Groninger comparison

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The Groningen settlement of September 8, 1319 is an agreement between the 20 independent order houses of the Johanniter with the Steinfurter Komtur Heinrich von Selbach . He regulated the right of the commander to visit the religious houses and to be duly accepted.

Johanniter in East Frisia

The comedians in medieval Friesland were subordinate to the Commander of the Johanniter Hospital in Burg-Steinfurt near Münster as their master. In the 20 miles long and five miles wide coastline on the North Sea , 20 religious houses of St. John were built, which were organized according to the pattern of the Balleien and the mother house. The brothers in each house formed a convent headed by a commander. The religious houses defended their independence against the Steinfurter Komtur by rejecting his demands to deliver men and horses against the unbelievers, as well as the attempts to get involved in the internal affairs of the individual houses. The struggle had lasted longer than a settlement was reached through the mediation of some clergy and lay people in Groningen .

The 20 houses included those in Bokelesch , Burmönken , Dünebroek , Hasselt , Inte , Langholt , Langewische , Witleke , Hoven and Hesel .

Content of the comparison

The settlement provided that von Selbach had to be content with an annual remuneration of 44 marks sterling, which he had to collect himself, excluding all army consequences. During his annual visits in May, it was regulated, he could visit the religious houses with seven people and seven horses. The commander of the house had to go to meet him with the brothers, to accompany him and to entertain him. They had to be respectful and friendly and pay him one shilling as an allowance on arrival and departure. The document does not designate any further powers for von Selbach. Only in the maintenance of the property that belonged to the order did the commander have a say. Plots of land could not be sold without his consent or the consent of the Grand Prior and the Grand Master. The comparison was a success for the religious convents. The choice of the respective commander was left to the brothers of each house, unless they could not agree and moved from Selbach voluntarily. Selbach was also only entitled to dismiss the local commander for negligent conduct after a request from the convention.

The Groningen comparison does not provide any information about the type and time of the construction of these 20 religious houses.

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