Everything about Hermann Von Salza totally explained
Hermann von Salza or
Hermann of Salza (c.
1179 –
March 20,
1239) was the fourth
Grand Master of the
Teutonic Knights, serving from 1209-39. A skilled
diplomat with ties to the
Holy Roman Emperor and the
Pope, Hermann oversaw the expansion of the
military order into
Prussia.
Biography
Hermann von Salza was born to a
ministerial family from
Thuringia, possibly around 1179. The precise time of his entry into the Teutonic Order is unknown, but he first appears in 1209 as Grand Master. As such he may have spent some time in the
Mediterranean Sea region during the first year of his rule. During this period the activities of the Knights were extended from
Spain to
Livonia.
Hermann was a friend and councilor of
Emperor Frederick II, for whom he represented as a mediator in the
Papal curia from 1222 onwards.
Pope Honorius III also recognized Hermann's capabilities, and granted the Teutonic Knights an equal status with the
Knights Hospitaller and the
Knights Templar, after it had gone into decline under previous Grand Masters.
At the request of King
Andrew II of Hungary in 1211, Hermann led the placing of Teutonic Knights in the
Burzenland in
Transylvania to defend against the
Cumans.
Hungarian nobles complained of the order's presence, however, and they were forced to leave by 1225. Meanwhile, Hermann accompanied Frederick on the
Fifth Crusade against
Damietta in 1219, and he was decorated for bravery by
John of Brienne, the titular
King of Jerusalem. Hermann later convinced Frederick to undertake the
Sixth Crusade, and was partially responsible for Frederick's marriage to
Yolanda, John of Brienne's daughter.
Upon his return to
Europe, Hermann helped to lift Frederick's
excommunication. He was then requested by
Konrad I of Masovia to fight the
pagan Old Prussians. After Hermann had gained approval from both the Pope and the Emperor the knights began their lengthy campaign to
Christianize Prussia in 1230.
Hermann's subsequent visits with the Pope or the Emperor brought new privileges and donations to the Order. He was also able to obtain the incorporation of the
Livonian Brothers of the Sword into the Teutonic Order in 1237. The importance of Hermann's role as mediator between
Pope Gregory IX and the emperor can be seen by the fact that all communication between Frederick and the pope broke off with Hermann's death.
Within the Teutonic Order, however, the knights began to grow dissatisfied at the absence of their Grand Master, so they recalled him and had him withdraw from his political life. However, he was less successful as a religious leader, and soon retired to
Salerno in 1238. He died there in 1239.
Further Information
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