It was a stunning blow, from which few men could recover.

Rhodolph, instead of sinking in despair, endeavored, by new acts of obedience and devotion to the Church, to obtain the revocation of the sentence.
In the region now called Prussia, there was then a barbaric pagan race, against whom the pope had published a crusade.

Into this war the excommunicated Rhodolph plunged with all the impetuosity of his nature; he resolved to work out absolution, by converting, with all the potency of fire and sword, the barbarians to the Church.

His penitence and zeal seem to have been accepted, for we soon find him on good terms again with the pope.

He now sought to have a hand in every quarrel, far and near.