Mastery of Livonia
The Livonian Order (also: Brothers of the Soldiers of Christ of Livonia , Latin Fratres miliciae Christ de Livonia ) was from 1237, since the forced integration of the Sword Brothers as Livonian Order of the Teutonic Knights , a component of the Teutonic Knights and the German Order State .
The coming of the Teutonic Order, which represented the convents of knights and priests , were united in larger associations. These associations were called Balleien and are comparable to the order provinces of other orders. At their head was a land commander who can be compared with a provincial in other orders . In Livonia, the comedians were directly subordinate to the Landmeister in Livonia , who was able to maintain a high degree of independence from the Grand Master . He was not only the immediate superior of the knights and priests, but also the sovereign of Livonia. Wenden Castle was the seat of the Landmeister .
Since there were no admissions within the landmasterhood, the knights and priests of the Livonia Masterhood were always from the German Balleien, mostly from Westphalia and Lower Saxony . This regional exclusivity resulted in rivalries with the branch of the order in Prussia and contributed not insignificantly to the catastrophic defeat at Tannenberg in 1410.
The last Landmeister Gotthard Kettler converted to Lutheranism in 1561 and secularized the Order. On November 28, 1561 he was enfeoffed with the Duchy of Courland and Zemgale by the King of Poland, to whom he swore the feudal oath .
Coming
- Commandery Reval
- Commandery of Jerwen
- Commandery Pernau
- Fellin Commandery
- Talkhof Commandery
- Marienburg Commandery
- Land Marshal Segewold
- Master of the Order (Commandery) Dünamünde
- Commandery Ascheraden
- Commandery of Daugavpils
- Commandery Bauske
- Mitau Commandery
- Commandery Doblen
- Commandery Goldingen
- Commandery Windau
The court of the Teutonic Order in Lübeck was also subordinate to the mastership of Livonia .