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 ...
> ...stayed there and acted more as an imperial state rather then humble servants of God.
The managed to stay there some centuries. This would not have been possible were the inhabitants subdued. I guess the people back then didn’t care a lot to whom they paid their tenth as life must have been hard already.
BTW, I have nothing against remembering the past, the fallen and all that but this pathos over some battle 600 years ago is ridiculous.
To you it may sem ridiculous, your country (Germany as it is) is around 300 years old.. you’ll never understand us :)
The inhabitants you mention were slaves, peasants we call them today. TK’s brutality in forcing their law is world reknown, peasants under their rule prefered to obey Polish King who at least ordered them to pay smaller taxes.
If you reallly want to know the meaning of the song just freepmail me. I’ll be more than happy to translate it for you.
My grandpa taught me this song when I was 4 years old :)
It’s not even that old. There was a “revolution” in 1848 without that much of an effect. The real birth of the German nation happened after the quick and superglorious (and justified - payback for Napoleon) concerted blitzlike preemtive attack of the German States against the French in 1870/71. Of course a loose “we are family” feeling existed for centuries before that.
We aren’t celebrating this today. Actually it would be worth to celebrate but then the French would feel offended.
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