History of the Crusades

the Crusades Episode 246, the Baltic, the Baltic Crusades, the Levonian Crusade Part 36, the Order fights back.

Hello again.

Last week we saw the second Prussian insurrection continue.

By the end of the year 1263 most of Prussia was under revolt with the

insurrection having spread from Samland and Netengia across the region with even southern

strongholds such as Kome and Torn coming under attack. This week we are going to leave the hot mess which is Prussia

at the end of the year 1263 and return to the hot mess which is Lovonia. When we left Lovonia two episodes ago it was

also the end of the year 1263. To recap Lithuania had returned to paganism and King Mindogus had been assassinated,

while Samagitia and Samagalia were pagan, along with parts of Curland.

The island of Eisil had attempted to shake off its Christian overlords, but the rebellion had been successfully

quelled by the Teutonic Order. Now you might remember that Master Werner had asked to be relieved of his duties

after having been set upon by an insane Teutonic night.

Grand Master Ano had granted his request and Master Conrad took up the position

of Master of Livonia towards the end of the year 1263. Now, Master Conrad was a proactive sort of a person

who hit the ground running in L Livonia. He seized upon the only surviving son of the assassinated

King Mindogas and managed to get him to agree to go to war against Samagizia in return for Teutonic support

to regain his father's crown in Lithuania. Master Conrad assembled a large group of knights to

formally ratify his agreement with Mindogus's son and decided to make good use of the impressive body of fighting men while he had

them, sending them into Semagalia to attack the pagan Semagalians.

The raid was initially pretty successful, but disaster struck as the force was heading back to Riga with a load of Semigalian booty.

The savvy Semigalians had felled a number of large trees and used them to block the route they knew the Latin

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