History of the Teutonic Order: The Beginnings, Expansion and Fall of the Knights' Power

How did a hospitaller order from the Holy Land become one of the most controversial players in the history of Central and Eastern Europe?

From a charity mission among pilgrims to brutal conquests and the spectacular Battle of Grunwald – the history of the Teutonic Order is a story of power, faith, politics and heritage that still arouses emotions.

Immerse yourself in a history where the black cross meant more than just a religious symbol…

1. The Teutonic Order – A Religious and Military Power How did it start?

2. Beginnings in the Holy Land (c. 1190–1291): From the Hospitaller Brotherhood to the Knights of the Order

3. Expansion into Europe: Early Involvement and Invitation to Prussia (1211–1230)

4. The Teutonic Knights in Prussia: Conquest and State Building (1230–1309)

5. Expansion into Pomerania: Conflict and Consolidation (1308–1466)

6. Battles for Domination: The Teutonic Order and Poland and Lithuania

7. The Decline of the Order: Decline and Secularization (after 1466)

8. The legacy of the Teutonic Order

9. The History of the Teutonic Order – Between the Sword and the Legacy

The Teutonic Order – A Religious and Military Power How did it start?

In the Middle Ages, there was no shortage of orders that combined spirituality with arms, but it was the Teutonic Order that stood out from the others.

Officially called the Order of the Hospital of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the German House of Jerusalem , it had a dual face from the very beginning.

On the one hand, it was an order deeply rooted in the Catholic faith , on the other – a real war machine, ready for action with a sword in hand and a cross on its chest.

Although many people associate them mainly with Malbork , the monumental seat of the Grand Master , the origins of this organization go back much further – to the times of the Crusades. It was there, in the sun-heated Holy Land, that the military activity of the Teutonic Order began.

Over time, however – or more precisely, after Konrad Mazowiecki brought the Teutonic Order to Polish lands – their fate became linked with Central and Eastern Europe for good.

This article will take you on a journey through the history of the Teutonic Order – from the beginnings of the Teutonic Order , through its dominance , to its fall and the place its legacy occupies in Polish history today.

We will also dispel some myths, share some interesting facts about the Teutonic Order , and of course, there will be no shortage of spectacular battles, such as the legendary Battle of Grunwald .

Ready? Let's begin this crusade through history!

Beginnings in the Holy Land (c. 1190–1291): From the Hospitaller Brotherhood to the Knights of the Order

In the beginning there was help. Around 1190 , during the Third Crusade, German merchants from Bremen and Lübeck founded a hospital brotherhood in Acre. Their goal was to provide care for the wounded and sick pilgrims from German lands on their way to Jerusalem.

The hospital that was established was named the Hospital of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the German House . When, after the conquest of Acre in 1191, the brotherhood took over one of the local hospitals, their activities gained greater momentum.

Moreover, they used the sails from the wrecked ships to build a makeshift shelter. Thus began a story that would soon take on a completely different face.

In 1198 , after receiving approval from Pope Innocent III , the brotherhood officially became a knightly order.

Following the example of the Templars and the Hospitallers, the Teutonic Order adopts a military rule and a white habit with a black cross – this Teutonic cross will later become one of the most recognizable symbols of the Middle Ages.

It is in this phase that its military core is formed – supported by German princes , bishops , and the King of Jerusalem himself, Amalric II .

The key role in this process was played by the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order , Hermann von Salza . He ruled from 1210 to 1239 and it was he who turned the monks into not only a religious community, but also a well-organized military structure.

On his initiative, the order strengthened its ties with the German elite and the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire , which provided it with powerful political and economic support. The military activities of the Teutonic Order gained solid foundations.

Over time, however, the presence of the Teutonic Knights in the Holy Land began to weaken. In 1271, they lost the fortress of Montfort, and the culmination of their defeats was the loss of Acre in 1291 , when the city fell into the hands of the Mamluks . This event forced the order to move its headquarters - from now on it will be located in Venice .

It was the end of an era, but also the beginning of a completely new chapter – this time closer to our backyard.

