This book provides a detailed history of the German Knighthood, from its medieval origins to its flourishing in the early modern period. Wedel explores the social, political, and economic role of the Knighthood, as well as its cultural and artistic achievements. With a wealth of primary sources and illustrations, this book is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the history of Germany and the European nobility. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.