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By 1400 the long running conflict between the Order of Teutonic Knights and Poland and Lithuania was coming to a head, partly as a result of the Order's meddling in the internal politics of its neighbours. In June 1410 King Wladislaw Jagiello of Poland invaded the Order's territory with a powerful allied army including all the enemies of the Teutonic Knights -- Poles, Lithuanians, Russians, Bohemians, Hungarians, Tartars and Cossacks. This book recounts how, when the armies clashed on the wooded, rolling hills near the small village of Tannenberg, the Teutonic Knights suffered a disastrous defeat from which their Order never recovered.
excerpt:
While both armies were still ordering their ranks, two messengers from the Grand Master rode up to King Wladyslaw Jagiello and thrust two swords into the ground as a challenge to fight. The king described the incident himself in a letter sent to his wife after the battle: 'After we had stood and watched each other for a time, the Grand Master sent two swords over to us with this message: "Know you, King and Vytautas, that this very hour we shall do battle with you. For this, we send you these swords for your assistance". We replied, "we accept the swords you send us, and in the name of Christ, before whom all stiff-necked pride must bow, we shall do battle". At which, with the troops standing in full order, we advanced to the fray without delay.' |
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