Expansion into Europe: Early Involvement and Invitation to Prussia (1211–1230)

Long before the Teutonic Order became the terror of Prussia and Poland, it had tried its hand in other corners of Europe.

In 1211, the monks were invited by King Andrew II of Hungary , offering them lands in Burzenland – on the border of Transylvania. Their mission was to defend the southeastern borders from the invasions of the nomadic Cumans.

The Teutonic Knights got to work – they founded settlements, brought in German settlers, and organized defense. The idyll did not last long, however.

When Pope Honorius III granted the order autonomy and recognized its lands as directly subordinate to the Holy See, the King of Hungary was alarmed. Fearing a loss of influence, Andrew II expelled the Teutonic Knights from Hungary in 1225 .

The mission was over, but the lesson had been valuable – the order had learned how to balance between local power and the authority of the Pope.

Invitation of hospitallers to Poland

A year later, a completely new opportunity opened up before him. In 1226, Konrad of Masovia , struggling with the invasions of pagan Prussians , invited the Teutonic Order to help.

Previous attempts, such as the actions of the knights of Dobrzyń, ended in failure, and the Prussians continued to devastate the prince's lands. In exchange for their help, the Teutonic Knights received the Chełmno Land , not only as a base of operations, but also as a future center of expansion.

Grand Master Hermann von Salza was not naive, however. Before the order accepted the offer, he made sure it had a solid legal background. He began talks with Emperor Frederick II , which resulted in the issuance of the Golden Bull of Rimini .

This document, dated 1226, granted the Order the right to conquered lands in Prussia and guaranteed them imperial protection. It was a key step in building the future power of the Teutonic Order .

The next formal element was to be the so-called Treaty of Kruszwica (around 1230), which was to confirm the granting of lands by Konrad of Mazovia.

Although its authenticity remains controversial to this day, it does not change the fact that the order strengthened its foundations for commencing regular activities in Prussian lands.

Thus began a new phase of the Teutonic Order's activity – no longer in defence, but in the offensive.

The Teutonic Knights in Prussia: Conquest and State Building (1230–1309)

In 1230, the Teutonic Knights officially began one of the most brutal and long-lasting campaigns in their history, the Prussian Crusade . Led by Hermann Balk, the order headed north with a clear goal: to conquer and Christianize the pagan Prussians . On paper, it was a religious mission. In practice, it was a ruthless war under the banner of the black cross.

The Order operated side by side with the troops of Konrad Mazowiecki and volunteers from the Reich. The fighting was bloody, and forced conversions were an everyday occurrence.

The Prussians put up fierce resistance, organizing numerous uprisings. However, step by step – through fire and sword – the Teutonic Knights subjugated more and more territories.

As a result of these activities, an independent State of the Teutonic Order was born – the first of its kind in the history of the order.

In 1237, the order absorbed the Dobrzyń brothers , and shortly thereafter, the Livonian Order . Thanks to this, it also gained the lands of Livonia, which are today's Latvia and Estonia . This was expansion in full swing. The military activity of the Teutonic Order gained momentum, and its influence reached further and further.

In 1243, the papal legate William of Modena divided the conquered Prussia into four dioceses – thus formalizing the spiritual aspect of the monastic rule. The Teutonic Knights, however, did not intend to limit themselves to a religious mission.

As it strengthened its power, the order began to build state structures. Monumental Teutonic castles were erected – in Malbork , Toruń , Chełmno – which served as fortresses, administrative centers, and symbols of power.

The process of colonization – the so-called Ostsiedlung – attracted German settlers and knights to these areas, who developed the lands and developed the local economy.

Teutonic castles in Prussia became not only points of defense, but also signs of the Teutonic Order's dominance . Trade was controlled, especially in grain, port cities were developed and its own fleet was created on the Baltic Sea.

All this made the order not only a military force, but also a significant economic player in the region.

In 1309, something symbolic happened – the seat of the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order was moved from Venice to Malbork .

From then on, Malbork Castle became the heart of the Teutonic empire – both political and spiritual.

