Golden Bull of Rimini
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The Golden Bull of Rimini was a Golden Bull issued by Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, at Rimini in March 1226.
It was the first of three similar documents, followed by the Treaty of Kruschwitz in 1230, and the papal Golden Bull of Rieti in 1234.
Konrad I of Masovia had several times and particularly in 1220 tried to conquer Chełmno Land from the Old Prussians, had partially succeeded, but was defeated and he now feared for his own land of Masovia, which overlapped former Prussian territory. Konrad called in the Teutonic Order to stabilize the situation, caused by recent Masovian and many earlier Polish attempts at conquest of Prussian and other lands.
The Teutonic Order, led by Hochmeister Hermann von Salza, was present in Transylvania's Burzenland between 1211 and 1225, and was expelled after allegedly trying to create their own state under papal authority. This time, the Order waited until they received confirmed legitimacy to possession of Prussian land including Chełmno Land by the empire. They were to be equipped by Konrad I of Masovia in exchange for their support to stabilize his Masovian land:
- "Brother Konrad had offered and promised to furnish brother Hermann, Honorable Master of the Holy Hospital of St. Mary of the Germans in Jerusalem (Teutonic Order)...with the Chełmno Land between his march and the Prussians and equip them (T.O.) well, so they may take Preussenland (Terra Prussiae) in possession... we recognize the fact, that this land is included in the realm of the empire, we trust the judgement of the Master... we recognize all land in Prussia as an ancient right of the empire ...".
This imperial authorisation was signed by a large number of archbishops and heads of different states.
In 1230, the Treaty of Kruszwica was supposedly signed, according to which Konrad granted them, and the Order of Dobrzyń, Chełmno Land. This document does not exist anymore, and some sources say that the Order had forged it.
In 1234, Pope Gregory IX issued the Golden Bull of Rieti, confirming the prior deals, stating that the land of the Order was only subject to the Pope, not a fief of anybody.
