Rimini

The basic charter of the lordship of the Teutonic Order in Prussia, issued by Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor and king of Sicily, at Rimini in central Italy.

The charter conferred on the order all territorial rights (concerning ground, water, forests, mining, customs, markets, taxes, coinage, safe passage, and jurisdiction, comparable to the privileges of the princes of the empire) over the territories still to be conquered from the heathen Prussians. Its date has recently been debated: though the charter reads March 1226, Sylvain Gouguenheim, drawing on studies by

Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II confirms privileges of the Teutonic Order and charges the order with the conquest of Prussia. Facsimile of the Golden Bull of Rimini, 1226. (Bildarchiv Preufiischer Kulturbesitz/Art Resource)

Tomasz Jasinski, has argued that the charter was renewed and changed in 1234/1235. Its importance is beyond question, and the order used it extensively in later disputes with the Prussian estates and Poland.

-Jurgen Sarnowsky

See also: Baltic Crusades; Teutonic Order

Bibliography

Gouguenheim, Sylvain, “L’empereur, le grand maitre et la Prusse. La buhe de Rimini en question (1226/1235),” Bibliotheque de l’Ecole des Chartes 162 (2005), 381-420.

Kluger, Helmuth, Hochmeister Hermann von Salza und Kaiser Friedrich II (Marburg: Elwert, 1987).