Werner von Orseln

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Werner von Orseln was the 17th Grand Master of the Teutonic Order between 1324 and 1330.

Werner von Orseln hailed from a family of vogts of Urseln near Frankfurt. It is not known when he joined the Teutonic Order. He is first mentioned in 1312 as a komtur of Ragnit. In 1314, von Orseln becomes the Grand Komtur and the komtur of Marienburg. During a coup d'etat in the state, he supported the current Grand Master Karl Bessart von Trier and was exiled along with him. However, he returned in 1319 and he held the position of Grand Master's resident in Prussia. He held uniting talks and brought back hierarchic discipline within the Order. After the death of Karl Bessart von Trier, the Order's capitulum had chosen him as the next Grand Master. Right after being elected, Werner von Orseln was forced to start negotiations with the Kingdom of Poland. However, they did not produce any results and the Teutonic Order started preparations to the war with Poland. The Grand Master formed an anti-Polish coalition consisting of the rulers of Masovia, Silesia and the king of Bohemia. The pretext to start the war was the Polish invasion of the Duchy of Płock in 1327. In retaliation, the Grand Master ordered the conquest of Kujavia and Dobrzyń Land.

As the superior of the Order, von Orseln paid a special attention to the spiritual life. Despite the ongoing war with Poland, he was able to organize two assemblies of the Prussian clergy and issue several administrative acts forming the base of the political system of the state.

Werner von Orseln died on November 18th, 1330 in Marienburg as a result of several wounds after an assassination attempt by a mad knight Johan von Endorf. He was buried in a cathedral in Marienwerder.

Preceded by: Karl Bessart von Trier

Hochmeister of the Teutonic Order 1324-1330

Succeeded by: Luther von Braunschweig