Ludwig von Erlichshausen
Ludwig von Erlichshausen (also Ludwig von Ellrichshausen; * around 1410 or 1415 in Swabia, † April 4, 1467 in Königsberg ). Was 31 Grand Master of the Teutonic Order during the period from 1450 to 1467 He came from a family of ministeriales of Men von Hohenlohe in Crailsheim room - wet cheeks ( cousin Conrad of Erlichshausen ).
1434, he joined the Order. Initially he was governor of Leske, then governor of Grebin and bailiff of his body. In the years 1436-1440 he was Kompan of the Grand Master Paul of Rusdorf. The position of Commander of Schoensee he held from 1442 to 1447 and the Commander of Mewe 1446-1450.
On March 21, 1450, he was elected Grand Master. Unlike his predecessors, he was an uncompromising and uncontrolled man who focused on the fight against the Prussian estates and the settlement with the federal government. The end of 1450 he got through clumsiness in the crossfire of a dispute between the Federal Government and the Holy See and lost as to credibility and enforcement.
In 1453 he reached after a long dispute, although the Reichstag and Kaiser lifting the Prussian Union, but prompted thus its rebellion and led the country in the Thirteen Years' War.
The resulting 1454 after the Battle of Konitz favorable for the Order Location Ludwig understood not to use and to bring about a reasonable balance with the Estates. 1457 was the loss of Marienburg to faithless mercenaries (which they sold to the Polish king ) and the relocation of the residence of the Grand Master to Königsberg (the city of Marienburg still defended himself to 1460 ). The war dragged on for years without results then, until after the defeat at Zarnowitz the Order with its funds was at the end of 1466 and had to close the Second Peace of Thorn. This meant that the Order of Pomerania, Kulmerland, Warmia and some Pomesaniens had to cede to Poland and the Grand Master had the Polish king swear fealty.
Ludwig von Erlichshausen retired from misfortune drawn by his oath seriously ill back to Königsberg. Here he died on April 4, 1467 and was buried there in the cathedral.