(Redirected from Konrad Zöllner von Rotenstein)'Conrad Zöllner von Rothenstein' (died
August 20,
1390) was the 24th
Grand Master of the
Teutonic Order, serving from 1382-90. His name has also been spelled ''Konrad'' and ''von Rotenstein''.
Zöllner's career with the Teutonic Order started in 1353 when he became a
procurator in
Preußisch Mark and shortly thereafter a House Komtur of
Christburg. Zöllner became the Komtur of
Danzig in 1368 and the Great Hospitaller and Komtur of Christburg in 1372.
Despite the fact he was not associated with influential people within the Teutonic Order and lacked political experience, Zöllner was chosen Grand Master in 1382 after the death of
Winrich von Kniprode, the previous Grand Master. His first matter of order was to take care of the internal problems of the country. Command of the army and the war with the
Grand Duchy of Lithuania was left to
Konrad von Wallenrode, who was made the Komtur of
Königsberg.
Zöllner reformed the administrative divisions of
Prussia, supported the colonization of uninhabited regions, and founded a university in
Kulm.
It was during his rule when
Lithuania was
Christianized and
Jogaila became King Władysław II Jagiełło of
Poland. In the last years of his life, Zöllner tried to break up the
Polish-Lithuanian union and cause a strife between the two great dukes of Lithuania,
Vytautas and Jogaila.
Zöllner died in Christburg and was interned in
Castle Marienburg. He is buried in the
mausoleum of the Grand Masters under the Chapel of
Saint Anna.