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条顿骑士团：一部军事史
这是一部杰出的中世纪欧洲军事史作品，它的主题是条顿骑士的作战及其与西欧罗马天主教廷关系演变。
专攻波罗的海沿岸地区中世纪史与条顿骑士团的学者威廉·厄本用详实的引证与论述戳穿近代民族主义的迷雾，还原了欧洲中世纪史上一个精彩却鲜为人知的篇章。书中梳理了条顿骑士团从崛起到衰亡的历史，其间戏剧性情境迭出，如1242年的冰湖之战和骑士团在坦能堡的惨败，不过焦点仍在于它年复一年地维护领土控制权、抗击敌人小股骚扰劫掠，并对不信奉天主教的敌人发起圣战的活动轨迹。中世纪德意志十字军战士的生活、信条和行动，以及条顿骑士团500年的历史由此得以生动呈现。
专攻波罗的海沿岸地区中世纪史与条顿骑士团的学者威廉·厄本用详实的引证与论述戳穿近代民族主义的迷雾，还原了欧洲中世纪史上一个精彩却鲜为人知的篇章。书中梳理了条顿骑士团从崛起到衰亡的历史，其间戏剧性情境迭出，如1242年的冰湖之战和骑士团在坦能堡的惨败，不过焦点仍在于它年复一年地维护领土控制权、抗击敌人小股骚扰劫掠，并对不信奉天主教的敌人发起圣战的活动轨迹。中世纪德意志十字军战士的生活、信条和行动，以及条顿骑士团500年的历史由此得以生动呈现。
420 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
December 17, 2018
If the Crusading Orders in the Holy Land were armed pilgrims, the Teutonic Knights in the Baltic were armed missionaries. As such, their mission was to bring Christianity and civilisation (the same thing, naturally) to the barbarous pagan Prussians and Lithuanians. And this was no mere posturing to justify conquest: many a time the Knights called off an offensive because their enemies promised to accept baptism (a promise that was almost never carried out). Defeated enemies were more often called upon to abandon their wickedness than their property. But there was resistance, and to the pagans, raiding and plunder were a way of life that the Knights felt obliged to halt by armed force. As in many frontier states, tribes who had submitted demanded protection from those who had not, drawing the conflict deeper and deeper into the wilderness. This is the mission creep of empire.
Technically, the Knights were friars, taking vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. The military arm of the Church was an attractive option to the younger sons of the nobility: it was more in keeping with their training, experience and values than the civilian orders. They gave up women and wine, but alone among religious orders, they were permitted to hunt (an essential part of medieval cavalry training). Jousting and tournaments were forbidden, however, as leading to pride and thus disobedience.
The Order offered comradeship, adventure, spiritual solace and personal salvation. In joining, the men gave up all their wealth, lands and dynastic pretensions. But in return, they became part of one of the richest and most prestigious organisations in Europe, one that would feed them and shelter them for life, in sickness, injury and old age. They could rely on the courage and commitment of their comrades. The food, housing and equipment were of a very decent standard, even though luxury and display were scorned. In many ways it was a better deal than mercenary service.
It is difficult for us to understand the medieval mind, and we must not assume that the Knights were bloodthirsty hypocrites. That was definitely not the case. They were doing God's work, and it would have been easy to persuade themselves that they saved more souls than any parish priest.
Technically, the Knights were friars, taking vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. The military arm of the Church was an attractive option to the younger sons of the nobility: it was more in keeping with their training, experience and values than the civilian orders. They gave up women and wine, but alone among religious orders, they were permitted to hunt (an essential part of medieval cavalry training). Jousting and tournaments were forbidden, however, as leading to pride and thus disobedience.
The Order offered comradeship, adventure, spiritual solace and personal salvation. In joining, the men gave up all their wealth, lands and dynastic pretensions. But in return, they became part of one of the richest and most prestigious organisations in Europe, one that would feed them and shelter them for life, in sickness, injury and old age. They could rely on the courage and commitment of their comrades. The food, housing and equipment were of a very decent standard, even though luxury and display were scorned. In many ways it was a better deal than mercenary service.
