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

该项目的目的是以条顿骑士团为例，澄清军事-宗教骑士团的双重社会文化包容性，该骑士团的成员既属于战斗者，也属于祈祷者。在这种情况下，可以推测，军事-宗教教团的体制二元性，包括各种职能和指导理想，在同时进行的象征性行动中得到表达。正是这种动态构成了项目的主题核心。它的目的是有助于澄清这些混合秩序的身份问题在中世纪形式的社区范围内。调查工作的假设是，特别是条顿骑士团，由于其明显的体制性，其中包括全面的领土主权和一度具有高度身份的声誉，适合对军事-宗教骑士团中的象征性行为进行示范性分析，也因为其相对易于管理的原始材料库存，保证在项目持续时间的有限范围内取得有保证的结果。在项目工作中，象征性行动的两个特定但非常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状态的总体理想。为了在研究型实用主义方面促进项目设想的分析解释路线，应该区分符号行为的某些功能机制。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的认同感。在中世纪，合法性争论最可靠的方法之一就是根据预先确定的合法性模型建立身份。其他象征性行为反过来显示了军事-宗教秩序在构建一种秩序内在的合法性模式方面的巨大潜力。此外，象征性行动提供了相当大的内部整合和稳定的输出。同样，象征性行为是通过划定和剥夺他人的合法性而发生的。最后，象征性的举止可以是与外部世界的一种（代表性）互动形式。在对原始材料的初步观察之后，可以看到这种象征性的行为可能涉及骑士或修道主义-但有时也同时涉及两种身份模型。通过研究这些不同的参考文献，人们将更好地了解条顿骑士团的个人和因此的功能性质，以及-在更广泛的意义上-一般的军事-宗教骑士团。

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.