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The Landmeister in Prussia Landmeister of Prussia
was a high office in the Teutonic Order. The Landmeister administered the land of Prussia of the Teutonic Order. It was in
existence from 1230 to 1309. The office was created at the same time as the beginning of the conquest and the forcible Christianization
of the Prussians in the summer of 1230. The first Landmeister, Hermann von Balk, received
the Kulmer Land from the Duke Konrad I of Masovia as the nucleus of the Teutonic Orders in
Prussia and started advancing north along the Vistula river. His successors completed the conquest of the country under considerable
setbacks and established the protection of the districts and the defeat of rebellious Prussians in fortified houses, the
forerunners of the later brick fortresses known as Ordensburgs. The last Landmeister of Prussia residing in Elbing
was Heinrich von Plötzke. In 1309, after the death of Plötzke, the office was united with that of the then grandmaster
Siegfried von Feuchtwangen residing in Marburg Castle. |
