About the book: 2004 / The classic work of Hartmut Bockmann (1934–1998) is dedicated to the history of the con. XII century during the 3rd Crusade of the German Order - one of the three largest (along with the Hospitallers and Templars) spiritual knightly orders that arose in the Holy Land. Its more than 800-year existence has been marked by ups and downs. Having created a unique state of its kind in Prussia (XIV century), the order was defeated in the Battle of Grunwald (1410), which undermined the foundations of its power. In the beginning XIX century it was abolished by Napoleon, but soon it seemed to be rediscovered in Germany - the Prussian state ideology developed around it. Nowadays, the German Order, in addition to clerical activities, is also engaged in charitable, economic and scientific activities. The monograph widely uses materials from many medieval sources (chronicles, legal monuments, literary works), giving the narrative high scientific value and great vitality. Written in simple and clear language , the book is intended not only for medieval researchers, but also for everyone who is interested in the Middle Ages, the history of Prussia and spiritual knightly orders.