Networks of interpersonal connections between nobility in the medieval Bailiwick of Brandenburg of the Order of St. John

Abstract

Networks of interpersonal connections between nobility in the medieval Bailiwick of Brandenburg of the Order of St. John The article considers the role of networks of interpersonal connections between the noble families and how they influenced the functioning of the so called Brandenburg Bailiwick of the Order of St. John in the 14 th century. The very term ‘Brandenburg Bailiwick’, which had been coined in the early-modern era, is misleading for the late medieval era because the Bailiwick covered commanderies between the rivers Weser and Vistula. Apart from the region of the Margraviate of Brandenburg, it also covered the lands of the principalities of Brunswick, Mecklenburg, Pomerania and Eastern Pomerania. Late medieval sources refer to this Bailiwick as encompassing Saxonia , Marchia , Slavia and Pomerania . An important factor in the development of this Bailiwick was the annexation of the holdings of the Templars after the dissolution of the Templar Order in 1312. The annexation was a challenge for the Hospitallers as they had too few members to properly manage the acquired properties. The management posts of the new commanderies were frequently given to nobles from the Brunswick duchies, who made use of their networks of contacts and influences in the region. This practice only began to change in favour of the nobility from the Brandenburg and Pomeranian regions after 1399. This was reflected in the change of the name of the Bailwick, with the term Marchia taking priority before Saxonia.