从德意志骑士团到普鲁士公国

From the German Order to the Duchy of Prussia

第三次十字军东征结束后,德意志十字军返回欧洲在普鲁士站住了脚。他们为德意志东进运动效力,逐渐占据了整个普鲁士地区。骑士团即有宗教性质又是军事组织,在德意志皇帝和罗马教皇的支持下,普鲁士地区成为骑士团的固有领地,后上升为与各邦国地位一致的骑士团国家。骑士团依仗军事力量建立"国家",也依仗军事力量对外扩张,在与波兰和立陶宛的争斗中获得大量土地。骑士团还与汉萨城市同盟联合垄断了北海地区的贸易,不断增强了经济实力。宗教改革时期经马丁·路德建议,骑士团国家世俗化改为普鲁士公国。

The German Order was founded in Jerusalem during the third crusade. After the Crusades, the order returned to Europe, and had a foothold in Prussia. They worked for the eastward movement of Germany, and gradually occupied the entire Prussia region. The German Order was an organization of both religious and military. The Prussian region became an inherent part of the order, and rising to the status of the order state with the support of the German emperor and Pope. The order built the 'state' by military power, and also relied on military power to expand abroad. Since then, the order has gained considerable territory in the battle with Poland and Lithuania. At the same time, Germen Order combined with the alliance of Hanseatic cities to monopolize the trade in the North Sea region, boosting its economic power. During the reformation, the order was secularized and became to duchy at the suggestion of Martin Luther.