History of the Crusades

the Crusades Episode 261, the Baltic Crusades, the Samagitzian Crusade Part 2, Vitanus versus Heinrich von Plutzka.

Hello again.

Last week we visited Prussia which had transformed itself into a modern thriving part of Latin Christendom.

In contrast, poor Livonia was beset by conflicts both from without and within and a grand plan was developed

which would see Livonia secured and would see the Teutonic Order bring all of its possessions in the Baltic region under control.

This grand plan involved defeating and subduing the Samagetsians and securing the lower reaches of the

Namunas River, which ran through Samagetsia on its way to the Baltic Sea. Once the lower reaches

of the river were secured, then an attack could be made on Samagitsia's neighbor and ally Lithuania,

meaning that all the pagans in the region would be defeated and subdued, and Lovonia and Prussia could live happily ever after.

However, as we discussed in last week's episode, this plan was much easier said than done.

Still, in last week's episode, we saw the Prussian branch of the Teutonic Order make a start on their plan to

subdue Samagetia and Lithuania, with numerous battles taking place between the Teutonic Order and the Lithuanians

along the lower reaches of the Namanas River.

This week we'll see those attacks expand and extend into the heart of Lithuania.

Pitting two worthy foes against each other, those foes being Heinrich von Plutzka of the Chutonic Order and the current

Grand Duke of Lithuania Vitanus.

Now, before we set these two men and their armies against each other, let's just zoom down

and take a closer look at them.

We met Vitanus of Lithuania briefly in last week's episode.

He was a respected and seasoned warrior who had united the Lithuanian warlords following a period of civil unrest which arose after the death of Mindaugus.

Proving himself to be an astute statesman,

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