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His struggles with Rome were particularly remem- THE CAVALCADE OF THE TEUTONIC KNIGHTS 33 bered by his grandson Frederick II* who was gready to influence the destiny of the Teutonic Knights. During this time two Knights' Orders, born of the Crusades, were founded in the Holy Land: the Templars and the Hospital Knights of St. John, both having their seat at Acre in Syria. Both these orders can from that time on be regarded as armies of the Pope the lack of which had previously been a serious shortcoming to the Papacy.

They were treated in various manners by the victors. Prisoners, men, women and children, with no hope of clemency, were forced to submit to cruel bondage. The fact that they renounced Perkuna,* crossed themselves and sprinkled holy water on their heads, did not help them at all. It is true that the Order had taken the position in 1249 that all men are free and equal and that only unbelief leads to enslavement. Now, however, they managed to break their word through the vile pretext that only those who, of their own will, welcomed the cross and the beam on their shoulders might enjoy such privileges; but those who * The heathen god the Krivitzians worshipped.

The Teutonic Order, having fulfilled its historical role, was destined to disappear as an organization. " The Prusso-Teutonic organizations of the twentieth century and "Prussian spirit" in general stem directly from the Teutonic Knights of the twelfth century. This religious order, founded at Acre, Syria, in 1190, during the time of the Crusades, from its beginning was distinguished from the two other orders of knights of the Holy Land, the Templars and the Knights of St. John (known later as the Knights of Malta), by its strictly national, or rather racial, character.