Battle of Grunwald 1410: Teutonic Knights vs. Poland-Lithuania（原声文稿）

the edges of the realm, but this is something different.

Vistula, and now over 30,000 men march into the heart of the Teutonic State.

come to break the power of the Teutonic Knights.

The advancing force will burn and plunder the land.

reasons for this war, but the Poles and Lithuanians also seek retribution.

centuries ago to vanquish and convert pagan peoples.

The Knights soon acquired a certain notoriety.

accused them of habitual brutality and a preoccupation with conquest.

in reciprocal, devastating warfare over the course of many years.

Whatever the old grievances, the brash Ulrich von Youngingen has failed to And so he has gathered some 20,000 soldiers this is a powerful and orderly army.

Its finest mail, and ranged troops armed with crossbows advance across the river grievance and shadows approach.

Tens of thousands of armored men gather for history, a battle that will alter the fate of the Teutonic Order and shift power in this corner of the continent.

The Battle of Grunwald Knights rode into battle with striking state-of-the-art gear.

of the region called Samogitia plunder and torch killing or capturing those within and stealing retreat, but the war-torn region of Samogitia remains between the night's bases in Prussia and their Ulrich will not let it fall, even if peace should the rebels receive aid and encouragement from across Lithuania, is backing the rebellion in Samogitia.

years before in a pragmatic political move.

his army must now cross the bogs and forests and strike Lithuania itself.

It he fears that such a move may provoke Poland.

personal union, as Grandduke Vytotas rules Lithuania as the regent for his cousin and king of Poland, Wojtosław II Jagieł.

invade Lithuania and warns King Jagieł not to or fear.

trying to frighten us by declaring war on Lithuania, because if you decide on Lithuania, our king will invade your lands.

and if you attack them, we will take up arms against you.

grateful, worshipful father, for you're not disguising your king's intentions.

swarming lands the order previously sold to the king.

and slaughters garrisons of Polish knights.

also moves to devastate nearby towns, where they slay even the girls and women.

they besiege a western fortress taken by the Order and kill the leaders within.

this war, and so a truce is brokered by the King of Bohemia on October 8th.

time, on June 24th of 1410, the peace will expire.

subjects, allies, and mercenaries for the coming war.

Order wields considerable influence as well.

German aristocrats of wealthy and accomplished lineages.

not begun here but in the Holy Land two centuries ago.

Crusade, a hospital order that tended to German crusaders order, alongside the Knights Templar and Hospitaller.

tireless knights who escorted pilgrims, defended towns, and fought Muslim enemies.

As devout friars, each night took vows of chastity and poverty.

Yet Muslim armies had largely checked the advance of the Crusaders in the Holy Land.

to perceived threats to Christendom elsewhere.

Hungarian king, only for the king to forcefully expel them when the Teutonic Order asserted autonomy in the lands it had gained.

Poland, which had been Christian for centuries, required aid in facing the pagan raiders of Prussia.

of territory, from which they waged the brutal Baltic crusades.

The knights incessantly made war in the marshlands in the dark woods.

little, for they labored in God's name, steadfastly propagating the true faith.

They kept watch, fasted, and seldom rested. Their sufferings were great.

they turned on their former Polish allies in 1308.

the defenders, then proceeded to burn the town.

many civilians that dogs gathered to drink the massacre by the Pope, the Teutonic Knights annexed the town and gained the surrounding region, robbing Poland of its Baltic coast.

Lithuania, the last and most powerful of the pagan states.

Its tribes were not fractured like others, but organized under a central Lithuanian using light cavalry tactics influenced by the neighboring Tatars of the steppe.

purging practices deemed sinful, many decried the brutality hails the knights as warriors of God, describes their actions frankly.

where they killed the people with a free hand.

women, and children, and few of them were spared.

toward Lithuania and destroyed by the torch everything around them.

might of the Christians and the fierce fighting caused much sorrow.

Teutonic Knights impeded this effort and stained the reputation of the Church.

fact that they wish to dominate them absolutely, long ago if it was not for the violence of the brothers of the Teutonic Order.

bloody and lucrative raids into Lithuania each winter the Old Gods and widely baptized the people of Lithuania.

been pagan himself until 1386, when he converted to Christianity and married the young female ruler of Poland, Yadviga. Thus he also became the king of Poland.

until they reached the present arrangement.

and Witotus would govern Lithuania as his regent, with de facto independence.

summer of 1410 now signals the end of the truce.

in Lithuanians will risk a large invasion of his well-fortified state.

completed a nearly 2,000-foot pontoon bridge, over which across the river Vistula, the cavalry cannons and all.

together this mighty force of some 30,000 men invades the Teutonic realm.

Marauding Army as they march toward the Teutonic headquarters of Marionburg.

Cowernick, and so he has hurriedly led his army of 20,000 men east to fortify and hold the crossing.

And days later, as predicted, the Polish-Lithuanian army arrives.