It is difficult for us to understand the medieval mind, and we must not assume that the Knights were bloodthirsty hypocrites. That was definitely not the case. They were doing God's work, and it would have been easy to persuade themselves that they saved more souls than any parish priest.
September 2, 2011
Not as engaging or interesting as some of the histories of the Knights Templer or Knights Hospitaller. The focus more on the military aspect makes sense, as unlike the other orders the Teutonic Knights were in near continuous warfare on crusades against pagans in Eastern Europe. In a sense, it became a 'safe' crusade, offering the noble pursuit of chivalry, a code of behavior taken to ever more romanticized and unrealistic heights. Despite it being a book on the Knights, the situation's complexities require a rather thorough explanation of how the local cultures functioned. Copious detail explains the myriad truces, papal officials, backstabbing, and political games that went one. There is an abundance of maps to explain major changes in control of the region, and the castle of Marienburg is described in excellent detail.
The biggest problem with this book is the sheer complexity of politics in the region. From the Piast dynasty, Rus' princes, pagan tribes, etc. the names and rulers quickly pile up and never seem to create a sense of cohesion or definite states. Given how complex the actual political landscape was, this confusion probably reflects the reality.
Mentioned frequently throughout the book is the perspective of German historians seeing the Teutonic Knights as noble warriors of Christ, and Polish and Lithuanian's seeing them as bloodthirsty, rapacious bandits. Given Prussia then Germany's proclivities towards aggression up to WW2, the Knights have been viewed as a cultural fingerprint of German life, an early aspect of its imperial expansion and brutal subjugation. Specific perspectives like that emphasize just how centuries of political and cultural conflict shape the way we view the past.
The biggest problem with this book is the sheer complexity of politics in the region. From the Piast dynasty, Rus' princes, pagan tribes, etc. the names and rulers quickly pile up and never seem to create a sense of cohesion or definite states. Given how complex the actual political landscape was, this confusion probably reflects the reality.
Mentioned frequently throughout the book is the perspective of German historians seeing the Teutonic Knights as noble warriors of Christ, and Polish and Lithuanian's seeing them as bloodthirsty, rapacious bandits. Given Prussia then Germany's proclivities towards aggression up to WW2, the Knights have been viewed as a cultural fingerprint of German life, an early aspect of its imperial expansion and brutal subjugation. Specific perspectives like that emphasize just how centuries of political and cultural conflict shape the way we view the past.
October 2, 2020
Urban does his best to portrays both sides as having faults and committing hideous deeds, but he does strongly slant his support to the Teutonic Knights which leads to quite a few contradictions when comparing the two sides, and comparing the values of the people in medieval ages to today. However, this really is one of the few books over the northern crusades that is in English, and it is very informative even if the author isn't completely unbiased.
May 15, 2010
Urban, an expert in Baltic and east european history, has given us a comprehensive account of the rise and fall of a great military order. Most importantly, he has convincingly demostrated that the Teutonic Knights, or more accurately the German Order, was a Roman Catholic organization, like many others, dedicated to helping the sick and advancing Christianity via the crusade and not some kind of twisted forerunner of Nazi Germany. He takes generations of historians and political leaders to task for creating and perpetuating this myth which does not honestly study the order's history but rather foments ethnic hatreds between Germans, Poles, Lithuanians, and Russians.
July 11, 2017
A good historical overview.
The book is the first I've read on this topic. It does well at informing. The names and dates can get laborious but the first read through gives excellent highlights and historical connections that gives one a picture of the Teutonic Knights place in history.
The book is the first I've read on this topic. It does well at informing. The names and dates can get laborious but the first read through gives excellent highlights and historical connections that gives one a picture of the Teutonic Knights place in history.
