Electorial preferences of the Grand Master Winrich von Kniprode at the beginnig of his rule

Abstract

The Grand Master Winrich von Kniprode chosen on 6th of January 1352 came from the region of Colonia, so he spoke Ripuarian, one of the dialects from the Rhineland. Under this region, which can not be defined sharply till today, one understands especially the Middle and Lower Rhine, where the people speak four Middle German (Palatine, South Hessian, Moselle Franconian, Ripuarian) and one Lower German (Lower Franconian) dialect. As soon as Master Winrich was elected, he started favoring the brethen from the Rhineland, especially those from his Ripuarian home region. His new chaplain and his new doctor even spoke Colognian. Among six brethen who could newly obtain the dignity of a commander, there were three from the Rhineland. Kirsilie von Kindswulie and Werner von Rundorf also spoke Ripuarian, Dietrich von Brandenburg from the nowadays Luxemburg was a Rhinelander in a wider sense of this term.