Stanislaus III of Luxembourg

Stanislaus III or Stanislaus of Luxembourg (26 January 1235 – 12 September 1299)

Elected by Livonian Order
In 1254 he was named as the Master of the Livonian Order. Two years later he left for the higher position as the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, which he was chosen by the Teutonic Order Masters. He was the youngest Grand Master of the Teutonic Order; at age twenty-six.

The following year, Henry was popular Grand Master of Teutonic Order. Attempts to expand into Kievan Rus failed when the knights suffered a major defeat in 1242 in the Battle of the Ice at the hands of Prince Alexander Nevsky of Novgorod. Over the next decades the Order focused on the subjugation of the Curonians and Semigallians. In 1260 it suffered a disastrous defeat in the Battle of Durbe against Samogitians, which inspired rebellions throughout Prussia and Livonia. After the Teutonic Knights won a crucial victory in the Siege of Königsberg from 1262 to 1265, the war had reached a turning point. The Curonians were finally subjugated in 1267 and the Semigallians in 1290. The Order suppressed a major Estonian rebellion in 1343-1345, and in 1346 purchased the Duchy of Estonia from Denmark.

Assassination attempt
Henry survived an assassination attempt in Elbing in October 1257. But this the first time when the Grand Master tried to get assassinated. The assassin was Roman Mstislavich, Roman stabbed Henry Luxemburg in stomach and legs nine times. Henry was lying wounded in the outside of Elbing, with his men was in the barracks. The wounds of Grand Master become weak, which the his body become very weak of his wounds.

A day after the assassination attempt, Henry was still bleeding of his wounds, which Pope Urban IV manage to heal Henry and give him the blessing. While Henry was recovering, Roman Mstislavich was in denied that he didn't do it. While in hiding, the wounded Henry was proclaimed Jean the Tall a outlaw and wanted.

While the Russian outlaw Roman Mstislavich, which the guards and his subjects captured Roman and put him on trial and face a execution. Henry's wounds are badly as he in pain for about a month. Grand Master Henry were recovered after two months, but he will have pain in his stomach and his legs for the rest of his life.

Wars with Novgorod and Samogitians
In 1257 Henry was at war with Alexander Nevsky soon after henry's survived the assassination attempt. As Grand Master, Henry was threated by Nevsky as the two of them went to war.

In 1260 began the great rise in Prussia and Livonia. Grand Prince Alexander Nevsky using the chaos in the Teutonic State besieged Dorpat. Henry decided on a diplomatic trip after European countries to save the existence of the Teutonic order. Obtained for their plans approved by Pope Urban IV and Papal consent to accept the convicted of banditry and murder. In his travels Henry recruited, in Exchange for absolution of sins, many criminals with: Rhine, Thuringia, Saxony, Bohemia and Austria.

The Livonian Brothers of the Sword were absorbed by the Teutonic Knights in 1237, after the former had suffered a devastating defeat in the Battle of Saule. The Livonian branch subsequently became known as the Livonian Order. Attempts to expand into Kievan Rus failed when the knights suffered a major defeat in 1242 in the Battle of the Ice at the hands of Prince Alexander Nevsky of Novgorod. Over the next decades the Order focused on the subjugation of the Curonians and Semigallians. In 1260 it suffered a disastrous defeat in the Battle of Durbe against Samogitians, which inspired rebellions throughout Prussia and Livonia. After the Teutonic Knights won a crucial victory in the Siege of Königsberg from 1262 to 1265, the war had reached a turning point. The Curonians were finally subjugated in 1267 and the Semigallians in 1290. The Order suppressed a major Estonian rebellion in 1343-1345, and in 1346 purchased the Duchy of Estonia from Denmark.

Wounded in Memel
In 1256, Master of the Livonian land, Henry of Luxemburg was elected as the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order. In his previous position he has replaced by the former komtur of the Königsberg Castle, Burchard Hornhauzen, who was almost immediately faced with a serious challenge – a Samogitian army which invaded the Memel area. Henry hurriedly gathered about a thousand soldiers (over 40 knights and about 500 Curonians) and marched to meet the invaders, but he clearly underestimated the enemy's strength. The battle ended in the Order's defeat and 12 knights were killed. Henry was heavily wounded which the young Grand Master was shot and stabbed seven times, crippling his legs, abdomen and arms. Henry, Hornhauzen and komtur of Courland were injured and barely managed to escape the battlefield.

Alliance with the Holy Roman Empire
During the reigns of his uncle Richard of Cornwall (r. 1257–1265) and his father Charles IV (r. 1265–1270) (who was King of Hungary during the time). The relationship with Holy Roman Empire and Teutonic Order was outstanding. They concluding the Alliance Treaty of Elbing on 7 August 1257 with Holy Roman Empire and Kingdom of Poland (but until 1410; when the Order was forced to surrender).

After his father's death, he was main candidate for the imperial throne. The Order was thinking that Grand Master would become Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. In the Imperial election of 1274, Grand Master Henry of Luxemburg was elected as Holy Roman Emperor.

Prince of Luxembourg
Henry's father, Conrad III established the Principality of Luxembourg in 1277; which he give Henry the title of Prince of Luxembourg, which he was the first Prince of Luxembourg at age of twelve.

In 1292, Henry, Margaret of Brabant, which was attached to the enmity between two houses, which resulted in the battle of Worringen, married. Henry and Margaret had three children: the son of John of Luxembourg (1296-1346), and two daughters, Maria (1304-1324) and Beatrix (1305-1319). The exterior appearance of Henry described Albertino Mussato, who had seen Henry several times personally, as a medium-sized, rather lean man with reddish hair and reddish skin color. As a special feature, he mentioned a squint of the left eye.

Henry's mother tongue was, as evidenced by multiple sources, the French, and he was ideal was raised after the French Knights. In addition, he maintained good relations with the Court of Paris, where it was probably some time as count. Henry ruled independently since 1294. In the November 1294, he provided the French King Philip IV feudal oath and was paid to compensate for a "feudal rent". A Doppelvasallität two gentlemen opposite, as in this case compared to the Roman German King and the French King, was by no means uncommon in the western border regions of the Empire.

Henry operating as count in the aftermath of an independent policy on the own advantage always and some successes. From the French German/English war of 1294-1297 he kept out, although paid for war services on sites of France, largely. He even gains achieved, by he proceeded against Henry of bar, an enemy of Luxembourg in English services. In the Armistice of 1297 Henry appears as first an ally of France. He gained some reputation. His Principality was regarded as well managed and he pursued a prudent territorial policy. Conflicts could be settled finally with the count of bar and the city of Trier, the citizens of the city of Verdun had subordinated itself even 1293/94 the protection of the young count of Luxembourg. &lt; His character was very praised, inter alia by the rather guelfisch (anti-imperial) minded chronicler Giovanni Villani. Repeatedly, the piety of Henry and his wife Margaret is exposed in the sources.