Military Orders
The Teutonic Knights
2. In 1197 they adopted the Templar Rule and gained papal approval in 1199 from Innocent III.
B. Influence
1. Never very important in Outremer, though more influential than a number of minor Orders.
2. Strongly supported by the Emperors
3. Always tied to Germany, though the Order did possess lands elsewhere.
4. Similar structure to the other Orders.
C. East Europe
1. The destiny of the Order changed when Hermann von Salza became Grand Master of the Order in 1211.
2. He led the Knights in settling an area in Hungary as a legacy of the conquest of Constantinople, but they were driven out in 1226.
3. In 1229, Conrad of Masovia gave Prussia to the Order, provided they could conquer and convert the pagans living there.
4. The assault on the Prussians began in 1231, with Hermann Balke leading 20 knights.
5. A titanic battle, lasting for decades.
6. Eventually the Order co-opted the Sword Brothers of Livonia and they established a Baltic realm stretching from Danzig to Riga: the Ordenstaaten.