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Livonian Brothers of the Sword

Livonian Brothers of the Sword:Livonian Brothers
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Livonian Brothers

The Livonian Brothers of the Sword or Livonian Order was a military order organized in 1202 by Albert of Buxhoeveden and composed of German "warrior monks". Their rule was primarily based on that of the Knights Templar. They were also known as the Christ Knights, Sword Brethren, and The Militia of Christ of Livonia.

Their names in different languages include:


Contents

History

Livonian Brothers of the Sword:Map showing the territories of the Order in 1260.
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Map showing the territories of the Order in 1260.
Livonian Brothers of the Sword:Emblem of the Livonian Order.
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Emblem of the Livonian Order.

Albert, bishop of Riga (or Prince-Bishop of Livonia), founded the Brotherhood to aid the Bishopric of Riga in the conversion of the pagan Curonians, Livonians, Semigallians, and Latgalians along the Gulf of Riga. From its foundation the undisciplined Order tended to ignore its supposed vassalage to the bishops. In 1218 Albert asked King Valdemar II of Denmark for assistance, but Valdemar instead arranged a deal with the Brotherhood and conquered the north of Estonia.

The Brotherhood's headquarters were at Fellin (Viljandi) in Estonia, where the walls of the master's castle are still standing. Other strongholds included Wenden (Cēsis), Segewold (Sigulda) and Ascheraden (Aizkraukle). The commanders of Fellin, Goldingen (Kuldīga), Marienburg (Alūksne), Reval (Tallinn), and the bailiff of Weißenstein (Paide) belonged to the five-member entourage of the Order's master.

The Brothers were all but annihilated by the Lithuanians and Semigallians at the Battle of Schaulen (Saule) in 1236, leading the surviving Brothers to be incorporated into the Order of Teutonic Knights the following year. From that point on, they were in all respects (rule, clothing and policy) an autonomous branch of the Teutonic Order, headed by their own Master (who was de jure subject to the Teutonic Order's Grand Master).

Between 1237 and 1290 they conquered all of Courland, Livonia, and Semigallia, but their attack on Northern Russia was repelled in the Battle of Wesenberg (Rakovor) (1268). In 1346 the Order bought the rest of Estonia and the possessions of the Blue Order from King Valdemar IV of Denmark. Life within the Order's territory is described in the Chronicle of Henry of Livonia and the Livonian Rhymed Chronicle.

The Teutonic Order fell into decline following its defeat in the Battle of Grunwald in 1410 and the secularization of its Prussian territories by Albert of Prussia in 1525, but the Livonian Order managed to maintain an independent existence. During the Livonian War, however, they suffered a decisive defeat by troops of Muscovite Russia in the Battle of Ergeme in 1560. The Livonian Order then sought protection from King Sigismund II Augustus of Poland, who had intervened in a war between Bishop William of Riga and the Brothers in 1557.

After coming to an agreement with the Polish king and his representatives (especially Mikołaj "Czarny" Radziwiłł), the last Master, Gotthard Kettler, secularized the Order and converted to Lutheranism. In the southern part of the Brothers' lands he created the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia for his family. Most of the remaining lands were seized by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The north of Estonia was taken back by Denmark and Sweden.

Masters of the Livonian Order

Masters of Livonia (within the Teutonic Order)

Livonian Brothers of the Sword:Shield of the Livonian Order
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Shield of the Livonian Order

See also

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Categories


1202 establishments | History of Estonia | History of Latvia | History of Lithuania | Military orders | Teutonic Knights | Livonia

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