View source for Winrich von Kniprode

{{Short description|22nd Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights}}
{{expand German|topic=bio|date=March 2024}}
[[Image:Malbork - Winrich von Kniprode.JPG|thumb|right|Statue of Winrich von Kniprode at [[Malbork Castle]] ]]
[[Image:Winrich von Kniprode 1.jpg|thumb|left|Portrait of Winrich von Kniprode]]
'''Winrich von Kniprode''' was the 22nd [[Grand Master of the Teutonic Order]]. He was the longest serving Grand Master, holding the position for 31 years (1351–1382). His winning personality and his sense of tact and tone won the Order many friends within the nobility of Germany, France and England. Under his leadership, [[the Teutonic Order]] came to be characterized by knightly life and courtly culture.<ref>Urban, William (2003). The Teutonic Knights. London. Greenhill Books. p.327 {{ISBN|91-518-4478-8}}.</ref>
Winrich von Kniprode was born in 1310 in [[Monheim am Rhein]] near [[Cologne]]. He served as the [[Komtur]] of [[Gdańsk|Danzig]] (1338–1341) and [[Balga]] (1341–1343). In 1341 he was promoted to the Grand Marshal.
Winrich was elected Grand Master in 1351, and with his guidance [[The Teutonic Order]] enabled the [[Baltic Crusades]] to reach a moral peak.<ref>Urban, William (2003). The Teutonic Knights. London. Greenhill Books. p.167 {{ISBN|91-518-4478-8}}.</ref>  He constantly fought with the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]] to gain access to [[Livonia]]. He achieved a victory in the [[Battle of Rudau]]. The victory was attributed to the Virgin Mary and in her honor Kniprode established the Augustinian convent at Heiligenbeil ([[Mamonovo]]).<ref>Christiansen, Eric (1997). The Northern Crusades (2nd ed.). London: Penguin Books. p. 222. {{ISBN|0-14-026653-4}}.</ref> The battle marked the last serious threat from the Lithuanians in Prussia in the 14th century.<ref>Urban, William (2006). Samogitian Crusade. Chicago: Lithuanian Research and Studies Center. p. 158. {{ISBN|0-929700-56-2}}.</ref>
During his time as Grand Master, he also enhanced the look of [[Malbork Castle|Marienburg Castle]], with more comfort and bigger scale. For this his reputation grew far beyond the borders of [[The Holy Roman Empire]].<ref>Urban, William (2003). The Teutonic Knights. London. Greenhill Books. p.176 {{ISBN|91-518-4478-8}}.</ref>
Winrich died in 1382 and was buried in [[Malbork Castle|Marienburg Castle]] in the [[mausoleum]] under the Chapel of St. Anna.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
*Christiansen, Eric (1997). The Northern Crusades (2nd ed.). London: Penguin Books. {{ISBN|0-14-026653-4}}.
*Friedrich, Borchert (2001) "Die Hochmeister des Deutschen Ordens in Preußen."''Preußische Allgemeine Zeitung''
*Urban, William (2003). The Teutonic Knights. London. Greenhill Books. {{ISBN|91-518-4478-8}}.
*Urban, William (2006). Samogitian Crusade. Chicago: Lithuanian Research and Studies Center. {{ISBN|0-929700-56-2}}.
{{s-start}}
{{s-other|[[Grand Master of the Teutonic Order]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Heinrich Dusemer]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Hochmeister|years=1351–1382}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Conrad Zöllner von Rothenstein]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Winrich von Kniprode}}
[[Category:1310 births]]
[[Category:1382 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Mettmann (district)]]
[[Category:German untitled nobility]]
[[Category:Grand masters of the Teutonic Order]]
[[Category:Burials in the Chapel of St. Anne, Malbork]]
[[Category:People from Malbork]]