- Günther von Wüllersleben
Günther von Wüllersleben (died
May 3 orMay 4 1252 ) was the eighth Grand Master of theTeutonic Knights , serving from 1249-52.Von Wüllersleben hailed from a
ministerialis family ofHersfeld Abbey whose seat was inBad Hersfeld . It is unknown when he joined the Teutonic Order, although he served in Acre until 1215. He was a close friend of Grand MastersHermann von Salza andHeinrich von Hohenlohe , allowing him to take part in secret diplomatic missions for the Order. He spent 1244 in Prussia where he served under theMaster of Livonia ,Poppo von Osterna .Günther von Wüllersleben was chosen Grand Master by the Order's capitulum in 1249 or 1250 in Acre.
Ludwig von Queden , the unsuccessful choice of the pro-papal party led byDietrich von Grüningen , was made Landmeister of Prussia. As the supreme authority of the Order, von Wüllersleben resided inOutremer and probably never left Acre.Although little is known of his tenure as the Grand Master, von Wüllersleben tried to reconcile the papal and imperial parties which were demoralizing the monastic life within the Order. He often sent missions to distant provinces to supervise discipline. For a short time, he was able to overcome the division within the Order's chapter to which the pro-papal fraction was leading.
Von Wüllersleben died in Acre.
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.