Editing Teutonic Order (section)

== Medieval organization ==

=== Administrative structure about 1350 ===
{{tree chart/start}}
{{tree chart|border=3|boxstyle=background:B9; | | | | | | | Gk ||Gk=<small>''Generalkapitel''</small>|}}
{{tree chart| | | | | | | |!|}}
{{tree chart|border=3|boxstyle=background:B9; | | |RG|~| HO |~|KA
|RG=<small>''Ratsgebietiger''</small>
|HO='''[[Grand Master of the Teutonic Order|''Hochmeister'']]'''[[File:Teuton flag.svg|center|30 px]]
|KA=<small>''Kanzlei des Hochmeisters''</small>|}}
{{tree chart| |,|-|-|-|v|-|+|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|.|}}
{{tree chart|border=3|boxstyle=background:#B4CDCD; | Aig | | Phe |!| Lam | | Pha | |Od| |Aig=<span title="Stellvertreter des Hochmeisters">''Großkomtur'' <small>(Magnus Commendator)</small></span>
|Phe=<span title="Oberster Heerführer und Verantwortlicher für die Rüstkammern">''Ordensmarschall'' <small>(Summus Marescalcus)
</small></span>
|Lam=<span title="Spitalwesen und Krankenpflege">''Großspittler'' <small>(Summus Hospitalarius)</small></span>
|Pha=<span title="Finanzwesen und Schatzmeister">''Ordenstressler'' <small>(Summus Thesaurarius)</small></span>
|Od=<span title="Bekleidung und Ausstattung">''Ordenstrappier''<small> (Summus Trappearius)</small></span>}}
{{tree chart| |`|-|-|-|^|-|+|-|^|-|-|-|^|-|-|'|}}
{{tree chart| | |,|-|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|-|.|}}
{{tree chart|border=2|boxstyle=background:#EEEED1;| | |!| |GM|+|GK| |!|GM= <span title="Besonderer Handelsbeauftragter des Ordens ">''Großschäffer''</span> <small>(Marienburg)</small>|GK=<span title="Besonderer Handelsbeauftragter des Ordens ">''Großschäffer''</span> <small>(Königsberg)</small>}}
{{tree chart| | |!| | |,|-|^|~|7| | |!|}}
{{tree chart|border=2|boxstyle=background:#E0FFFF;| | |!| |K1| |K2| |!|K1= <span title="Leiter einer Kommende des Ordens in Preußen">Komtur</span> <small>''(Preußen)''</small>|K2= <span title="Leiter einer Kommende des Ordens in Preußen">Komtur</span> <small>''(Preußen)''</small>}}
{{tree chart| | |!| | | | | | | | | |!|}}
{{tree chart|border=3|boxstyle=background:#D1EEEE; | | Aig | | | | | | | | Lam | Aig=''Deutschmeister'' <small>(Magister Germaniae) </small>|Phe=''Landmeister in Livland'' <small>(Magister Livoniae)</small>|Lam=''Landmeister in Livland'' <small>(Magister Livoniae)</small>}}
{{tree chart| | |!| | | | | | | |,|-|^|~|7|}}
{{tree chart|border=2|boxstyle=background:#E0FFFF;| | |!| | | | | | | KO | | KO |KO=<span title="Leiter einer Kommende des Ordens in Livland">Komtur</span><small>'' (Livland)''</small>}}
{{tree chart| |,|^|~|~|7| | | | | | |}}
{{tree chart|border=2|boxstyle=background:#D1EEEE; | LE | | LE | | | | | | | | LE=<span title="Leiter einer Ballei des Ordens im Reich">Landkomtur</span>| KO=Komtur}}
{{tree chart| |)|~|~|~|7| |}}
{{tree chart|border=2|boxstyle=background:#E0FFFF; | KO | | KO |KO= <span title="Leiter einer Kommende des Ordens im Reich">Komtur</span><small>'' (in the Holy Empire)''</small>}}
{{tree chart| |)|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|.|}}
{{tree chart|border=1|boxstyle=background:#E0FFFF;| HA | | PF | | VE |HA=<span title="Bevollmächtigter des Komturs im Alltag"><small>Hauskomtur</small></span> | PF=<span title="Verwaltung einer Liègenschaft"><small>Pfleger</small></span> | VE=<span title="Verwaltung verstreuter Landgüter"><small>Vogt</small></span>}}
{{tree chart| |)|-|-|v|i|-|v|-|i|v|-|-|v|-|-|v|-|-|.|}}
{{tree chart|border=1|boxstyle=background:#D;|Ka|Tr|Ke|Kü|Wa|Ge|Fi| Ka=<small>Karwansherr</small> | Kü=<small>Küchenmeister</small> | Ke=<small>Kellermeister</small> | Tr=<small>Trappierer</small>|| Wa=<small>Wachhauptmann</small>| Ge=<small>Gesindemeister</small> |Fi=<small>Fischmeister</small>}}
{{tree chart/end}}
<small></small><ref name="DZ166">Dieter Zimmerling: ''Der Deutsche Orden,'' S. 166 ff.</ref><ref name="DOS">{{cite web| url = http://www.ordensstaat.de/orden/sr.htm| title = Der Deutschordensstaat}}</ref>

=== Universal leadership ===

==== Generalkapitel ====
The ''Generalkapitel'' (general chapter) was the collection of all the priests, knights and half-brothers ({{langx|de|Halbbrüder|link=no}}). Because of the logistical problems in assembling the members, who were spread over large distances, only deputations of the [[bailiwick]]s and [[Commandry (feudalism)|commandries]] gathered to form the General chapter. The General chapter was designed to meet annually, but the conventions were usually limited to the election of a new Grandmaster. The decisions of the ''Generalkapitel'' had a binding effect on the ''Großgebietigers'' of the order.