October 11, 2025
"The Teutonic Knights" is a fascinating history of a military order and their role in crusades in Prussia, Livonia, Lithuania, and rivalries with Poland. It's a fast paced book that covers peoples and territories seldom mentioned in books on European history. Unfortunately, the focus is so much on the event-by-event action that the analysis and contextualization is wanting. 2.6 stars.
August 20, 2021
The Roman Catholic Church in the Middle Ages was often hesitant to use force in fulfilling its missions in secular society. First, the doctrine calls for forgiveness of sinners, but at the same time it must not forget to protect the victims. Therefore, it is one thing to forgive penitent robbers, and it is another thing to ignore the behavior of robbers. Similarly, the church opposes priests taking up arms and encouraging believers to resolve private disputes through peaceful means; but at the same time, the church must support the secular monarch, because the monarch is responsible for protecting the priest and his followers from foreign attacks and domestic violence.
Talking about knights today, we may think of the elegant gentleman's demeanor and the handsome guys in fairy tales, and knights are actually a very important aristocratic class in European society. Knights generally refer to warriors who can fight for the lord, that is, nobles who serve in military service in exchange for the lands of the fief. The knight system did not completely decline until the 17th century. The most popular among the knights in Europe is the more than two hundred years of the Crusade era, and the three knights are even more famous.
The most brilliant one of the Crusades was the Third Crusade. The British King Richard the Lionheart, the holy French monarch Louis IX, the Holy Roman Empire’s red-bearded Barbarossa Emperor, and the European continent’s secular monarchs, Britain, France and Germany, collectively dispatched them. The most unlucky is the Barbarossa of Shinra, close to the Holy Land, but drowned in a small water puddle.
The Germans believed that the red beard emperor did not really die, but swayed on the European continent in another form, waiting for the next coming, which is somewhat similar to the twelve imams of the Shia Islam. This situation is very common in Eurasia, where the religious atmosphere is strong.
The people of the Holy Roman Empire believed that Barbarossa died in order to save the Holy Land and will be resurrected in the future. The accident of Barbarossa caused the huge army of Shinra to stop advancing. However, there are always people with devout beliefs that are not reconciled, and some of the Shinra soldiers choose to continue to march towards the holy land.
This part of the soldiers from the Holy Roman Empire also participated in the religious wars in the Third Crusade. Of course, the protagonist this time is not them, not even the already famous Knights Templar and the Knights Hospital. The Lionheart and Saladin are the real protagonists. These German-speaking Shinra soldiers gathered together and were recovering from their wounds in the Hospital Knights. The rudimentary community of the Teutonic Knights was formed.
After Jerusalem was completely conquered by Muslims, the crusade-style knights no longer existed in the Holy Land, and the early communities of the Teutonic Knights moved to Akka. During the Akka War, these German-speaking people actively practiced the oath of the Crusaders and won praise for saving the dead and healing the wounded. Pope Celestine III recognized these German-speaking people, and the Teutonic Knights officially took the stage.
Later generations, the ancestors are the true portrayal of the Teutonic Knights, the red cross of the Knights Templar on a white background, the majestic and powerful, and their reputation and wealth have increased day by day. After returning to Frank from the Holy Land, they lost In order to gain value, it became the restraining force of the Frankish king, and he died miserably. The Knights Hospitality went smoothly, and today it has become one of the observer nations of the United Nations, but compared to the Teutonic Knights, it is a grade.
The Teutonic Knights knew that they didn't have much room for development in Jerusalem, and they were determined to find a new stage. In the book "Teutonic Knights" by American writer William Urban, there are also pen and ink about the actions of the Teutonic Knights in the Holy Land, and most of the authors have set their sights on the north. The addition of this part of the content makes the Teutonic knights more flesh and blood. After all, the Holy Land is the original intention of the establishment of the Knights.
The Teutonic Knights were formed in the model of the Hospitaller Knights. In terms of military affairs, they were modeled after the Knights Templar. The advantage of the latecomer is that the Teutonic Knights can fully learn from the experience of their predecessors. The glory of the Knights Templar and the Knights Hospitaller in the Holy Land has attracted Crusaders from various countries. The early religious colors of these two knights are Extremely heavy, this combination of monks and fighters is an extension of the power of the Pope.
