Bernd von der Borch

Bernd von der Borch (also Bernhard von der Borch ; also von der Borg ) (* 15th century; † 15th century) was Landmeister of the Teutonic Order in Livonia from 1471 to 1483 . He came to power through a coup against his predecessor. He tried to limit the secular power of the Archbishop of Riga . The conflict with Archbishop Silvester Stodewescher lasted for years. Von der Borch first prevailed and was taken over by Emperor Friedrich III. also enfeoffed with the city and archbishopric of Riga . In the fight against the Russians he suffered a heavy defeat and in 1481 had to accept a long armistice. After the appointment of a new archbishop by the Pope, there was an uprising against him. He had to abdicate in 1483.

Life

He came from the group consisting Westphalia originating family von der Borch . The Bishop of Reval Simon von der Borch was a relative. Mostly this is referred to as an uncle but sometimes also as Bernd's cousin. Simon later worked as a mediator for Bernd and traveled to the Pope and Emperor for him.

Putsch against the predecessor

Bernd von der Borch was possibly Commander in Marienburg . He appeared in 1471 as an order marshal in connection with the revolt of members of the order against Landmeister Johann Wolthus von Herse , who was accused of mismanagement, among other things. In fact, the revolt was directed particularly against the plans for an internal reorganization of the order in Livonia. He was also accused of being willing to take offensive action against the Muscovites and the Russians from Pskov . Herse was deposed and instead Bernd von der Borch was elected landmaster. Immediately afterwards, the brother of his predecessor Ernst Wolthuss began to reverse the decision in vain. Von der Borch immediately withdrew his predecessor's reforms.

Conflict over the city and monastery of Riga

The conflict between the Order and the city and monastery of Riga was very difficult . After a compromise in 1453, the city of Riga was jointly subordinate to the archbishop and the landmaster. Archbishop Silvester Stodewescher tried to expand his position. There was a dispute with von der Borch, which was only ended by mediation of the knighthood through a six-year decency. The archbishop used the time to represent his cause to the Pope and to win allies in the region. There was support from Poland and Sweden , while the other bishops of Livonia remained neutral. An alliance existed, for example, with the Archbishop of Uppsala and with other Swedish bishops. Stodewescher troops began to recruit in Poland. The Pope also stood on his side and confirmed his sovereignty over Riga. Von der Borch was banned by the archbishop.

At the Landtag of Valmiera in 1476, Bernd von der Borch announced that he wanted to take military action against the archbishop. He sent Simon von der Borch to Kaiser Friedrich III. to ask him to give him the rules for Riga. At the state parliament, through the mediation of the knighthood, there was again a compromise for ten years. However, both sides continued to arm.

The situation became even more difficult for the landmaster because he received news of Russian armaments. He once again sent Simon von der Borch to Rome, where he succeeded in persuading the Pope to give in in favor of the landmaster. Another attempt to settle the matter at Walk's state parliament failed. Simon von der Borch returned in 1477 with the papal order that both parties to the dispute should bow to Cardinal Stephen's judgment. While the landmaster appeared before the cardinal, Archbishop Silvester stayed away. Riots against the archbishop broke out in Riga because he had banned the city because of their support for the landmaster. After complaints, the Pope instructed the archbishop to lift the ban. Two hundred Swedes landed in support of New Year's Eve, but were caught on orders by the Borchs and sent back to Sweden.

Fortification of power and defeat

The Russians conquered Novgorod in 1478 and destroyed, among other things, the Peterhof . Then they marched into the diocese of Dorpat and devastated the area. Landmeister von der Borch went to meet the Russians with the order. The intruders then withdrew. The threat from outside meant that the internal dispute in Livonia was postponed and a general state contingent was decided. The landmaster took the opportunity and occupied the archbishop's castles. New Year's Eve was captured and the estates of Riga Abbey paid homage to the landmaster. Von der Borch took tough action against former opponents.

The archbishop died in custody. The landmaster put pressure on the canons , some of whom were captured , so that they elected Simon von der Borch as their new archbishop. Bernd von der Borch intended a fundamental change. The new archbishop should no longer be a secular sovereign and only perform spiritual tasks. However, the Pope did not confirm this choice, but made Stephan Grube archbishop. Faced with the threat from Russia, the landmaster made contact with the Swedes. The request for support from the Teutonic Order in the actual state was refused by the Grand Master.

In the winter of 1480 Bernd von der Borch undertook a futile campaign against Pskow to strengthen his position . Then the Russo-Livonian War began , in which the army of the order against the troops of Ivan III. suffered a heavy defeat. On September 1, 1481, a ten-year peace was concluded.

Bernd von der Borch turned to Friedrich III again in 1481. to be enfeoffed with the Archbishopric of Riga. This time the Kaiser accepted the request because a unified defense against the Russians seemed necessary.

