Luther von Braunschweig (also known as
Lothar; ca. 1275 – April 18, 1335) was the 18th
Grand Master of the
Teutonic Knights, serving from 1331-35.
A member of the
House of Welf, Luther was born to
Albert I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, and Adelaide, the sister of a
north Italian vassal, Boniface of Monferatto. He was the youngest of his siblings and was designated to join the
military order. He joined the Teutonic Order in 1300 and his career started with a stint at the castle in
Christburg and in 1308 he became the
Komtur of
Gollub. A year later he became the house komtur of Christburg and in 1313 the house Komtur of
Marienburg. In 1314 he became the Grand Armourer and the Komtur of Christburg, founding several town and colonizing southern
Prussia at the same time.
Luther became Grand Master during a war with
Poland after the sudden death of Grand Master
Werner von Orseln on February 17, 1331.
Luther continued the conquest of
Kuyavia and ordered
Dietrich von Altenburg to invade
Greater Poland. During the invasion, the Teutonic Knights went as far south as
Kalisz (Kalisch), destroying the land around them. The
Battle of Płowce of 1331 did not stop the Teutonic Order from further invasions. In May 1332, the crusading army captured
Brześć Kujawski and
Inowrocław and new komturships were formed in Kuyavia.
Despite the war, Luther tried to avoid any unnecessary military actions. He concentrated on reforming religious life as well as writing poems and theologic books. He ordered the redesign of
Castle Marienburg to make it look more like the residence of an
emperor rather than a
monastery. Luther redesigned the Chapel of
St. Anna and built the
mausoleum of the Grand Masters underneath it.
Luther died in
Stuhm and was buried in a cathedral in
Königsberg.
Category:1275 birthsCategory:1335 deathsCategory:Grand Masters of the Teutonic KnightsCategory:House of WelfCategory:People from Lower Saxonyde:Luther von Braunschweigit:Luther von Braunschweiglt:Liuteris fon Braunšveigashu:Luther braunschweigi hercegpl:Luther von Braunschweigsl:Luther von Braunschweig