The establishment of the Teutonic Order and the canonization of the Grand Captain were also the instructions of the Pope. However, most of the Teutonic Knights were German-speaking Shinra soldiers. William Urban believed that this kind of relatively closed soldier composition, although let The Teutonic Knights are not as colorful as the first two knights, but they are most secular.
Secularization is the biggest feature of the Teutonic Knights. At that time, the largest emperor of Europe and the Teutonic Knights also had a lot of contacts. The Teutonic Knights could get a sense of sacredness in the religious sense from the Pope. This is for Christians. The Crusades are very important; of course, the special relationship between the Teutonic Knights and the Emperor Shinra also allowed them to obtain the Emperor's Golden Certificate.
The German-speaking Teutonic knights turned their eyes to the Eastern European plains, and there was a focus in their vision, and blind spots would inevitably appear. The Teutonic Knights tasted the sweetness of an independent fief for the first time in Eastern Europe. The Knights had a double endorsement in Eastern Europe. The Catholic Pope needed the Teutonic Knights to conquer the pagans in Eastern Europe. The Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire also needed Teutonic. The knights opened up their territory.
The support of the Pope and the emperor gave the Teutonic Knights more resources. The situation in Jerusalem is so intertwined. Christians, Muslims and Jews will not easily give up here. Once the Crusaders have achieved success, they will use multiple forces to check and balance; Eastern Europe is not the case. In this way, compared to the European Christian world at that time, it was still a large barren land.
The tracing of European countries generally begins with the conversion of all people to Christianity. Eastern Europe’s polytheistic beliefs and animism are still very marketable, and the conquest here will not cause constraints from the “owners”. The pope is happy to spread the gospel of Christ further, and the emperor is happy to make it his own territory.
Many of the images of Germany today come from a place where the people who came out of this place ended the internal fragmentation of the Shenluo, and also injected more national characteristics into the German nation. Prussia is a symbol of Germany. At the time when the Teutonic knights slaughtered, it was not part of the Shinra. At this time, the Prussians were not later Prussians. These ancient Prussians were typical pagans. Chinese.
The Teutonic Order is the latest one to be established, but this Knight Order has experienced more large-scale war scenes than the temple and the hospital combined. The source of this sentence is the war between the Teutonic Knights and the Ancient Prussians. One can imagine how bloody the Teutonic Knights experienced.
Under the baptism of war, the Teutonic knights became the most powerful military force in Northern Europe. At the time of the decline of the first two knights, the Teutonic Knights completed the transformation and became the Teutonic Knight State dominating the Baltic Sea. William Urban's book "Teutonic Knights" describes this transformation in a particularly detailed manner. From the perspective of the pope and the emperor, he interprets the internal reasons for the establishment of the Teutonic Knights.
The protagonists of "Teutonic Knights" are naturally these knights, but these knights are involved in a wide range of areas that the first two do not have. As the translator of this book, Mr. Lu Dapeng, said, such a book is not just an English. The world’s writings also involve the languages and cultures of Germany, Prussia, Baltic, Poland, and Lithuania. The author of this book, William Urban, is an authoritative figure in the study of the Crusades and the above-mentioned regions, and tells us the uniqueness of these regions in a simple and simple way. Cultural values.
Why was Hitler’s plan to advance eastward in World War II called Tannenberg’s revenge? Why did the Germans have a unique attitude towards the Battle of Tannenberg? The book "Teutonic Knights" used a whole chapter to review this battle. The German persistence or the wishful thinking of outsiders, why did the Teutonic Knights have the most profound influence on the Germans afterwards?
As a Chinese, it is difficult to understand the meaning of European religion. The Teutonic knights use their religious beliefs as the endorsement of their lives. Countless young people have joined the knights. They strictly abide by the precepts of poverty and obedience, and live almost proletarian lives. What is their motivation? In William's pen, we can see this group of devout Christians whose dedication is in pursuit of achievement in the religious sense. They would rather be the guardians of Jesus and the spreaders of religion during the most precious years of their lives. Even if they have nothing, they will be respected by the people around them when they are about to die.
