Hermann von Salza

Hermann von Salza was born in 1170 in the castle of Dryburg in Langensalza. He was raised on the estate of the land-Count Hermann von Thüringen. From 1209 until his death, Hermann v. Salza was the fourth Grandmaster of the Order of German Knights (Teutonic Order). Hermann received his title within only a few decades after founding a Thüringe infirmary that was transformed into a knightly order in 1198.

After 1216, Hermann was elected the guest of the Papal Court and eventually became the friend and confidant of Friedich II and, as such, acted as a political mediator to the Pope. From 1218-1220, Hermann participated in the crusade against the Fortress Damietta. In 1222, Hermann was named a Prince by the Kaiser Friedrich II of Hohenstaufen. In 1224, Hermann represented Kaiser Friedrich II at the Frankfurter Imperial Parliment (Reichstag). In 1126, the Duke Konrad of Masowien called the knights to a mission at the pagan Pruzzen in the Kulmer Lands where a state of the Order was establsihed. From 1227-1229, von Salza participated in his fifth crusade whereby in 1230 his mediation between the Kaiser and the Pope allowed for the Peace of Esprano. By 1230, Hermann had received control over all the captured lands. By virtue of his acqusition (capture) of new lands, Hermann v.Salza enlarged the kingdom of the order (Landbesitz des Ordens) and is recognized as the founder of the Prussian state. By 1236, the Pope sanctioned the state of the Order that quickly developed into a sovereignty.

Hermann v. Salsa died on 20 March 1239 in Salerno.