==== Hochmeister ====
{{main|Grand Master of the Teutonic Order}}
The ''Hochmeister'' ([[Grand master (order)|Grand Master]]) was the highest officer of the order. Until 1525, he was elected by the ''Generalkapitel''. He had the rank of the ruler of an ecclesiastic [[imperial state]] and was sovereign prince of Prussia until 1466. Despite this high formal position, in practice, he was only a kind of [[Primus inter pares|first among equals]].

==== Großgebietige ====
The ''Großgebietige'' were high officers with competence on the whole order, appointed by the ''Hochmeister''. There were five offices.

* The ''Großkomtur'' (''Magnus Commendator''), the deputy of the Grandmaster
* The ''Treßler'', the treasurer
* The ''Spitler'' (''Summus Hospitalarius''), responsible for all hospital affairs
* The ''Trapier'', responsible for dressing and armament
* The ''Marschall'' (''Summus Marescalcus''), the chief of military affairs

=== National leadership ===

==== Landmeister ====
The order was divided into three national chapters, [[Prussia]], [[Livonia]] and the territory of the [[Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation]]. The highest officer of each chapter was the ''Landmeister'' (country master). They were elected by the regional chapters. In the beginning, they were only substitutes of the Grandmaster but were able to create a power of their own so that, within their territory, the Grandmaster could not decide against their will. At the end of their rule over Prussia, the Grandmaster was only ''Landmeister'' of Prussia. There were three Landmeisters:
*The ''[[Landmeister in Livland]]'', the successor of the ''Herrenmeister'' (lords master) of the former [[Livonian Brothers of the Sword]].
*The ''[[Landmeister of Prussia]]'', after 1309 united with the office of the Grandmaster, who was situated in Prussia from then.
*The ''Deutschmeister'', the ''Landsmeister'' of the Holy Roman Empire. When Prussia and Livland were lost, the ''Deutschmeister'' also became Grandmaster.

==== Regional leadership ====
Because the properties of the order within the rule of the ''Deutschmeister'' did not form a contiguous territory, but were spread over the whole empire and parts of Europe, there was an additional regional structure, the bailiwick. ''Kammerballeien'' ("Chamber Bailiwicks") were governed by the Grandmaster himself. Some of these bailiwicks had the rank of imperial states:
* Teutonic Order Bailiwick of [[Thuringia]] (Zwätzen)
* Teutonic Order Bailiwick of [[Hesse]] ([[Marburg]])
* Teutonic Order Bailiwick of [[Saxony|Saxonia]] (Elmsburg from 1221 until 1260 moved to Lucklum)
* Brandenburg
* Teutonic Order Bailiwick of Westphalia (Deutschordenskommende [[Mülheim]])
* Teutonic Order Bailiwick of Franconia ([[Ellingen]])
* "Chamber Bailiwick" of Koblenz
* Teutonic Order Bailiwick of [[Swabia]]-[[Alsace]]-[[Burgundy (region)|Burgundy]] ([[Rouffach]])
* Teutonic Order Bailiwick at the Etsch and in the Mountains ([[South Tyrol]]) ([[Bolzano|Bozen]])
* Utrecht
* [[Lotharingia|Lorraine]] (Trier)
* "Chamber Bailiwick" of [[Austria]]
* Teutonic Order Bailiwick of Alden Biesen
* Sicily
* Teutonic Order Bailiwick of [[Apulia]] (San Leonardo)
* [[Lombardy]] (also called Lamparten)
* "Chamber Bailiwick" of [[Bohemia]]
* Teutonic Order Bailiwick of Romania (Achaia, Greece)
* Armenia–Cyprus

=== Local leadership ===

==== Komtur ====
The smallest administrative unit of the order was the [[Kommende]]. It was ruled by a [[Komtur]], who had all administrative rights and controlled the ''Vogteien'' (district of a reeve) and ''Zehnthöfe'' (tithe collectors) within his rule. In the commandry, all kinds of brothers lived together in a monastic way. Noblemen served as Knight-brothers or Priest-brothers. Other people could serve as Sariantbrothers, who were armed soldiers, and as Half-brothers, who were working in the economy and healthcare.

==== Special offices ====
* The ''Kanzler'' (chancellor) of the Grandmaster and the Deutschmeister. The chancellor took care of the keys and seals and was also the recording clerk of the chapter.
* The ''Münzmeister'' (master of the mint) of Thorn. In 1226, the order received the right to produce its own coins – the ''Moneta Dominorum Prussiae''&nbsp;– Schillingen. Customary laws for coinage did not come about until the Kulm laws of 1233 were written. And the first coins were not minted until late 1234 or early 1235. 
* The ''Pfundmeister'' (customs master) of Danzig. The ''Pfund'' was a local customs duty.
* The ''Generalprokurator'' the representative of the order at the [[Holy See]].
* The ''Großschäffer'', a trading representative with special authority.