Polish–Teutonic Wars
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Polish–Teutonic Wars refer to a series of conflicts that took place between the Kingdom of Poland and the Teutonic Order, a medieval German military order with roots in the Baltic region. These wars occurred primarily during the 14th and 15th centuries and were characterized by territorial disputes, political maneuvering, and religious differences.
Polish-Teutonic Wars | |||||||||
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Part of German-Polish Wars | |||||||||
Polish-Teutonic Wars | |||||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||||
Kingdom of Hungary
Moldavia Prussian Confederation |
Kingdom of Denmark Bohemia Livonian Order Amsterdam Duchy of Żagań | ||||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
Władysław I Łokietek Vincent of Szamotuł Władysław II Jagiełło Sędziwój Ostroróg Piotr Niedźwiedzki Feodor Ostrogski Piotr Dunin Jan Taszka Koniecpolski Jan Bażyński Andrzej Tęczyński Piotr Świdwa-Szamotulski Casimir IV Jagiellon Piotr of Szczekociny Ramsz Krzykowski Sigismund I the Old Mikołaj Firlej Nicolaus Copernicus Vytautas Janusz I Siemowit IV Siemowit V Bogislav VIII Alexander I Jalal ad-Din Bogislav IX Jan Čapek of Sány Stephen II Johannes von Baysen Scibor von Baysen Ramsza Krzykowski Otton Machwic Maciej Kolmener Szymon Lubbelow Wincenty Stolle |
Heinrich von Plötzke Werner von Orseln Luther von Braunschweig Dietrich von Alterburg Otto von Lauterberg Heinrich Reuss von Plauen Otto von Lutterberg Otto von Bornsdorf Hermann von Oppen Ulrich von Jungingen Heinrich von Plauen Friedrich von Wallenrode Michael Küchmeister von Sternberg Paul von Rusdorf Erasmus Fischborn Bernard Szumborski Ludwig von Ehrlichshausen Ludwig von Helfenstein Fritz Raweneck Albert of Hohenzollern Casimir V Konrad VII Christian of Oldenburg Mewes Reymersson Rudolf of Żagań Balthasar of Żagań | ||||||||
Strength | |||||||||
1519-1521: 50,000 | 1519-1521: 50,000 |
The origins of the conflict can be traced back to the Teutonic Order's presence in the Baltic region, where they had established a state known as the Monastic State of the Teutonic Knights. This state included territories in what is now modern-day Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Tensions arose as the Teutonic Order sought to expand its influence and control over these territories, often bringing them into conflict with the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
The conflicts were influenced by a combination of political, economic, and religious factors. The Teutonic Order was a powerful military force, and their expansionist policies often clashed with the interests of Poland and Lithuania.
The most notable conflict within this series of wars is the Battle of Grunwald (1410), where a coalition of Polish and Lithuanian forces decisively defeated the Teutonic Knights. This victory had significant implications for the balance of power in the region and marked the decline of the Teutonic Order's influence.
Subsequent treaties, such as the Peace of Thorn (1411), resulted in territorial adjustments and established a more stable relationship between the parties involved. Over time, the Teutonic Order's influence waned, and the territories it once controlled in the Baltic region gradually came under the sway of Poland and Lithuania. The Polish–Teutonic Wars played a crucial role in shaping the geopolitical landscape of East-Central Europe during the late medieval period.