Konrad von Erlichshausen
Encyclopedia
Konrad von Erlichshausen (died 7 November 1449) was the 30th Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights
, serving from 1441 to 1449.
Konrad came from Ellrichshausen in Swabia
, now part of Satteldorf
in Baden-Württemberg
. Early in his career he was a close ally of Michael Küchmeister von Sternberg
and later on he held the positions of Grand Komtur and Grand Marshal
.
After its defeat in the Battle of Grunwald
(1410) and the resulting First Peace of Thorn (1411), the Order's power declined both in and outside their Ordensstaat. Credits had to be sought from abroad and high taxes caused opposition within Prussia
and its Hanseatic
cities. Konrad's opinion was in conflict with Grand Master Paul von Rusdorf
, which caused his demotion to a lesser position. He led the opposition in the Order which forced von Rusdorf to resign as the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order on 2 January 1441.
After being chosen Grand Master in 1441, Konrad tried to reform the Teutonic Order and tried to negotiate a compromise with the Prussian cities and gentry who had formed the Prussian Confederation
.
During his tenure in 1443, Konrad issued the Handfeste that legally founded Arys (Orzysz)
with an area of 790,000 ha
. While visiting Seehesten (Szestno)
he renewed the town rights
of Sensburg (Mrągowo)
on 20 February 1444. Later that year he founded Krausendorf (Kruszewiec)
near Rastenburg (Kętrzyn)
.
Konrad's plans were never fully realized as he died in Castle Marienburg in 1449 and was buried in a mausoleum
under the Chapel of Saint Anna
, like most of the other Grand Masters. He was succeeded by his nephew Ludwig von Erlichshausen
, who led the Order into further decline and into the Thirteen Years' War.
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
, serving from 1441 to 1449.
Konrad came from Ellrichshausen in Swabia
Swabia
Swabia is a cultural, historic and linguistic region in southwestern Germany.-Geography:Like many cultural regions of Europe, Swabia's borders are not clearly defined...
, now part of Satteldorf
Satteldorf
Satteldorf is a town in the district of Schwäbisch Hall in Baden-Württemberg in Germany....
in Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
. Early in his career he was a close ally of Michael Küchmeister von Sternberg
Michael Küchmeister von Sternberg
Michael Küchmeister von Sternberg was the 28th Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, serving from 1414 to 1422.- Biography :...
and later on he held the positions of Grand Komtur and Grand Marshal
Grand Marshal
Grand Marshal is a ceremonial, military, or political office of very high rank. The term has its origins with the word "Marshal" with the first usage of the term "Grand Marshal" as a ceremonial title for certain religious orders...
.
After its defeat in the Battle of Grunwald
Battle of Grunwald
The Battle of Grunwald or 1st Battle of Tannenberg was fought on 15 July 1410, during the Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War. The alliance of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, led respectively by King Jogaila and Grand Duke Vytautas , decisively defeated the Teutonic Knights, led...
(1410) and the resulting First Peace of Thorn (1411), the Order's power declined both in and outside their Ordensstaat. Credits had to be sought from abroad and high taxes caused opposition within Prussia
Prussia (region)
Prussia is a historical region in Central Europe extending from the south-eastern coast of the Baltic Sea to the Masurian Lake District. It is now divided between Poland, Russia, and Lithuania...
and its Hanseatic
Hanseatic League
The Hanseatic League was an economic alliance of trading cities and their merchant guilds that dominated trade along the coast of Northern Europe...
cities. Konrad's opinion was in conflict with Grand Master Paul von Rusdorf
Paul von Rusdorf
Paul von Rusdorf was the 29th Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, serving from 1422 to 1441.The Treaty of Melno was one of von Rusdorf's first acts; it brought stability to the Order and its relations, but fighting resumed in 1431 with the Polish-Teutonic War...
, which caused his demotion to a lesser position. He led the opposition in the Order which forced von Rusdorf to resign as the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order on 2 January 1441.
After being chosen Grand Master in 1441, Konrad tried to reform the Teutonic Order and tried to negotiate a compromise with the Prussian cities and gentry who had formed the Prussian Confederation
Prussian Confederation
The Prussian Confederation was an organization formed in 1440 by a group of 53 gentry and clergy and 19 cities in Prussia to oppose the monastic state of the Teutonic Knights. It was based on the basis of an earlier similar organization, the Lizard Union...
.
During his tenure in 1443, Konrad issued the Handfeste that legally founded Arys (Orzysz)
Orzysz
Orzysz is a town in Pisz County, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, Poland, with 7,512 inhabitants .-Notable residents:* Kurt Sanderling , conductor* Wolfgang Heyda , U-boat commander...
with an area of 790,000 ha
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
. While visiting Seehesten (Szestno)
Szestno
Szestno is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Mrągowo, within Mrągowo County, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, in northern Poland. It lies approximately north of Mrągowo and east of the regional capital Olsztyn....
he renewed the town rights
German town law
German town law or German municipal concerns concerns town privileges used by many cities, towns, and villages throughout Central and Eastern Europe during the Middle Ages.- Town law in Germany :...
of Sensburg (Mrągowo)
Mragowo
Mrągowo is a town in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship of northeastern Poland, the capital of Mrągowo County and the seat the Gmina Mrągowo...
on 20 February 1444. Later that year he founded Krausendorf (Kruszewiec)
Kruszewiec
Kruszewiec may refer to the following places:*Kruszewiec, Łódź Voivodeship *Kruszewiec, Tomaszów Mazowiecki County in Łódź Voivodeship *Kruszewiec, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship...
near Rastenburg (Kętrzyn)
Ketrzyn
Kętrzyn , is a town in northeastern Poland with 28,351 inhabitants . Situated in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship , Kętrzyn was previously in Olsztyn Voivodeship . It is the capital of Kętrzyn County...
.
Konrad's plans were never fully realized as he died in Castle Marienburg in 1449 and was buried in a mausoleum
Mausoleum
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A monument without the interment is a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the...
under the Chapel of Saint Anna
Saint Anne
Saint Hanna of David's house and line, was the mother of the Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus Christ according to Christian and Islamic tradition. English Anne is derived from Greek rendering of her Hebrew name Hannah...
, like most of the other Grand Masters. He was succeeded by his nephew Ludwig von Erlichshausen
Ludwig von Erlichshausen
Ludwig von Erlichshausen was the 31st Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, serving from 1449/1450 to 1467.As did his uncle and predecessor Konrad von Erlichshausen, Ludwig came from Ellrichshausen in Swabia, now part of Satteldorf in Baden-Württemberg.Ludwig was aide to Grand Master Paul von...
, who led the Order into further decline and into the Thirteen Years' War.