The Teutonic Knights

Rise and Fall of a Religious Corporation

Aleksander Pluskowski

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English

Reaktion Books
01 August 2024

Series: Medieval Lives

This book provides a concise and incisive introduction to the Teutonic Knights, or Teutonic Order, the last of the great military orders established in the twelfth century. Evolving into a powerful religious institution, the Knights left a profound and enduring legacy.

Aleksander Pluskowski traces the Order's journey from a field hospital outside the walls of Acre during the Third Crusade to its remarkable rise as a major territorial ruler and power in northeastern Europe. He charts the three centuries of theocratic rule by this remarkable religious corporation and examines the Order's notable accomplishments, as well as its failures. From constructing distinctive fortified convents, including the largest castle in Western Christendom as its headquarters, to the Order's decline in the fifteenth century due to a devastating war with Poland-Lithuania and the secularisation of its Prussian and Livonian branches during the Reformation, The Teutonic Knights is a compelling look at a pivotal force in European history.

By: Aleksander Pluskowski
Imprint: Reaktion Books
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 138mm,
ISBN: 9781789148688
ISBN 10: 1789148685
Series: Medieval Lives
Pages: 224
Publication Date: 01 August 2024
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Introduction 1 The German Hospital of the Third Crusade: The Origins of the Teutonic Order 2 Expansion and Loss in the Thirteenth Century: The Teutonic Order in the Holy Land 3 A New Frontier: The Teutonic Order in Transylvania 4 Holy War and Conquest: The Teutonic Order's Crusades in Prussia and Livonia 5 Territorial Lords: The Teutonic Order's Rule in the Baltic 6 Power and Faith: The Teutonic Order's Fortified Convents 7 Crusading in the Wilderness: The Teutonic Order's Wars against Lithuania 8 Defeat and Decline in the Fifteenth Century 9 The Reformation and the End of the Teutonic Order's Rule in the Baltic 10 The Rise and Fall of a Medieval Religious Corporation References Bibliography Acknowledgements Photo Acknowledgements Index

Aleksander Pluskowski is Professor of Medieval Archaeology at the University of Reading. His publications include Environment, Colonization, and the Baltic Crusader States (2019) and The Archaeology of the Prussian Crusade: Holy War and Colonisation (2nd edn, 2022).

Reviews for The Teutonic Knights: Rise and Fall of a Religious Corporation

"""Fluent, fresh and confident, this clever blend of history and archaeology brings the story of the Teutonic Knights sharply into focus. Pluskowski incisively steers us through the emergence, expansion and decline of this mighty organization, enabling us to appreciate their profound influence on the faith, politics and landscape of northeastern Europe.""--Jonathan Phillips, University of London ""Pluskowski has pulled off a remarkable feat. Combining up-to-date international scholarship, detailed narrative and shrewd assessment of complex evidence with close analysis of the full range of economic, political, environmental, ideological, artistic and architectural contexts, his succinct account of the Teutonic Order provides a comprehensive new standard reference.""--Christopher Tyerman, University of Oxford"