PALMAN OF LETINBERCH AND HIS TEUTONIC COMPANY

Abstract

Palman of Letinberch earned his reputation as the leader of Teutonic mercenaries who served King and Tsar Stefan Dušan of Serbia (1331–1355). His achievements are documented in various sources, including multiple documents from the archives of Dubrovnik and Venice, the correspondence between Stefan Dušan and Pope Innocent VI, accounts from French soldier and diplomat Philippe de Mézières, and Byzantine Emperor and writer John VI Kantakouzenos. These sources offer an opportunity to explore Palman’s turbulent career, spanning around three decades (ca. 1333–1363). They reveal that Palman was not only a mercenary commander involved in the Serbian-Byzantine conflict but also a resourceful and skillful diplomat, who played a critical role in Dušan’s negotiations with the Habsburgs and Papal Curia. This article examines Palman’s career in detail and sheds light on his mercenary company.