Expansion into Pomerania: Conflict and Consolidation (1308–1466)

At the beginning of the 14th century, the Teutonic Order made a move that would forever shape its relations with Poland. In 1308 , at the invitation of Władysław the Elbow-high , the Teutonic Knights entered Gdańsk to help drive the Brandenburgers out of there.

However, the help quickly turned into a brutal takeover – the Order not only took over the city, but also committed a massacre of the population , which went down in history as one of the darkest pages of their activity.

A year later, in 1309 , the Order formalised its rule over Pomerania – it purchased it from Brandenburg for 10,000 marks in the treaty concluded in Soldina .

Thanks to this, the Teutonic Knights gained the desired access to the Baltic Sea , but also began a long and costly battle with the Kingdom of Poland.

The Teutonic Order's conflicts with Poland continued for decades. Casimir III the Great tried to regain Pomerania through diplomatic and judicial methods. The effect of these actions was the Treaty of Kalisz in 1343 - the king renounced his claims to Gdańsk Pomerania, the Chełmno Land and the Michałów Land, in exchange regaining Kujawy and the Dobrzyń Land.

Meanwhile, the Teutonic Order strengthened its influence over Eastern Pomerania and the port of Gdańsk.

Everything changed in the second half of the 15th century. In 1454, the inhabitants of Pomerania had had enough of the Teutonic rule – the cities associated in the Prussian Union (Gdańsk, Elbląg, Toruń) rose up in rebellion and turned to Casimir IV Jagiellon for help.

The king replied – and so the Thirteen Years' War began.

Although the conflict was long and exhausting, it brought Poland victory. The turning point was the Battle of Puck in 1462 , and the culmination of successes was the Second Peace of Toruń signed in 1466 .

The provisions of this treaty completely changed the balance of power in the region:

• The Teutonic Order renounced Gdańsk Pomerania, Chełmno Land and the Warmia bishopric – these lands became part of Royal Prussia , subordinate to Poland;

• The remainder of Prussia, now called Teutonic Prussia , remained under the control of the Order but as a fief of Poland ;

• From then on, every Grand Master of the Teutonic Order had to pay Prussian homage to the King of Poland.

It was a symbolic blow to the Order – their power was undermined, and the power of the Teutonic Order gradually began to crumble.

Battles for Domination: The Teutonic Order and Poland and Lithuania

At first, relations between the Teutonic Order and the Polish rulers were quite good.

Together they fought the pagan Prussians , and their goals seemed to converge. However, over time, the expansionist policies of the Teutonic Order and territorial claims began to divide the sides more and more. Instead of allies, they became rivals.

Poland was not alone, however. A powerful ally appeared on the horizon – the Grand Duchy of Lithuania .

The personal union between them not only united the two states, but also laid the foundation for the future Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth . For the Teutonic Order, this meant one thing – an opponent appeared who could pose a real threat to them.

The culmination of this tension was the legendary Battle of Grunwald , fought on July 15, 1410 .

On one side stood the combined Polish-Lithuanian forces, led by King Władysław II Jagiełło and Grand Duke Vytautas , on the other – a powerful army of the Teutonic Order, led by Grand Master Ulrich von Jungingen . The battle ended in a crushing defeat for the Teutonic Knights, and von Jungingen himself died on the battlefield.

The Battle of Grunwald was a turning point - it not only broke the military power of the Teutonic Order , but also shook its image in Europe.

Even though the First Peace of Toruń of 1411 did not bring Poland any significant territorial gains, the Order had to pay a huge contribution, which strained its finances for a long time.

The further course of the conflict – already described in the previous section – led to another clash: the Thirteen Years' War , which ended in 1466 .

At that time, the Order not only lost a significant part of its territories, but was also forced to acknowledge a feudal dependence on Poland . This was the end of the era of domination – and the beginning of the decline of their independence.

The Decline of the Order: Decline and Secularization (after 1466)

After the Second Peace of Toruń in 1466 , the Teutonic Order was already a shadow of its former power. Instead of a dominant Baltic state, it was left with only the Teutonic Prussia - and that as a fief of Poland .

