Konrad Zöllner von Rotenstein (c. 1325 - August 20, 1390) was the 23rd
Grandmaster of the Teutonic Order
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem, commonly known as the Teutonic Order, is a Catholic religious institution founded as a military society in Acre, Kingdom of Jerusalem. It was formed to aid Christians on ...
from October 5, 1382 to his death on August 20, 1390.
Biography
Konrad was likely born in
Birkenfeld
Birkenfeld () is a town and the district seat of the Birkenfeld district in southwest Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is also the seat of the like-named ''Verbandsgemeinde''. The town itself has approximately 7,000 inhabitants.
Geography
...
,
Maroldsweisach
Maroldsweisach is a Municipalities of Germany, municipality in the district of Haßberge (district), Haßberge in Bavaria in Germany.
Culture and sights
* Alte Burg (Altenstein), the "Old Castle"
* Altenstein Castle (Lower Franconia), Altenstei ...
,
Haßberge.
Konrad became
procurator of
Preußisch Mark
Przezmark is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Elbląg, within Elbląg County, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, in northern Poland.
It lies approximately north-east of Elbląg and north-west of the regional capital Olsztyn.
Nota ...
in 1353 and "
Komtur" of
Danzig in 1368. He became chief trapper and komtur of
Christburg in 1372.
Following the death of
Winrich von Kniprode
Winrich von Kniprode was the 22nd Grand Master of the Teutonic Order. He was the longest serving Grand Master, holding the position for 31 years (1351–1382).
Winrich von Kniprode was born in 1310 in Monheim am Rhein near Cologne. He served as ...
, Konrad was elected Grandmaster of the Teutonic Order on October 5, 1382. As leader of the monastic order, he largely focused on internal matters, leaving foreign policy to
Konrad von Wallenrode
Konrad von Wallenrode (c. 1330s – 23 July 1393) was the 24th Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, serving from 1391 to 1393. Modern sources are friendly towards Konrad, although they claim he was hot-blooded, proud, and had tendencies to ...
, who was appointed Marshal of the Order and
Komtur of
Konigsberg. He reformed the administrative structure of Teutonic
Prussia
Prussia, , Old Prussian: ''Prūsa'' or ''Prūsija'' was a German state on the southeast coast of the Baltic Sea. It formed the German Empire under Prussian rule when it united the German states in 1871. It was ''de facto'' dissolved by an em ...
, promoted German settlement, and attempted to found a
university
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...
in the city of
Kulm, though the latter never came to fruition. He also, like his predecessor, combated
usery, reducing the maximuim
interest rate
An interest rate is the amount of interest due per period, as a proportion of the amount lent, deposited, or borrowed (called the principal sum). The total interest on an amount lent or borrowed depends on the principal sum, the interest rate, th ...
from 10% to 8.33%, with violators having their capital confiscated. The city of
Passenheim was granted city rights in 1386.
During Konrad's reign, tensions between the Teutonic Order and the
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state that existed from the 13th century to 1795, when the territory was partitioned among the Russian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the Habsburg Empire of Austria. The state was founded by Li ...
escalated. Attempts to
christianize Lithuania
The Christianization of Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Lithuania ( lt, Lietuvos krikštas) occurred in 1387, initiated by King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania Władysław II Jagiełło and his cousin Vytautas the Great. It signified the official a ...
(which was one of the few areas in
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
that remained
pagan
Paganism (from classical Latin ''pāgānus'' "rural", "rustic", later "civilian") is a term first used in the fourth century by early Christians for people in the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism, or ethnic religions other than Judaism. ...
) in 1383 failed, and although Lithuania adopted Christianity in 1386, relations only soured more as the baptism of Grand Duke
Władysław II Jagiełło
Jogaila (; 1 June 1434), later Władysław II Jagiełło ()He is known under a number of names: lt, Jogaila Algirdaitis; pl, Władysław II Jagiełło; be, Jahajła (Ягайла). See also: Names and titles of Władysław II Jagiełło. w ...
was done to facilitate the marriage between him and the
Queen of Poland,
Jadwiga
Jadwiga (; diminutives: ''Jadzia'' , ''Iga'') is a Polish feminine given name. It originated from the old German feminine given name ''Hedwig'' (variants of which include ''Hedwiga''), which is compounded from ''hadu'', "battle", and ''wig'', "figh ...
. This meant that Lithuania and
Poland
Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populous ...
, who was the primary rival of the Teutonic Order, had entered into a personal union. In his later reign, the order was beset by numerous internal issues; in 1383, a
plague
Plague or The Plague may refer to:
Agriculture, fauna, and medicine
*Plague (disease), a disease caused by ''Yersinia pestis''
* An epidemic of infectious disease (medical or agricultural)
* A pandemic caused by such a disease
* A swarm of pes ...
outbreak occurred, and in later years,
crop failures, and declining fishing and trade output wrecked havoc upon the
state.
Konrad died in Christburg on August 20, 1390. His body was buried in the
Marienburg castle in the mausoleum of grandmaster under the chapel of St. Anne.
[ : ]
Konrad Zöllner von Rotenstein
.'' In: '' General German Biography'' (ADB). Volume 45, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1900, pp. 429-431.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wallenrode, Konrad Von
1320s births
1390 deaths
Grand Masters of the Teutonic Order
German nobility