The spirituality of the Teutonic Knights and their reading. Book collections of the Teutonic Order in Prussia

Abstract

The usage of books in the Teutonic Order resulted from religious duties, the order rules, and practical demands, and the reading habit was common in its houses. The article concerns the influence of reading on the Teutonic Knights' in Prussia spirituality. The author refers mostly to the property inventories of Teutonic Knights' houses. After the sources' analysis, he concludes that these sources can be used only as auxiliary material in this kind of studies. Little can be said on their basis about individual reception of the reading content. The book collections listed in the inventories reveal only tendencies, education trends, and the content of the curriculum. The article is annexed with the list of books/book collections of the Teutonic Knights in Prussia.