Paul von Rusdorf
Paul of Rusdorf (also Paul of Russdorf; * 1385 Roisdorf at Bonn; † January 9, 1441 in Malbork Castle ) was the 29th Grand Master of the Teutonic Order during the period 1422-1441.
He came from a Ministerialengeschlecht.
1410 when he joined the Order. 1412 he was a nurse Rastenburg, 1413-1416 Vogt to Leipe, Tuchel and Mewe, 1416-1419 Supreme Tressler and 1419-1422 Grand Commander. On March 10, 1422 he was elected Grand Master for the retiring Michael Küchmeister.
The German Order had been forced in the First Peace of Thorn after the Battle of Tannenberg, to pay reparations to Poland, which brought him to the brink of financial ruin. This development was promoted by the conclusion of peace despite repeatedly erupting military conflict with Poland - Lithuania.
The Peace of Melnosee 1422 was one of the few successes of Rusdorf. He brought a certain stability, although the conflict with Poland and Prussia persisted in his tenure. The Order renounced Samogitians and Nessau. In addition, a right to resist the Prussian estates in breach of the peace has been incorporated into the contract.
After the death of Grand Duke Vytautas in 1430, the Order opened the attack on Lithuania. 1435 was finally the "Eternal Peace" of Brest with the new Polish king Władysław III. closed. The inhabitants of both states were henceforth a say in foreign policy.
Since the Order was forced to levy heavy taxes by the Prussian stands and Hanseatic towns, pervaded permanent internal political dispute the entire rule Pauls. The stands demanded a say in the government of the Order state, which was refused. Finally, they organized in the Prussian Confederation, which was established on March 14, 1440 Marie Werder. Paul, however, refused to allow the federal charter.
At the same time broke in a lengthy conflict between the Grand Master and the German Eberhard von Saunsheim within the Order. He tried to obtain a right of control and supervision of the Grand Master using forged documents ( the so-called Orselnschen Association).
Ultimately, Paul resigned from Rusdorf, completely worn down by the constant strife and suffering on January 2, 1441 as a high- back champions and died a week later in the Malbork castle, where he, like his predecessors, was buried at St. Anne's Chapel.
The reign of Paul of Rusdorf marks the culmination of the internal crisis of the Order, which was marked by controversy, intrigue, party formation and decay discipline within the Order.