Spiritual Salvation and Knightly Valour: The Identity of the Teutonic Knights as Reflected in their Symbolic Actions

精神救赎与骑士英勇：条顿骑士的象征性行动所体现的身份

• 批准号: 376776809
• 负责人: Dr. Nicholas Youmans, Ph.D.
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Forschungsstelle Deutscher Orden
• 依托单位国家: 德国
• 项目类别: Research Grants
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 德国
• 起止时间: 2016-12-31 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/376776809?language=en
• 关键词: Spiritual; Salvation; Knightly; Valour; Identity

The aim of the project is to clarify the dual socio-cultural inclusion of the military-religious orders on the example of the Teutonic Knights, whose members belonged both to the state of the combatants and to that of the praying. In this context, it is presumed that the institutional duality of the military-religious orders, which comprised various functions and guiding ideals, was expressed in simultaneous symbolic actions. Precisely this dynamic constitutes the thematic core of the project. It is intended to contribute to clarifying the question of the identity of these hybrid orders within the spectrum of medieval forms of community. The investigation operates based on the assumption that the Teutonic Order in particular, due to its pronounced institutionality, which included comprehensive territorial sovereignty and a once high identity-creating reputation, is suitable for an exemplary analysis of symbolic acts in the military-religious orders - also on account of its comparatively manageable inventory of source material, which promises assured results within the limited scope of the project's duration.Two specific but nevertheless quite overlapping dimensions of symbolic action become apparent in the project work: repetitive rituals and unique performative acts. It is assumed that the rituals and performative acts of military-religious orders concern overarching ideals of both the monastic and the knightly societal states. In order to facilitate the project's envisaged analytical line of interpretation in terms of research-oriented pragmatism, certain functional mechanisms of symbolic action should be distinguished. The following types seem to be particularly suitable: Communal symbolic acts can contribute to an effect of self-affirmation or convey a sense of shared identity. One of the surest means of legitimacy contention in the Middle Ages was by means of establishing an identity according to pre-determined models of legitimacy. Other symbolic conduct in its turn exhibits the tremendous potential of the military-religious orders to construct an order-immanent pattern of legitimacy. Furthermore, symbolic actions provide the output of considerable internal integration and stabilisation. Likewise, symbolic acts take place by delimiting and delegitimising the other. Lastly, symbolic comportment can be a form of (representative) interaction with the outside world.Following an initial viewing of the source material, it can be seen that such symbolic acts may regard either knighthood or monasticism - but also at times both identity models at once. By studying these various references, one shall gain a better understanding of the personal and hence functional nature of the Teutonic Knights and - in a broader sense - of military-religious orders in general.

该项目的目的是以条顿骑士团为例，澄清军事-宗教教团的双重社会文化包容性，条顿骑士团的成员既属于战斗人员的国家，也属于祈祷者的国家。在这种情况下，可以假定，军事-宗教秩序的制度二重性，其中包括各种功能和指导思想，表现在同时的象征性行动。正是这种动态构成了该项目的主题核心。它的目的是有助于澄清的问题，这些混合秩序的范围内的中世纪形式的社区的身份。调查的基础是这样的假设，即条顿骑士团特别是由于其明显的制度性，其中包括全面的领土主权和一度很高的身份创造声誉，适合对军事宗教命令中的象征性行为进行示范性分析-也是由于其相对易于管理的原始材料清单，在项目的持续时间有限的范围内，承诺有保证的结果。在项目工作中，象征性行动的两个具体但却相当重叠的维度变得明显：重复的仪式和独特的表演行为。人们认为，军事宗教秩序的仪式和表演行为涉及修道院和骑士社会国家的总体理想。为了便于该项目从注重研究的实用主义角度进行分析性解释，应区分象征性行动的某些功能机制。以下类型似乎特别适合：公共象征性行为可以有助于自我肯定的效果或传达一种共同认同感。在中世纪，合法性争论最可靠的手段之一是根据预先确定的合法性模型建立身份。其他象征性的行为反过来也展示了军事-宗教秩序构建一种秩序不可分割的合法性模式的巨大潜力。此外，象征性的行动提供了相当大的内部整合和稳定的产出。同样，象征性的行为也是通过界定和取消他者的合法性而发生的。最后，象征性的举止可以是与外部世界互动的一种形式（代表性的），在对原始材料进行初步观察之后，可以看到这种象征性的行为可能涉及骑士身份或修道士身份，但有时也同时涉及两种身份模式。通过研究这些不同的参考文献，人们将更好地理解条顿骑士团的个人性质和功能性质，以及广义上的军事宗教秩序。