History of the Crusades

the Crusades Episode 280 the Baltic Crusades, the Samagetian Crusade Part 13, The Siege of Conus,

13, the Siege of Conus 1362.

Hello again.

Last week we saw an effort by the Archbishop of Prague

to convert the Lithuanian leaders to Christianity fail spectacularly

with the two pagan brothers making outrageous demands in return for their baptism, then laughing at and mocking the delegation

when they objected.

The upshot of this event was that converting the Lithuanians to Christianity by peaceful

means was now permanently off the table as a goal to be pursued.

So the only option left on the table was to convert the pagans by force.

The Teutonic Order then spent time and effort constructing a bunch of new castles in Samagetsia, which would

provide a larger more permanent Latin Christian presence in the region.

Then in the spring of the year 1362, fighting men from across Prussia, along with Crusaders

from Germany, Italy and England gathered in Prussia ready to head to Samagetsia.

This was to be a major crusading expedition.

William Urban describes it in his book, the Samagetsian Crusade as being a, and I quote,

huge force, end quote. Now you will notice that the crusaders are

departing in spring not winter that's because they don't need to ride across frozen rivers and

swamps to get to Samagetia. Why don't they need to ride across frozen rivers and swamps to get to Samagizia?

Well, because they are sailing there.

Yes, in a novel break from tradition, the Grandmaster and the Marshal of the Teutonic Forces

...