Heinrich Walpot von Bassenheim
Heinrich Walpot von Bassenheim, also known as Henry Walpot, was the first Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights serving from 1198 to 1200.
As little is known about him, information regarding the Grand Master is mostly based on historians' theories. Walpot hailed from a rich family from Mainz. He was in favour of turning the organization into a military order.
The death of the Hohenstaufen emperor Heinrich VI in 1197 caused an important change in the Teutonic Order, and together with King Amalric II of Jerusalem decided to militarize the fraternity, so they were incorporated as an independent military order in 1198 under the direction of Heinrich Walpot von Bassenheim and received privileges from popes Celestine III and Innocent III. In 1199 he received a copy of monastery rules from Gilbert Horal, the Grand Master of the Knights Templar, and on behalf of Pope Innocent III. It was based on the rules of the Templars.
Walpot died and was buried in Acre, Israel.
