Grand Master of Teutonic Order.
Second half XIII century
Grand Master of Teutonic Order.
Second half XIII century
Company: Pegaso Models
Sculptor: Gianni La Roca
Article: 54-161
Material: white metal
Pieces: 8
Weight: 150 gr.
Size: 54 mm.
REFERENCE INCLUIDED:
HISTORY
The Teutonic Order can trance it�s roots and origins to a fraternities from northen Europe around 1130.
Around the years 1189-91, this fraternitas of Germanic Knights, affiliated to the St. John Hospitalers Order participated in the armed crusades of the Holy Land. In 1198, a Papal seal approved the formation of the Teutonic Order, similar in structure to the Hospitalers and Templar Knights, but composed exclusively of knights from German origins. They chose the white mantel (of the Templars) but added a black cross. The Teutonic Order used a variety of names until 1220, when they assumed the name �Orden den Ritter des Hospitals St. Marien des Deutsches Hauses zu Jarusamen�.
The official seat of power of the Order in the Holy Land was the City of Saint Jhon of Acre, but the principal position and doctrines of the Order came f rom the Castle of Montfort, trasladated into German (Starkenberg). In the Holy Land, the Teutonic Knights were involved in various battles including the battle of Bahr Ashmun (1221), Forbie (1244), El Mansurah (1250), and they also assisted the crusaders of Frederick II of Swabia, between 1228-29. Fifteen Teutonics Knights were present during the fatale fall of Saint John of Acre in 1291. From this fatele siege only 10th Order Grand Master Konrad von Feuchtwagen managed to escape alive. After the fall of the Holy Land, the Order transferred to Venice and finally in 1309 to their quarters in Prussia at the Castle of Marienburg, modern day Malbork, Poland.
NOTES ON THE HERALDRY
The cross worn on the breast knights was patent (formy or paty), it was elongated along arms of the cross, black with silver field. This cross has it�s origins as the insignia of the �Brother of the Hospital of Santa Maria of the Teutonic of Jerusalem� On the shield, The black cross had the arms straightened and took up most of the space.
The Grand Master �Hochmeister� of the Teutonic Order, had the privilege of displaying on his shield, the black cross of the order quartered with the arms of his house. From 1206 the black cross of the Grand Master became gold edged with black.
In 1239 Frederic II allowed the order to add the imperial eagle to the heart of the Order�s cross. The cross remained black, but now had inside the black the golden cross of Jerusalem, with a central gold shield mounted with the black Imperial Eagle.
Konrad von Feuchtwagen was the 10th Order Hochmeister from 1290 to 1297 and was present during the last defence of Saint John of Acre in 1291. Quartered heraldry; 1& 4 argent a black cross with inside a cross potent or, escutcheon or and eagle sable on all. 2 & 3 dimidiated dexter argent a half eagle sable, sinister gules three bars or.
RESEARCH AND TEXT: MARCO GIULIANI.
