ping.
Posted on 12/12/2008 1:00:13 PM PST by BGHater
Polish archaeologists believe silk-draped skeletons found in a cathedral crypt are those of three grand masters who more than 600 years ago ruled the Teutonic Knights — an order that spread religion through force.
An archaeologist in the city of Kwidzyn — the Teutonic fortress of Marienwerder in the Middle Ages — said Friday that DNA tests indicate the remains are those of Werner von Orseln, the knights' leader from 1324-1330; Ludolf Koenig, who ruled from 1342-1345; and Heinrich von Plauen, who reigned from 1410-1413.
"Taking everything into account, we see that we are dealing with Teutonic Knights grand masters," Bogumil Wisniewski, an archaeologist who spearheaded the search, told The Associated Press. "We are 95, 96 percent sure it is them."
He said the skeletons, found in wooden coffins, were draped in silks — some painted with gold — a fabric reserved only to those highest in power in the Middle Ages.
DNA tests matched their age to that of the death age of the three grand masters. They also revealed temporary malnutrition in one of the skeletons that could match the 10-year imprisonment of von Plauen.
While Wisniewski acknowledged he could only be completely certain of the identities "if I met each face-to-face and he told me his name," he said several other indicators supported the find, including wall paintings in the cathedral showing the three grand masters and historic documents saying that von Orseln and Koenig were buried there. The order ruled in the area until early 16th century.
Wojciech Weryk, coordinator for city development and promotion, said the remains will be returned to the crypt and displayed under a special glass shield, so visitors can see them.
"This is such a valuable historic finding that we should show it," Weryk said.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
ping.
duh..ping.
Anyone know of any other instances of Christianity being forced on anyone?
Iberia, for example.
Charlemagne and the Saxons?
Various Scandanavian and Anglo-Saxon kings?
Vladimir the Great of Russia?
The Spanish and Portugese in Latin America?
Spanish and Portugese persecution of Jews and Muslims?
Those are off the top of my head.
Did you hear about the Teutonic knights who thought they were iron men because had rust in their armor ?
I’ve read that the Teutonic Knights were yet another group of mass murdering Germans not people that spread their religion by whatever means. The article said that they engaged in ethnic cleansing in Poland and settled the land with Germans.
IMO forceful conversion would be a step up from that.
I have heard of my grandma wearing out your behind with a corn stalk if you sneak out of church .
“The Teutonic Knights were one some of the most despicable people to ever walk the face of the earth. “
Why?
Unless that cornstalk still has the ears on it that threat doesn’t sound like much of a deterrent.
Thanks for the info
Before or after the Muslim invasion?
Ferdinand and Isabella’s Inquisition?
Pre ‘92 and after.
One of the popular traditions of the Teutonic Knights was known as a Reis. A wealthy noble or knight from elsewhere in Christian Europe searching for adventure would travel to the Baltic coast to arrange one in exchange for funding the Order. This was a way for the Teutonic Knights to both raise money, influence, and manpower from those who chose to participate. What the Reis entailed can best be described as a human safari wherein knights would hunt Prussian, Lithuanian, or virtually any peasant in the area for sport. Think of the scene in planet of the apes where the apes on horseback are riding down the fleeing humans in the fields. Like that, except bloodier.
They attacked Christian dukedoms and principalities in the name of evangelization, falsely accusing them of being pagan when they in fact were not. Those they defeated, they also enslaved, even though they were Christian.
When recruiting troops in the West for their war against Poland in the 15th century, they would falsely tell recruits that it was for a crusade against a pagan kingdom, even though the Polish kingdom had been Christian since the 10th century.
All in all, they were a horrible, evil group of people who committed unspeakable atrocities in the name of Christ.
It is a pity King Jagelo of Poland did not completely wipe them out after winning his war against them. Instead, he signed a treaty with them and let them become vassals of the Polish crown. That was a big mistake.
You might find this article interesting.
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