success of the knightly order began to bring great enrichment and fame. Such a merit could not do without the Grand Master Hermann von Salza. In the Western states, many fans of the Teutons are beginning to appear, who want to take advantage of the mighty strength and military power of the German knights. So, Hungarian King Andrew II turned for help to the Teutonic Order for support in the fight against the Polovtsians. Thanks to this, the German soldiers gained autonomy in the lands of Burzenland, southeastern Transylvania. Here, the Teutons built 5 famous castles: Schwarzenburg, Marienburg, Kreuzburg, Kronstadt and Rosenau. With such protective support and support, the cleansing of the Cumans was carried out at an accelerated pace. In 1225, the Hungarian nobility and their king showed strong envy of the Teutonic Order. This led to numerous evictions from Hungary, only a small part of the Germans remained, joining the Saxons.
The Teutonic Order was involved in the fight against the Prussian pagans in 1217 who began to seize Polish lands. Prince of Poland Konrad Mazowiecki, asked for help from the Teutonic Knights, in return, promising the occupied lands, as well as the cities of Kulm and Dobryn. The sphere of influence began in 1232 when the first fortress was built near the Vistula River. This justification marked the beginning of the construction of the city of Thorn. Following this, numerous castles began to be erected in the northern regions of Poland. These included: Velun, Kandau, Durben, Velau, Tilsit, Ragnit, Georgenburg, Marienwerder, Barga and famous Königsberg. The Prussian army was larger than the Teutonic one, but the Germans cunningly fought with small detachments and lured many to their side. Thus, the Teutonic Order managed to win victories over them, even despite the help of the enemy from the Lithuanians and the coasts.
The Teutons also invaded Russian lands, taking advantage of the moment of their weakening from the Mongol oppressors. Gathering a united army Baltic and Danish crusaders, and also inspired by the instructions of the Catholic pope, the German order attacked Pskov possessions of Russia and captured village Izborsk. Pskov was under siege for a long time, and later was finally captured. The reason for this was the betrayal of many Russian residents of this region. AT Novgorod lands, the crusaders built a fortress Koporye . Russian sovereign Alexander Nevskiy, during the fighting he liberated this fortress. And in the end, having teamed up with the Vladimir reinforcements, he returned Pskov to Russia in a decisive Battle on the Ice April 5, 1242 on the Lake Peipsi. The Teutonic troops were defeated. The decisive defeat forced the order to leave the Russian lands.
Ultimately, the Teutonic Order began to weaken and significantly lose its power. The constant influence of the German invaders, aggressively set Lithuania and Poland against the order . Polish army and Lithuanian principality forced the Teutons to suffer defeat in the Battle of Grunwald July 15, 1410. Half of the army of the Teutonic Order was destroyed, captured, and the main generals were killed.