Ceremonial Sword of the German Teutonic Order
- Dated: circa 1590
- Culture: German
The blade features the portrait of Heinrich von Walpot.
Sidenotes:- The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem (Official names: Latin: “Ordo domus Sanctæ Mariæ Theutonicorum Hierosolymitanorum,” German: “Orden der Brüder vom Deutschen Haus St. Mariens in Jerusalem)”, commonly the Teutonic Order (today: German Order = Deutscher Orden, also Deutschherrenorden or Deutschritterorden), is a German medieval military order, and in modern times a purely religious Catholic order.
- It 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, since they also served as a crusading military order in the Middle Ages.
- The military membership was always small, with volunteers and mercenaries augmenting the force as needed. After the Reformation, the Bailiwick of Utrecht of the Order became Protestant; this branch still consists of knights, but the modern Roman Catholic order consists of Roman Catholic priests, nuns, and associates.
- Heinrich Walpot von Bassenheim also known as Henry Walpot, was the first Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, serving from 1198 to 1200. As little is known about him, information regarding the Grand Master is mostly based on historians’ theories. Walpot died in 1200 A.D. and was buried in Acre.
- Walpot hailed from a rich family from Mainz. He was in favour of turning the organization into a military order. In 1199 he received a copy of monastery rules from Gilbert Horal, the Grand Master of the Knights Templar, and on behalf of Pope Innocent III. It was based on the rules of the Templars.