Konrad von Erlichshausen

Konrad von Erlichshausen ( Konrad von Ellrichshausen; * in 1390 or 1395 in Ellrichshausen at saddle village in Swabia, † November 7, 1449 in Malbork Castle ). Was the 30th Grand Master of the Teutonic Order during the period from 1441 to 1449 and was succeeded by his cousin Louis of Erlichshausen. He came from a family of ministeriales the Lords of Hohenlohe in Crailsheim space - wet cheeks.

His career in the Order began as governor of Roggenhausen. After that, he was at different times of Commendatore Ragnit, Thorn and Althaus. From 1432 to 1439 he was Grand Commander and from 1434 to 1436 and from 1440 to 1441 Order Marshal.

The German Order had been forced in the First Peace of Thorn after the Battle of Tannenberg, to pay high contributions to Poland, which brought him to the brink of financial ruin. Therefore, the German knights raised taxes for the first time by the Prussian stands and Hanseatic cities. Then the items demanded a say in the government of the Order state, which was refused. They organized themselves in the Prussian Confederation, which was established on March 14, 1440 Marie Werder. Grand Master Paul of Rusdorf refused its recognition from and entered into force on January 2, 1441 back ( he died a week later ), and Konrad, who opposes the policy Rusdorfs, was elected on April 12, 1441 as his successor.

He sought a compromise with the stands and gave the cities more rights. 1443 gave Konrad hand Festivals in Arys ( Orzysz ) with an area of ​​790,000 ha during a visit by Seehesten ( Szestno ) he affirmed the rights of Sensburg ( Mrągowo ) on 20 February 1444th Later he founded Krause village ( Kruszewiec ) at Rastenburg ( Kętrzyn ).

All in all, he managed the peaceful enforcement of religious interests against the Estates and in 1446 a mitigation of the Statute of the Prussian Union.

At the same time he reached the settlement with the German champions and the country masters of Livonia. 1442 was a reform of the rules of the order.

1448 it came to an understanding with Poland (Peace of Rastenburg ).

Conrad's policy of balance ended with his death on November 7, 1449 in the Malbork castle, where he was buried, like his predecessors in the St. Anne's Chapel. Under the wise and powerful leadership of Conrad, the crisis of the Order seemed to be over. The prestige of the Order in Germany and abroad increased significantly again.