(продана за $25.0)

1351-1382, Teutonic Knights, Winrich von Kniprode. Silver Vierchen (Kwartnik) Coin. R!

Mint Period: 1351-1382
Denomination: Vierchen (Kwartnik)
Reference: Neumann 5, Kopicki 9007 (R1!).
Condition: Minor deposits, otherwise a nice VF for this early and scarce type!
Diameter: 16mm
Weight: 0,73gm
Material: Silver

Obverse: Shield with arms of the Teutonic Knights within inner circle.
Legend: MAGISTER GENERALIS

Reverse: Short cross within inner circle.
Legend: DOMINORVM PRVSSIE

The Teutonic Order is a Catholic religious institution founded as a military society c. 1190 in Acre, Kingdom of Jerusalem. The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem was formed to aid Christians on their pilgrimages to the Holy Land and to establish hospitals. Its members have commonly been known as the Teutonic Knights, having historically served as a crusading military order for supporting Catholic rule in the Holy Land and the forced conversion to Catholicism in the Baltics during the Middle Ages, as well as providing military protection for Catholics in Eastern Europe. Purely religious since 1810, the Teutonic Order still confers limited honorary knighthoods. The Bailiwick of Utrecht of the Teutonic Order, a Protestant chivalric order, is descended from the same medieval military order and also continues to award knighthoods and perform charitable work.

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.

Winrich von Kniprode was born in 1310 in Monheim am Rhein near Cologne. He served as the Komtur of 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. 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). The battle marked the last serious threat from the Lithuanians in Prussia in the 14th century.

During his time as Grand Master, he also enhanced the look of Marienburg Castle, with more comfort and bigger scale. For this his reputation grew far beyond the borders of The Holy Roman Empire.

Winrich died in 1382 and was buried in Marienburg Castle in the mausoleum under the Chapel of St. Anna.