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The military orders were involved in politics in different ways. Nat-
urally, they acted as mediators between the papacy and the Crusader
states. One of the best examples is the conflict that took place between
1229 and 1233 in the Latin East which involved local feudal lords, the
military orders, the papacy, and the Holy Roman Emperor . During
20
the conflict, the Grandmaster of the Teutonic Order, Hermann von
Salza, who had visited both Cyprus and Cilician Armenia in 1212,
acted as mediator between the Order, the emperor, and the pope, even
though the Teutonic Order had different interests to those of the other
military orders . In later years a Teutonic bailiwick of Armenia and
21
Cyprus was to be established. Since both kingdoms were vassals of
the Holy Roman Empire, they, and especially the Armenians, relied on
Teutonic support for defense against their enemies . In the first quar-
22
ter of the thirteenth century, Leo granted additional privileges and
possessions, predominantly situated across the northwestern and
eastern borders go the kingdom, to the Teutonic Order and the Hospi-
tallers, who, overjoyed by these grants, supported the king militarily
and diplomatically .
23
The military orders sometimes had to take sides between lords,
support local actors (receiving privileges in return), and typically, run
businesses in the region. The Templars, the Hospitallers, and the Teu-
tonic Order were also involved in the trade in cash crops, which was
equally important for local rulers . The Hospitallers and the Teutonic
24
Order contributed particularly to the agricultural complexity in Cy-
prus, cultivating various crops produced in the South, including in the
diocese of Limassol, some of which were exempt from taxes on

Militaires au Moyen Age: Rencontre autour d'Alain Demurger, Collection de la Casa de
Velázquez, Madrid, 2015, pp. 334, 337.
20 N. Morton, The Teutonic Knights During Ibelin Lombard Conflict, in J. Upton-Ward,
(ed.), the Military Orders, Ashgate, Aldershot, 2008, p. 139; D. Abulafia, Frederick II: A
Medieval Emperor, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1992; P. Edbury, The Kingdom of
Cyprus cit., 52; N. Coureas, The Latin Church in Cyprus cit., pp. 173-174.
21 N. Morton, The Teutonic Knights during the Ibelin Lombard Conflict cit., p. 139; H.
Kluger, Hochmeister Hermann von Salza und Kaiser Friedrich II: Ein Beitrag zur Frühge-
schichte des Deutschen Ordens, Elwert, Marburg, 1987, p.163.
22 H. Houben, The Teutonic Knights in Palestine, Armenia, and Cyprus cit., p.151.
23 M-A. Chevalier, Les Ordres Religieux-Militaires cit., pp. 337-338; Idem, Les For-
téresses des Ordres Militaires en Arménie: un atout Indispensable dans l’accomplisse-
ment de leur Mission, in C. F. Fernandes, (ed.), Castelos das Ordens Militares, vol. 2,
Direção Geral do Patrimonio Cultural, Lisboa, 2014, pp. 205-225.
24 H. Houben, The Teutonic Knights in Palestine, Armenia, and Cyprus cit., p.151.
See also M. Solomidou-Ieronymidou, The Crusaders, Sugar Mills and Sugar Production
in Medieval Cyprus, in S. Rogge, Michael Grünbart, (eds.), Medieval Cyprus: a Place of
Clutlural Encounter, Waxmann, Münster, New York, 2015, pp. 147-175; P. Edbury, S.
Kalopissi-Verti, (eds.), Archaeology and the Crusades, Pierides Foundation Publication,
Athens, 2007.

Mediterranea - ricerche storiche - Anno XIX - Aprile 2022
ISSN 1824-3010 (stampa) ISSN 1828-230X (online)