How did the Teutonic Knights conquer Prussia?

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Join J Stephen Roberts and Rand Brown for a fascinating look at the Prussian Crusade, one of the most important subsets of the Northern Crusades.

[@charris5700]

Someone needs to make a good movie about the Northern European Crusades.

[@arturaselijosius2885]

Movie abaut prussians war "Herkus Mantas"

[@troywheatley744]

Thanks again RCH... always look forward to a notification from you

[@scutumfidelis1436]

I guess during the later years of the Teutonic Order they felt they had a claim over the land due to all the blood sacrificed to claim it for God.

[@Templar_PL]

J Stephen, you didnt mention templar presence in this region. However this fact may not be present in English literature, but there was a templar commandery in Łuków, modern Podlasie region in Poland. This was probably the most "far-eastern" templar estate in Europe. It was lead by Templars in mid XIIIth century, but the pressure from Teutonic Order was so big, that they nad to withdraw. Teutons didnt want any christian competition here.

[@romanstaniszewski1030]

Yes there were Templars in Poland

[@hundun5604]

I never knew there was that much information on northern crusades. To be honest, I hardly knew anything about it. 👍🏻🧑🏻‍🏫

[@Whatsahandle4]

Excellent layout of information. Interesting topics as well.

[@paulgalligan1916]

Loving your channel man .. whens the movie happening?

[@SINCHIROCA07]

Great video

[@magdaw3123]

Excellent podcast once again guys! I was wondering what where the Teutonic Knights (or Christians for that matter) offering pagans? Or in other words, what was supposed to entice pagans to convert? I would imagine that a "convert or die" strategy would have not gotten too far. Also, at what point would an order like the TK say "OK" we consider you Christians now? Would it be a certain percentage of the population? Number of churches? Or maybe simply by having the lord of the land get baptized?

[@limose9507]

Magda W A tad bit late but the enticing offer for pagans to convert to Christianity was trade, most Christians did not trade with pagans as mandated by the Papacy, allies, a chieftain who baptized himself and his tribe could now marry into Catholic families and work with the Crusader orders to conquer their ancient enemies. Furthermore while Christ pianist denounced their Gods much of their traditions were co-opted by Christianity from other pagan religions centuries earlier so converting wouldn’t change culture that much for the average peasant. The negatives with Christianity was essentially pissing off your local shamans and the religious zealots in the community as well as having to relinquish a degree of your tribe’s power or chief’s power to the Crusader Orders and in extension the Catholic Church. So: stay Pagan and be independent, raid Catholic settlements freely, maintain your way of life. Also be attacked by Crusaders while fighting your other pagan neighbors. Convert to Christianity and you receive trade, Christian militant allies for fighting pagan neighbors and mostly maintain your way of life. On the other hand you surrender independence and now have to kill your Pagan friends and family.

[@Templar_PL]

And I'd like to make somemore comments. After being made to leave Hungary by the king that saw their hunger for land and power, Teutonic Knights wanted to be sure they wont have to run once again. In tej agreement with Duke Konrad of Mazovia they used forgery. Duke Konrad probably wasnt aware of the fact that Teutonic Kinghts will posess la ds conquered from pagans. Whats more, later on, they took Polish lands like east Pomerania or Dobrzyń. Papal court in XIVth century didnt change that fact

[@clarencelafuentes4801]

Those making this instruction and those watching- should consider joining these types of orders, Latin rite, and possibly Eastern rite. Such as the Hospitallers, Calatrava, Salamanca and Teutonic orders. Perhaps as associate members, brothers, and sisters. Laity or religious. For the Latin rite, such as the Sons of the Holy Redeemer, from Papa Stronsay, Scotland; an layman could be an associate/3rd order member. Working for the Spiritual and Corporal works of mercy.

[@dashinvaine]

The association of the St Mary with the Northern Crusades was a sort of branding, and also something to give the expedition a veneer of sanctity, and to make the conquered land holy by association. (Hence all the castles named for St Mary). The actual Holy Land crusades were conceptualised as recovering the land of Christ, the Reconqista was associated with St James, wars in support of the Pope in Italy were associated with St Peter. (Not sure if the Albigensian crusades had a particular patron). The Baltic, anyway, became associated with St Mary. Very odd that the Virgin was transmogrified into a sort of war goddess in this context. I doubt that everyone was so convinced that the crusades that did not involve an element of pilgrimage (to time-honoured holy sites) were as valid as the Holy Land crusade, which was originally thought of as a large armed pilgrimage. I doubt that the offering of papal indulgences alone sufficed to invest an given military adventure with the glamour or fervour of an authentic crusade. There is plenty of medieval criticism of popes for attempting to divert crusades, and doubt can be detected about whether it was as valid or proper to be crusading somewhere other than in the Holy Land proper. (Even Egypt was iffy). The idea of expanding Christendom through crusading must have been controversial. Expanding Christendom at swordpoint does not really fit with the theory of Just war as formulated by Christian philosophers and theologians. The fact that the Teutonic Knights continued their wars against enemies that had converted to Catholicism, and against Orthodox Muscovy, makes the whole matter seem even more questionable.

[@scutumfidelis1436]

You're divorcing the context again, the pagans were not peaceable people, they raided and very often when they raided they resorted to not claiming responsibility for their warbands. The Pagans were an existential threat in the back yard of Christendom, we tried sending people out there to preach the good word, they got killed. It was time to unite Europe to Christ.

[@Fankas2000]

Scutum Fidelis The thing is, the pagans weren't raiding their neighbors because they were of a different faith, they did it for simple greed with no ideological reasons attached. So to invoking religion into mundane earthly affairs is BS. Also you failed to address the fact that the Crusaders did attack fellow Christians (Novgorod and Poland).

[@marpat_prepper8954]

I watched a video where it explained all the nobles in Europe were related. Idk if it's factual or not but I like to think so.

[@jessicawalker8564]

Often peaked my curiosity why my Prussian heritage ancestors not ever displayed a crucifix in their honorable heirlooms...

[@maccareinhardt2252]

Christburg in maryland prussia

[@en6064]

Ruthenians, the ancestors of Belarusians and Ukrainians, were Orthodox Christian Slavs and not Baltic pagans at this time

[@hosealdo7563]

There were not so many competetors to Roman empire to concur Baltic tribes. Maybe russians, however not at that scale. Danish, Swedish, russians and polish (all local powers there) were at wars with Baltic tribes already for centuries before. I dont think someone else could concur this region at that time. Other thing is that Romane empire would do this crusade sooner or later.

[@hosealdo7563]

Thanks for doing this video!

[@kreuzritter4898]

Roman empire? which exacly?

[@kreuzritter4898]

@@moscuadelendaest Ok generale?

[@bruhmcchaddeus413]

lol he talking about way back then like before christianity, vikes and romans were at war with them. thats what he saying, i dont think he is right about romans tho@@kreuzritter4898

[@melbourneopera]

Strange, aint they the originator of prussia?

[@stefanvella9807]

I like your videos , very informative. I'm so fascinated with the Teutonic Order ♰

[@RealCrusadesHistory]

Thanks for watching!

[@stefanvella9807]

@@RealCrusadesHistory You're welcome sir :)

[@rkitchen1967]

Stop saying "you know" continuously!

[@bruhmcchaddeus413]

you know