Heinrich von Plötzke

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Heinrich von Plötzke was an officer of the Teutonic Order during the late 13th and early 14th centuries. Born in Płock (Plotzk) in the independent Duchy of Masovia, (now Poland), he was the hereditary Duke of Plock but never took the formal title due to the conflict of his family with the ruling Piast dynasty of Poland.

Heinrich was the Komtur of Altenburg in 1286 and of Halle in 1287, after which he was transferred to Prussia. He became the Komtur of Balga in 1294.^[1] Heinrich served as the Landmeister in Prussia from 1307-1309, and was based in Elbing.

Hochmeisters Siegfried von Feuchtwangen Heinrich (and a relative of Gunther von Schwarzburg of the same name) led the Order's forces which relieved Brandenburg's siege of Danzig in 1308, but refused to relinquish the city to King Władysław I the Elbow-high of Poland who did not offer enough reimbursement. This led to the Teutonic takeover of Danzig. By the Treaty of Soldin of 1309, Heinrich purchased Brandenburg's claims on Pomerelia for the Order, which then held Danzig and Pomerelia until 1466.^[2]

[edit] References

1. ^ Geschichte-Feuchtwangen.de. "Der Wechsel im Landmeisteramt von Preußen." Accessed 8 June 2006. (German)
2. ^ William Urban. The Teutonic Knights: A Military History. Greenhill Books. London, 2003. ISBN 1853675350