The territorial losses were enormous, but even more painful were the internal problems: power conflicts, financial crises and decreasing support from European courts.

All this prepared the ground for the next dramatic event. In 1525, the then Grand Master of the Teutonic Order , Albert of Hohenzollern , converted to Lutheranism .

As a result, he announced the secularization of Prussia and the creation of the hereditary Duchy of Prussia – still formally a fief of Poland, which was sealed by the famous Prussian homage paid to King Sigismund I the Old. Thus, the rule of the Teutonic Order in Prussia came to an end.

At the same time, the Livonian branch of the order was also dying out. During the Livonian War , in 1561 , it was dissolved, and in its place was established the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia - this time under the protection of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth . The territories of the former order were divided between Russia , Sweden and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth .

Did this mean the end of the order altogether? Not necessarily. Although the power of the Teutonic Order was broken and its role militarily neutralized, the order survived – in a new form.

Within the Holy Roman Empire , and later in Austria , the order was reborn as a charitable and pastoral institution , under the wings of the Habsburgs .

This is how the legacy of the Teutonic Order in its peaceful version began.

Today it operates in Austria and Germany as a charitable organization, far from swords and fortresses, but still wearing the Teutonic cross on its chest – a symbol of a turbulent history full of contrasts.

The legacy of the Teutonic Order

The history of the Teutonic Order is not only wars, castles and the Battle of Grunwald. It is also a long-term influence on countries that have been in contact with its presence for centuries - especially Poland , Prussia and the entire Baltic borderland.

Below you will find the most important elements of this legacy – concisely but to the point:

The foundations of statehood

• The administration and military structure of the order formed the basis for the organization of the Prussian State , which later became the Kingdom of Prussia .

• Advanced legal and fiscal systems have played an important role in shaping modern bureaucracy.

Colonization and Germanization

• The German colonization of the Prussian territories led to a permanent cultural and linguistic change in these lands.

• The suppression of Prussian identity had a long-term impact on the ethnic structure of the region.

Relations with Poland

• Centuries-old conflicts (including the Battle of Grunwald , the Thirteen Years' War , the Prussian Homage ) have become permanently inscribed in Polish historical consciousness .

• The Order became a symbol of threat, but also of national resistance and victory.

Architectural and urban heritage

• Teutonic castles (e.g. Malbork Castle ) are among the most valuable monuments of medieval Europe.

• The development of cities, trade and infrastructure – the effects of long-term monastic activity.

A Complex Legacy

• For the Germans: a symbol of order, organization and civilization.

• For Poles: often an occupier, a source of conflict and oppression.

• The legacy of the Teutonic Order remains controversial and interpreted depending on perspective.

The Order Today

• It still exists – as a non-military charitable organisation in Austria.

• The Teutonic cross – now without the sword, but still present as a symbol of centuries of history.

The History of the Teutonic Order – Between the Sword and the Legacy

The history of the Teutonic Order is a fascinating journey – from a modest hospital brotherhood in the Holy Land to a vast and influential monastic state on the Baltic Sea .

The fate of the Hospitallers was intertwined with the most important processes of the Middle Ages: the Crusades, the Christianization of Eastern Europe and the rivalry for domination of strategic regions.

On the one hand, the order was the engine of civilizational development – it brought with it new administrative structures, architecture and economic impulses. On the other – it brought forced conversions, brutal suppression of the local population and centuries-long conflicts, especially with Poland .

It was the dispute with the Kingdom of Poland – culminating in the symbolic Prussian homage and the secularization of Prussia – that ended the Teutonic domination of the Baltic Sea.

But the order did not disappear – it survived as an institution that continues its mission to this day, although in a completely different form.

The legacy of the Teutonic Order is ambiguous.

For some, it is a testament to organizational genius and effectiveness; for others, it is an example of religious oppression and expansion under the guise of faith.

It is this duality that makes his story continue to evoke emotions – and it cannot be confined to simple assessments.

Because the order is not only about the past. It is also about memory – recorded in the walls of Malbork , in history books, in stories and disputes that continue to this day.