History of the Crusades

the Crusades Episode 280. Episode 282, the Baltic, the Baltic Crusades, the Samagetian Crusade Part 14, the Battle of Rudel.

Hello again.

Last week we returned to Livonia to see the Livonian chapter of the Teutonic Order become involved in crusading once again.

More specifically, the Livonian Knights embarked on campaigns deep in Lithuania from their castle at Dunneburg and also conducted

numerous border raids into Lithuania and Samagetsia. This week we are returning to the Samagetsian Crusade. As we saw in

last week's episode, Grand Master Vinrich von Kniproder had been enjoying numerous military successes

against the Lithuanians and had utilized the Livonian chapter of the order to full effect on his campaigns inside Lithuania.

In addition to fighting the pagans, Grand Master Vinrich was kept busy building and strengthening Prussia's

ties to the towns of the Hansiatic League, ensuring that the benefits of international trade were felt across Prussia.

And he also did his best to patch up his troubled relationship with King Kazimir of Poland.

In the year 1366 he invited King Kazimir to make a formal visit to Marionburg Castle in Prussia.

This was quite a savvy move on the Grandmaster's part.

The Grandmaster had formed the personal opinion that the King of Poland may have

underestimated the wealth and grandeur of the Teutonic Order and that this may have colored the Polish monarchs dealings with the Order.

In fact, he was sort of right. Apparently King Kazimir had been informed by some of his

advisors that the Order's castles were poorly provisioned, sparse, uncomfortable sort of places. So when the Polish King agreed to travel to

Prussia, the Grand Master made sure that Marionburg Castle showed its brightest face. He also made sure the

sellers and storehouses inside the castle were all fully stocked and after treating King

Kazimir and his entourage to a suitably lavish and sumptuous meal at the castle

he made a seemingly impromptu offer to take the Polish

king on a personal tour of the castle, showing him around all the secret places which visiting opponents of the order would never normally get to see.

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