History of the Crusades

the Crusades Episode 257, the Baltic Crusades, the Levonian Crusade Part 40 Civil War.

Hello again. Last week we saw Samagalia submit to Latin Christian rule,

leaving Samagetia as the only pagan region blocking the formation of a land corridor between

Prussia and Livonia.

However, in a shock development, we also saw relations between the citizens of Riga and the

Livonian chapter of the Teutonic Order deteriorate to dangerous levels.

By the end of last week's episode, the citizens of Riga had decided to protect their

interests by forming an alliance with the pagan Lithuanians and Rome had

intervened brokering a truce between the warring parties. Now effectively this episode is the moment in which

the curtain rises on the second half of the Baltic Crusades. The Baltic Crusades to date have been largely based on offensive

campaigns with the Teutonic Order and visiting Crusaders concentrating on attacking and subduing pagans in the region.

Now however, the nature of the crusade changes from being largely offensive to largely defensive

aimed at protecting the Latin Christian states which have been established from enemies without and within.

Since this marks a turning point in proceedings, let's just catch our breath a minute and take a look at the current state of play in

Livonia. Now, the political situation in Livonia and Estonia at this time is rather complex.

The main ecclesiastical centers of power in the region reside in the Archbishop of Riga in Livonia and the Bishop of Dorpat and the Bishop of Eisil Vique in Estonia, all of which, in theory at least, are separate from and operate

independently of the Teutonic Order. The Latin Christians in Estonia are subjects of the Danish crown, although in reality

Estonia is largely self-governing. The largest cities in Livonia and Estonia, the cities of Riga,

Revau and Daupat, Riga being in Liv, and Reval and Dorpat being in Estonia, are mostly independent

and are allied with the newly developing Hansiatic League.

Just to make things more confusing, the Bishop of Kurland was not independent and instead was answerable to the Teutonic Order.

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