Ludwig von Erlichshausen (1410 – 1467) was the 31st
Grand Master of the
Teutonic Knights, serving from from 1449/1450 to 1467.
As did his uncle and predecessor
Konrad von Erlichshausen, Ludwig came from Ellrichshausen in
Swabia, now part of
Satteldorf in
Baden-Württemberg.
Ludwig was aide to Grand Master
Paul von Rusdorf 1436-40,
Komtur of
Schönsee (Wąbrzeźno) near
Thorn (Toruń) (1442-47), and Komtur of
Mewe (Gniew) (1446-50). After the death of his more compromising uncle in 1449, Ludwig became Grand Master in 1450, despite being of limited ability and bad temper.
His uncompromising stance towards the
Prussian Confederation made the Prussian cities ask the Polish king for support, which led to the outbreak of the
Thirteen Years' War in 1454 between the Order and the Polish-supported Prussian Confederation.
As the Order was short on cash since the expensive
First Peace of Thorn (1411), Ludwig had to hand over the Order's headquarter
Marienburg Castle to his mercenaries in lieu of pay during the war. In turn, they sold it to the Polish king who seized the castle in June 1457. The Order had to move its capital to
Königsberg.
Their former capital of Marienburg was not the only loss, however, as the Order had to cede other areas in the
Second Peace of Thorn in 1466:
Pomerelia,
Culmerland,
Warmia, and a part of
Pomesania including
Marienwerder (Kwidzyn).
Ludwig died at Königsberg.