Near the hilltop castle of Cowernick, the two armies come to a standoff.

The Great Helms of centuries but have given way to varieties of bassinettes troops consists of mail and a breastplate or coat especially adding more elements of plate armor on the troops carry lances and pole arms, as well as hundred Teutonic knights, this army largely consists of local cavalry and infantry, visiting knights in skilled mercenaries.

But critically, Ulrich lacks knights from the Livonian branch of the Teutonic order, Lithuania.

The Grandmaster nevertheless shows no fear Lithuanian army you will find more men fit to wield a spoon and a sword.

the Teutonic army, the cavalry-heavy Allied army is eager and well-armed.

Eastern-influenced Lithuanians often ride in nimbler, lighter gear.

principalities, some Samogitians, and even nomads of the steppe.

of the Mongol-established Golden Horde Khanate Muslim prince Jalal al-Din, son of the late Khan exchange for the support of Lithuania in reclaiming his father's throne.

presence of Czech warriors, including Jan Sokol and the legendary Jan Žižka.

Despite the strength of his army, river. He resolves to go around it to the east.

The Polish 13th the force reaches Gilgenburg, a town and castle on a and Lithuanians scale the walls with siege ladders deny the hellish scene that the army perpetrates.

sought refuge in the churches are killed in the blaze.

None escapes death or captivity, except the few who flee across the lake in boats.

retaliation for the massacres committed by the Teutonic the attack on Gilgenburg reaches the Grand Master, and take vengeance against the Polish-Lithuanian army.

and not far to the south, the Allied army approaches.

masses even as the armies array for battle.

The Poles stand on the left wing and the Lithuanians on the right.

to their north, the Teutonic army grows restless.

mockingly offering the Polish King two swords with the message, fight him in his army without further procrastination, or hiding in woods and thickets to deceive him, but to fight him now.

swords, but he will accept them, that they may serve the will of God in battle.

from their defensive ditches to entice the enemy.

chestnut horse with a white blaze, beholds his men at the hour of death, and then puts on his helm and orders the bugles to be sounded army sings the country's anthem, Bogura Jitsa, Mother of God.

The first to charge are the Lithuanians and Tatars, with furious battle cries.

The Teutonic artillery manages only two salvos before the forces collide.

The Polish annals relate.

The noise of lances breaking and swords striking armor is as loud as a rockfall.

Armor crumples and swords thrust at faces.

hand-to-hand, pressed close by their mounts. They can fight only with swords or battle axes.

Polish on the left, the Lithuanians contend with the knights for over an hour.

the enemy abandons their positions to give them chase.

Polish right as the Teutonic army clashes with them.

earth, and many men on both sides fall as the strong Polish lines hold position.

With his forces growing tired, Grandmaster Ulrich decides to join the fray.

rides across the battlefield and boldly charges the Polish right flank.

of their reserves for a fight to the death.

The king's secretary, a young priest spear, knocks down the German knight, and saves his at this point that the Lithuanians and Tatars battle.

Having ambushed many of their pursuers, Tatars and Mongols. At any rates, the Teutonic knights begin to crumble.

the mass of Poles and Lithuanians rides over the damp and corp-strewn fleeing Teutonic forces and plundering their camps with jubilants.

bands of allied troops hunt them for miles.

keep coming to camp with more prisoners and plunder.

executed, and perhaps 8,000 more lie cold on the battlefield.

The Allied Army may have lost a similar number of men.

Of the 270 full brothers of the Teutonic Order who came to Grunwald, several commanders, the treasurer, and the Grandmaster Ulrich von Jungingen himself.

In the morning, the victorious Poles and Lithuanians survey the carnage.

banners, they're fluttering quite loud in the light breeze.

transported to Marionburg for a proper burial.

Then Marionburg remains his aim.

securing the ready submission of castles and towns.

to Marionburg with 3,000 men and assumes control before the Allied army arrives on July 25.

Marienburg hold strong under the siege, which lasts from of the Order, King Yegewo departs with the last of his army.

swiftly regains most of the territory lost, but Yegewo October.

The costly war ends with the Peace of Torn Dubzhin region is returned to Poland, and the order renounces its claims to Semigitia for the lifetimes of Yegewo and Vytotas.

Yegewo lead a large victory parade, and triumphantly display the captured Teutonic standards in the cathedrals of Lithuania and Poland.

They did not break the Teutonic order at Grunwald, and more wars will be fought.

decimated the leadership and army of the Teutonic Order, reparations and hires mercenaries to supplement its forces.

scrutiny from church leaders, as Polish clerics claim heathen lands under the pretext of conversion.

relentless warriors in a brutal medieval age.

In the aftermath of the Battle of Grunwald, they faced a gradual decline.

never again reach the same heights of power.

made by the accomplished artist Joe Feely, who is also my brother.

with research and references on everything from Gilgenburg to the Polish flags present at the Battle of Grunwald.

telling history accurately through art and storytelling.