Dietrich von Altenburg

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Dietrich von Altenburg was the 19th Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, serving from 1335 to 1341.

Dietrich von Altenburg came from Altenburg, Thuringia in the Holy Roman Empire. He served as the Komtur of Ragnit (1320-1324) and of Balga (1326-1331). He became Grand Marshal of the Order in 1331 and conquered Kuyavia from the Kingdom of Poland. He was accused before a papal tribunal for alleged crimes committed during the Kuyavian campaign.

After he was elected Grand Master, Altenburg set about building and reconstructing many of the Order's castles. He began the reconstruction of the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Marienburg, the building of the main tower, and commissioned a mosaic figure of the Madonna. The Chapel of St. Anne, the first permanent bridge over the Nogat, and the Bridge Gate were also completed during his service.

Intending to negotiate with Poland, he travelled to Thorn (Toruń) in 1341 but died from illness in October of that year. He was the first Grand Master to be buried in the Chapel of St. Anne in Marienburg; his original gravestone can still be seen there to this day.

Preceded by: Luther von Braunschweig

Hochmeister of the Teutonic Order 1335-1341

Succeeded by: Ludolf König