It has always been said that the Crusaders are a group of out-and-out bandits, blindly pursuing the wealth of the Holy Land, and the Crusades were robbing Muslims. The home game of the Teutonic Knights in the later period was on the coast of the Baltic Sea, where there is no wealth of the holy land, and there are no wealthy Muslims. The ancient Prussians did not even have their own language and script, they were still in the stage of primitive society. William believes that the Teutonic Knights enlisted in the army for various reasons, the main reason being to complete the salvation of the soul.
After the Teutonic Knights had their own land and military armaments, they became the No. 1 Northern European hegemon. It stands to reason that with such a unique geographical position, their large group leader will inevitably expand frantically. However, the Teutonic Knights appeared more as Christian monks. When the arch rival Daugas of Lithuania took the initiative to accept the Christian faith, the Teutonic Knights retracted the cross sword and took out the Bible and the cross.
The establishment of the Baltic States and the formation of the nation are sandwiched between the Germans and the Slavs. What is their early history of struggle?
What is the origin of the rapid rise of the Prussian region into the spiritual core of Germany? What is the influence of Prussia on the Germans?
As representatives of religion and secularity, what role did the pope and emperor play in the era of the Crusades? What is the positioning of the Knights in the eyes of the two?
How much blood was involved in the conquest of pagans in the Catholic world? What is your attitude towards heresy? How powerful is religion in Europe?
How magnificent is the century-old history of the Teutonic Knights? What does true chivalry look like?
The answer can be found in the book "Teutonic Knights-A Military History". William Urban used detailed citations and expositions to pierce the fog of modern nationalism and restore a wonderful but little-known thing in European medieval history. Chapter.
The book combs through the history of the Teutonic Knights from the rise to the decline, during which dramatic scenarios emerge one after another, such as the Battle of the Ice Lake in 1242 and the fiasco of the Knights at Tannenberg, but the focus is still on its maintenance of territory year after year. Control, fight against small groups of enemy harassment and looting, and launch a holy war against enemies who do not believe in Catholicism.
The life, creed, and actions of the German Crusaders in the Middle Ages, as well as the 500-year history of the Teutonic Knights, are thus vividly presented.
Talking about knights today, we may think of the elegant gentleman's demeanor and the handsome guys in fairy tales, and knights are actually a very important aristocratic class in European society. Knights generally refer to warriors who can fight for the lord, that is, nobles who serve in military service in exchange for the lands of the fief. The knight system did not completely decline until the 17th century. The most popular among the knights in Europe is the more than two hundred years of the Crusade era, and the three knights are even more famous.
The most brilliant one of the Crusades was the Third Crusade. The British King Richard the Lionheart, the holy French monarch Louis IX, the Holy Roman Empire’s red-bearded Barbarossa Emperor, and the European continent’s secular monarchs, Britain, France and Germany, collectively dispatched them. The most unlucky is the Barbarossa of Shinra, close to the Holy Land, but drowned in a small water puddle.
The Germans believed that the red beard emperor did not really die, but swayed on the European continent in another form, waiting for the next coming, which is somewhat similar to the twelve imams of the Shia Islam. This situation is very common in Eurasia, where the religious atmosphere is strong.
The people of the Holy Roman Empire believed that Barbarossa died in order to save the Holy Land and will be resurrected in the future. The accident of Barbarossa caused the huge army of Shinra to stop advancing. However, there are always people with devout beliefs that are not reconciled, and some of the Shinra soldiers choose to continue to march towards the holy land.
This part of the soldiers from the Holy Roman Empire also participated in the religious wars in the Third Crusade. Of course, the protagonist this time is not them, not even the already famous Knights Templar and the Knights Hospital. The Lionheart and Saladin are the real protagonists. These German-speaking Shinra soldiers gathered together and were recovering from their wounds in the Hospital Knights. The rudimentary community of the Teutonic Knights was formed.