Resistance from Riga

Because there were renewed conflicts over Riga and von der Borch took action against opposing clergy, he and Simon von der Borch were banned by the Pope and Stephan Grube was declared the sole overlord of Riga. At first this had no effect and the city and knighthood of Riga supported von der Borch in a campaign against the invading Russians from Pskov. Von der Borch acted defensively, which cost him the Rigarer's trust. This now recognized Grube as overlord. Simon von der Borch, who still saw himself as the legitimate archbishop, uttered a ban in vain.

Bernd von der Borch responded with violence. When the city was bombarded, the tower of the Jakobikirche was destroyed. The citizens of Riga, who had no confidence in the still missing pit, signed a two-year armistice with von der Borch in March 1483. When Grube did arrive in Riga, the city and the knight went over to his side. The opponents von der Borchs went on the offensive. Von der Borch could no longer rely even on the knights of the order, so that many castles and cities fell to the enemy. Against this background, called von der Borch Gebietiger the Livonian Order branch in Wenden together. On November 14, 1483 von der Borch offered to resign. In his place, Johann Freitag von Loringhoven was elected Landmeister. Nothing is known about the further life of the Borchs.

Individual evidence

^ Marie Luise Heckmann: The German Order and the "Golden Bull" of Emperor Charles IV. With a preliminary remark on the origin of the quaternions . In: Yearbook for the History of Central and Eastern Germany , vol. 52 (2007), p. 186.
^ Bernhard Dierks: War and Peace with Livonia (12th – 15th centuries) . In: Dagmar Herrmann (ed.): Germans and Germany from a Russian perspective , Vol. 1: 11. – 17. Century . Fink, Munich and Paderborn 1989, ISBN 3-7705-2528-0 , p. 141.
↑ Maike Sach: Grand Master and Grand Duke. Relations between the Teutonic Order in Prussia and the Moscow State at the turn of the modern era . Steiner, Stuttgart 2002, ISBN 3-515-08047-3 , p. 103.
↑ Bernhart Jähnig: Constitution and administration of the Teutonic Order and its rule in Livonia . Lit, Berlin 2011, ISBN 978-3-643-11005-3 , p. 93.
↑ Maike Sach: Grand Master and Grand Duke. Relations between the Teutonic Order in Prussia and the Moscow State at the turn of the modern era . Steiner, Stuttgart 2002, p. 104.
^ Regesta Imperii , XIII: Friedrich III. (1440–1493), volume 24: The documents and letters from the historical state archive in Königsberg in the Secret State Archive of Prussian Cultural Heritage in Berlin, from the state archives in Gdańsk, Toruń, Riga and the city archive in Tallinn for the historical landscapes of Prussia and Livonia , edited by Elfie-Marita Eibl. Böhlau, Wien, Weimar, Cologne 2010, ISBN 978-3-205-78509-5 , No. 237, p. 208 (online) .

literature

Otto Freiherr von Rutenberg: History of the Baltic provinces, Liv-, Esth- and Kurland, Volume 2 Leipzig, 1860 p. 184ff.

Web links

Karl Brinkmann: Sons of the local landed gentry as protectors of the religious order in Livonia

predecessor	Office	successor
Johann Wolthus von Herse	Landmaster in Livonia of the Teutonic Order 1471–1483	Johann Friday from Loringhoven

personal data
SURNAME	Borch, Bernd from the
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Borch, Bernhard von der; Borg, from the
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Landmaster of the Teutonic Order in Livonia (1471–1483)
DATE OF BIRTH	15th century
DATE OF DEATH	15th century

[1] Marie Luise Heckmann: The German Order and the "Golden Bull" of Emperor Charles IV. With a preliminary remark on the origin of the quaternions . In: Yearbook for the History of Central and Eastern Germany , vol. 52 (2007), p. 186.

[2] Bernhard Dierks: War and Peace with Livonia (12th – 15th centuries) . In: Dagmar Herrmann (ed.): Germans and Germany from a Russian perspective , Vol. 1: 11. – 17. Century . Fink, Munich and Paderborn 1989, ISBN 3-7705-2528-0 , p. 141.

[3] Maike Sach: Grand Master and Grand Duke. Relations between the Teutonic Order in Prussia and the Moscow State at the turn of the modern era . Steiner, Stuttgart 2002, ISBN 3-515-08047-3 , p. 103.

[4] Bernhart Jähnig: Constitution and administration of the Teutonic Order and its rule in Livonia . Lit, Berlin 2011, ISBN 978-3-643-11005-3 , p. 93.

[5] Maike Sach: Grand Master and Grand Duke. Relations between the Teutonic Order in Prussia and the Moscow State at the turn of the modern era . Steiner, Stuttgart 2002, p. 104.

[6] Regesta Imperii , XIII: Friedrich III. (1440–1493), volume 24: The documents and letters from the historical state archive in Königsberg in the Secret State Archive of Prussian Cultural Heritage in Berlin, from the state archives in Gdańsk, Toruń, Riga and the city archive in Tallinn for the historical landscapes of Prussia and Livonia , edited by Elfie-Marita Eibl. Böhlau, Wien, Weimar, Cologne 2010, ISBN 978-3-205-78509-5 , No. 237, p. 208 (online) .