TEUTONIC FOOT SERGEANTS (C.1400)

Teutonic Order (full name: The Order of the Hospital of the Holy Virgin Mary of the German House in Jerusalem) probably dates back to the 3rd Crusade to the Holy Land (1189-1192), and its approval by the Pope is most often dated to 1198. Originally, the Order operated mainly in the Holy Land and guarded the safety of German pilgrims in these areas. However, with time, especially during the reign of the great master Herman von Salz, he began to create the foundations of his own statehood, initially in Transylvania, which failed completely, and later in the Chełmno Land (from 1226) and in the areas occupied at the expense of the pagan Baltic peoples, especially Prusai, with much more success. It is assumed that the conquest of the Prussians was completed by around 1280. Soon after (in 1309) the seat of the Grand Master was moved from Venice to Malbork in 1309. It was also then (1308/1309) that the Order seized all Gdańsk Pomerania at the expense of Poland. The military character of the Order in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries was based primarily on well-trained and adhering to the iron discipline of religious brothers, most often armed with lances, double-edged swords, chain mail with elements of plate armor (later full plate armor) and helmets - often potted, less often so-called large helmets or visors. The external distinguishing feature of a religious brother on the battlefield was a black cross on a white background. However, at the side of these brothers, which rarely were several hundred in a given battle, there were also units of the so-called guests from Western Europe, i.e. knights who came to Prussia to look for a fortune, but also fighting (especially in the 13th century) for religious reasons. Moreover, the Teutonic army was formed by a knightly common movement (14th and beginning of the 15th century), and with time to an increasing extent - mercenary troops. The latter played a great role especially during the Thirteen Years' War (1454-1466). Undoubtedly, the army of the Teutonic Order was a difficult and demanding opponent, and the Battle of Grunwald (July 15, 1410), which became a legend of the Polish army, made such a big impression in Europe.