The shield of Conrad of Thuringia, the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order from 1239-40!
He was a very violent man who burned the city of Fritzlar in 1232 and had the population massacred during his war with the Archbishop of Mainz.
He entered the Teutonic Order in 1235.
He was a very violent man who burned the city of Fritzlar in 1232 and had the population massacred during his war with the Archbishop of Mainz.
He entered the Teutonic Order in 1235.
His sword has also survived to this day!
Conrad became the Landgrave of Thuringia in 1231 and engaged in the ongoing power struggle with the Archbishop of Mainz which resulted in war.
This led to the siege of the archbishop's city of Fritzlar by Conrad's forces in 1232.
Conrad became the Landgrave of Thuringia in 1231 and engaged in the ongoing power struggle with the Archbishop of Mainz which resulted in war.
This led to the siege of the archbishop's city of Fritzlar by Conrad's forces in 1232.
Following three months of siege, Conrad sacked the town and killed most of the population.
His forces also looted and burned the local church.
For this he was excommunicated by the Pope!
He had to make a pilgrimage to Rome in 1234 for pope to lift the excommunication.
His forces also looted and burned the local church.
For this he was excommunicated by the Pope!
He had to make a pilgrimage to Rome in 1234 for pope to lift the excommunication.
During his stay in Rome he was also told to give the hospital and parish church in Marburg to the Teutonic Order.
In 1235 he eventually joined the Order himself, becoming the first major nobleman to do so as most of Teutonic Knights were from lower nobility and ministeriales.
In 1235 he eventually joined the Order himself, becoming the first major nobleman to do so as most of Teutonic Knights were from lower nobility and ministeriales.
Conrad was from the prestigious Ludovingian family which ruled Thuringia. His elder brother Louis IV of Thuringia was married to Hungarian princess Elizabeth who was canonized as Catholic saint in 1235.
Conrad was present in Rome during canonization process of his sister-in-law!
Conrad was present in Rome during canonization process of his sister-in-law!
This increased Conrad's prestige and he rose through the ranks in the Teutonic Order, eventually becoming the Grand Master in 1239 after Hermann von Salza died.
But he died a year later when he fell ill on another trip to Rome.
Such was the end of this powerful nobleman.
But he died a year later when he fell ill on another trip to Rome.
Such was the end of this powerful nobleman.
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