Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Chiyaley,
his brother succeeding to the dignity . Poland thus giave the first example of a diplomatic recognition of a Roman Catholic institution secularised by the Reformation . Albert ' s successors continued to acknowledge the sovereignty of Poland till 1657 , when Prussia was declared an independent state .
But to return to the proceedings of the Knights in Palestine . Although a considerable force of the Order had departed for Europe , yet sufficient strength was left in the Holy Land to aid the sacred Christian cause . In * the great battle which the Knights of the rtiilitary orders fought with the Egyptians and Kharismians—of the Teutonic order all that were engaged fell , save three ; and in the
final defence of the Holy Land , made at the city of Acre m 1291 , the recreant Lusignan , who wore the titular crown of Jerusalem , basely abandoned his kingdom , secretl y withdrawing in the night , and , seizing a few vessels , sailed away with his followers to Cyprus . Even then this cowardly flight did not shake the constancy of the Teutonic Knights whom he had left to their fate in the doomed city ;
and they continued to guard its ruined fortifications . But with the following dawn their post was attacked by the infidels in immense force ; several times were the assailants repulsed with dreadful carnage , and as often were the slain replaced by fresh bands of the Moslems . At length , after most of the German Knights had fallen in the breach , the infidels , in overpowering numbers , forced a passage over the lifeless bodies of the Christians ; a torrent of assailants
pouring into the place swept its few remaining defenders before them , and thus Acre was irretrievably lost . The loss of the Holy Land caused the entire sphere of action of the Teutonic Order to be concentrated in Europe , and the vast and important influence it exercised on the civilization of the world at large , and which still continues , renders it unnecessary for us to
offer any apology for a slight sketch of the race whence the Order derived its name . Teutoni , or Tent ones , is the general name under which are comprised the different branches of that mighty race , the first branch of which comprises the High Germans , to whom belong the inhabitants of Upper and Middle Germany , Switzerland , and the greater part of the Germans of Hungary . The second is the Saxon branch , which
contains the Old Saxons , the Dutch , Plemings , English , Scotch , and the greater portion of the inhabitants of the United States of America . The third branch is the Scandinavian , to which belong the Icelanders , Norwegians , Danes , and Swedes . It is conjectured that near ninety millions of individuals belong to the Teutonic race .
As Englishmen may be considered as an important branch of this extensive family we may bo permitted to givo a brief notice of some of its characteristic points . The moral and intellectual difference between the Teutonic nations is less remarkable than that which exists between other European nations sprung from a common stock . Although capable of very strong and violent passions , they do not easily lose their self-control , the intellectual functions being
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Chiyaley,
his brother succeeding to the dignity . Poland thus giave the first example of a diplomatic recognition of a Roman Catholic institution secularised by the Reformation . Albert ' s successors continued to acknowledge the sovereignty of Poland till 1657 , when Prussia was declared an independent state .
But to return to the proceedings of the Knights in Palestine . Although a considerable force of the Order had departed for Europe , yet sufficient strength was left in the Holy Land to aid the sacred Christian cause . In * the great battle which the Knights of the rtiilitary orders fought with the Egyptians and Kharismians—of the Teutonic order all that were engaged fell , save three ; and in the
final defence of the Holy Land , made at the city of Acre m 1291 , the recreant Lusignan , who wore the titular crown of Jerusalem , basely abandoned his kingdom , secretl y withdrawing in the night , and , seizing a few vessels , sailed away with his followers to Cyprus . Even then this cowardly flight did not shake the constancy of the Teutonic Knights whom he had left to their fate in the doomed city ;
and they continued to guard its ruined fortifications . But with the following dawn their post was attacked by the infidels in immense force ; several times were the assailants repulsed with dreadful carnage , and as often were the slain replaced by fresh bands of the Moslems . At length , after most of the German Knights had fallen in the breach , the infidels , in overpowering numbers , forced a passage over the lifeless bodies of the Christians ; a torrent of assailants
pouring into the place swept its few remaining defenders before them , and thus Acre was irretrievably lost . The loss of the Holy Land caused the entire sphere of action of the Teutonic Order to be concentrated in Europe , and the vast and important influence it exercised on the civilization of the world at large , and which still continues , renders it unnecessary for us to
offer any apology for a slight sketch of the race whence the Order derived its name . Teutoni , or Tent ones , is the general name under which are comprised the different branches of that mighty race , the first branch of which comprises the High Germans , to whom belong the inhabitants of Upper and Middle Germany , Switzerland , and the greater part of the Germans of Hungary . The second is the Saxon branch , which
contains the Old Saxons , the Dutch , Plemings , English , Scotch , and the greater portion of the inhabitants of the United States of America . The third branch is the Scandinavian , to which belong the Icelanders , Norwegians , Danes , and Swedes . It is conjectured that near ninety millions of individuals belong to the Teutonic race .
As Englishmen may be considered as an important branch of this extensive family we may bo permitted to givo a brief notice of some of its characteristic points . The moral and intellectual difference between the Teutonic nations is less remarkable than that which exists between other European nations sprung from a common stock . Although capable of very strong and violent passions , they do not easily lose their self-control , the intellectual functions being