Heinrich von Hohenlohe

Heinrich von Hohenlohe (c. 1200 – 15 July 1249) was a German nobleman who served as the seventh Grand Master of the Teutonic Order from 1244 to 1249.[1][2] He was the son of one of the richest and most powerful feudal lords in Württemberg and had four brothers and one sister.


Heinrich von Hohenlohe

Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights
1684 illustration of Heinrich
ChurchRoman Catholic
Elected1244
Installed1244
Term ended15 July 1249
PredecessorGerhard von Malberg
SuccessorGünther von Wüllersleben
Previous post(s)Domicellus in Wurzburg (1218)
Deutschmeister of the Teutonic Order (1232 - 1242)
Personal details
Bornc. 1200
Died15 July 1249(1249-07-15) (aged 48–49)
Prussia
BuriedMergentheim Church
ParentsHeinrich von Hohenlohe (F), and Adelheid von Gundelfingen auf der Brenz (M)
Coat of armsHeinrich von Hohenlohe's coat of arms

Von Hohenlohe was canon of the Bishopric of Würzburg from 1218 to 1219. In 1220, he and two of his brothers joined the Teutonic Order, donating at the same time his part of his father's inheritance to the Order. It turned out to be one of the most powerful komturships in German lands, Mergentheim on the river Tauber. In 1221, von Hohenlohe went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and, upon returning, became the Komtur of Mergentheim.

Upon the orders of Grand Master Hermann von Salza in 1225, von Hohenlohe escorted Isabella II of Jerusalem, the second wife of Emperor Frederick II, to the Kingdom of Italy. From that point, von Hohenlohe would spend much time around the Grand Master, holding important positions in Germany, and residing in Mergentheim.

When the Order's chapter removed Gerhard von Malberg from the office of Grand Master, von Hohenlohe was chosen as his successor. He was considered to support the emperor and, in the conflict between Frederick II and Pope Innocent IV, von Hohenlohe represented the interests of the emperor, causing an uproar between many of the Order's brothers led by the Master of the Livonian Order, Dietrich von Grüningen.

In 1246, von Hohenlohe rushed to Prussia to start a crusade and as a result, he captured Christburg. He signed a favorable treaty with the Old Prussians and the Duke of Pomerania, Świętopełk II the Great.

Von Hohenlohe died in July 1249, shortly after returning from Prussia. He was buried in the church in Mergentheim.

References

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  1. ^ The Chronicle of Prussia by Nicolaus von Jeroschin - A History of the Teutonic Knights in Prussia, 1190–1331. Translated by Fischer, Mary. Routledge. 2016. p. 21. ISBN 9781032179865.
  2. ^ Forstreuter, Kurt (1969). "Heinrich von Hohenlohe". Neue Deutsche Biographie (in German). Vol. 8 (Online ed.). p. 378.
Grand Master of the Teutonic Order
Preceded by Hochmeister
1244–1249
Succeeded by