In March 1193, Richard the Lionheart was captured on his way back from the Third Crusade. The English King was arrested by Leopold V, Duke of Austria, and soon imprisoned by Kaiser Heinrich VI at Trifels Castle in the Palatinate region of southwestern Germany. The arrest was revenge for Richard’s support of a massive conspiracy against the German… Continue reading German Kaiser Heinrich VI grants a pardon to ransomed King Richard the Lionheart of England
That is how it was in the first half of the Middle Ages... from the 5th to 11th centuries. If a nobleman wanted a woman, he simply took possession of her. The concept of love and chivalry were unknown. But, by the end of the 12th century, leaders such as the German Kaiser Heinrich VI… Continue reading If a nobleman wanted a woman, he simply took possession of her
Heinrich der Löwe (Henry the Lion) Heinrich der Löwe (Henry the Lion) was one of the most powerful German princes of his time. He founded many cities, among them Munich, Lübeck and Augsburg*… but he lost it all when he angered Kaiser Friedrich I, Barbarossa (Frederick Barbarossa). The image below depicts the moment that Henry… Continue reading He founded Munich, Lübeck and Augsburg… but he lost it all when he angered Kaiser Friedrich I
The single headed German eagle adopted in AD 800 was used for 640 years...this example is the Teutonic Knights Grandmaster symbol inaugurated in 1198...it consists of the German black crusader cross plus the German eagle that was gifted by the Kaiser. At the tips of the cross are 4 Fleur de Lis symbols gifted by… Continue reading German Eagles…single head 640 years, double-headed 366 years, then single head ever since 1871.
The Teutonic Knights were warrior monks who fought to convert pagans to Christianity and also built and governed their Monastic State of the Teutonic Order all along the Baltic coast in northern Europe. At the core of their organization was a group of 3000 highly trained and well equipped warrior monks...men who also gave up… Continue reading For 300 years two men were included in the daily prayers of the Teutonic Knights
For People Proud of their German Heritage 