Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/595

Rh priorate, in addition to Germany proper, included all the countries in which the German language was spoken, viz., Bohemia, Hungary, Poland, and Denmark. On the suppression of the Templars in the early part of the fourteenth century, their possessions in Germany were transferred to the Order of St. John, as had been the case in England and elsewhere. The property of the latter Order was thus greatly augmented in the provinces of Saxony, Pomerania, Mecklenburg, and Brandenburg. The knights in those districts soon became restless at the subordinate position which they occupied in the grand-priorate, and eventually sought to form themselves into an independent unit. After a long struggle, in which they were warmly supported by the Margraves of Brandenburg, they definitely seceded from. the priorate, and erected themselves into a bailiwick, under the title of Brandenburg. For many years they were treated by the Order as rebels, as they refused to pay any responsions or to be under control. The schism continued until the year 1382, when a reconciliation was effected. The treaty was made between Conrad von Braunsberg, as grand-prior of Germany, and Bernedt von der Schulenburg, the bailiff of Brandenburg, and was in the same year confirmed by the Grand-Master Ferdinand d’Heredia. In this agreement it was decided that the knights of the bailiwick should be allowed to select their own Master, provided the choice were confirmed by the grand-prior of Germany. On the other hand, responsions to the amount of 2,400 gold forms were to be paid to the treasury of the Order in their chef-lieu. Things continued in this state till the Reformation, when the members of the bailiwick, having embraced the Protestant religion, once more seceded and placed themselves under the protection of the Margrave of Brandenburg. Many attempts were subsequently made to bring about a new reconciliation, for a long time ineffectually. At last Frederick the Great, wishing to aid his brother Ferdinand, who was the then bailiff of Brandenburg, succeeded in effecting a reunion. The chevalier Manchon, an officer in the Prussian service, was appointed negotiator in 1763. He proceeded to the grand-priory of Germany, under commission to demand the confirmation of Prince Ferdinand in his dignity,