After Jerusalem was completely conquered by Muslims, the crusade-style knights no longer existed in the Holy Land, and the early communities of the Teutonic Knights moved to Akka. During the Akka War, these German-speaking people actively practiced the oath of the Crusaders and won praise for saving the dead and healing the wounded. Pope Celestine III recognized these German-speaking people, and the Teutonic Knights officially took the stage.
Later generations, the ancestors are the true portrayal of the Teutonic Knights, the red cross of the Knights Templar on a white background, the majestic and powerful, and their reputation and wealth have increased day by day. After returning to Frank from the Holy Land, they lost In order to gain value, it became the restraining force of the Frankish king, and he died miserably. The Knights Hospitality went smoothly, and today it has become one of the observer nations of the United Nations, but compared to the Teutonic Knights, it is a grade.
The Teutonic Knights knew that they didn't have much room for development in Jerusalem, and they were determined to find a new stage. In the book "Teutonic Knights" by American writer William Urban, there are also pen and ink about the actions of the Teutonic Knights in the Holy Land, and most of the authors have set their sights on the north. The addition of this part of the content makes the Teutonic knights more flesh and blood. After all, the Holy Land is the original intention of the establishment of the Knights.
The Teutonic Knights were formed in the model of the Hospitaller Knights. In terms of military affairs, they were modeled after the Knights Templar. The advantage of the latecomer is that the Teutonic Knights can fully learn from the experience of their predecessors. The glory of the Knights Templar and the Knights Hospitaller in the Holy Land has attracted Crusaders from various countries. The early religious colors of these two knights are Extremely heavy, this combination of monks and fighters is an extension of the power of the Pope.
The establishment of the Teutonic Order and the canonization of the Grand Captain were also the instructions of the Pope. However, most of the Teutonic Knights were German-speaking Shinra soldiers. William Urban believed that this kind of relatively closed soldier composition, although let The Teutonic Knights are not as colorful as the first two knights, but they are most secular.
Secularization is the biggest feature of the Teutonic Knights. At that time, the largest emperor of Europe and the Teutonic Knights also had a lot of contacts. The Teutonic Knights could get a sense of sacredness in the religious sense from the Pope. This is for Christians. The Crusades are very important; of course, the special relationship between the Teutonic Knights and the Emperor Shinra also allowed them to obtain the Emperor's Golden Certificate.
The German-speaking Teutonic knights turned their eyes to the Eastern European plains, and there was a focus in their vision, and blind spots would inevitably appear. The Teutonic Knights tasted the sweetness of an independent fief for the first time in Eastern Europe. The Knights had a double endorsement in Eastern Europe. The Catholic Pope needed the Teutonic Knights to conquer the pagans in Eastern Europe. The Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire also needed Teutonic. The knights opened up their territory.
The support of the Pope and the emperor gave the Teutonic Knights more resources. The situation in Jerusalem is so intertwined. Christians, Muslims and Jews will not easily give up here. Once the Crusaders have achieved success, they will use multiple forces to check and balance; Eastern Europe is not the case. In this way, compared to the European Christian world at that time, it was still a large barren land.
The tracing of European countries generally begins with the conversion of all people to Christianity. Eastern Europe’s polytheistic beliefs and animism are still very marketable, and the conquest here will not cause constraints from the “owners”. The pope is happy to spread the gospel of Christ further, and the emperor is happy to make it his own territory.
Many of the images of Germany today come from a place where the people who came out of this place ended the internal fragmentation of the Shenluo, and also injected more national characteristics into the German nation. Prussia is a symbol of Germany. At the time when the Teutonic knights slaughtered, it was not part of the Shinra. At this time, the Prussians were not later Prussians. These ancient Prussians were typical pagans. Chinese.
The Teutonic Order is the latest one to be established, but this Knight Order has experienced more large-scale war scenes than the temple and the hospital combined. The source of this sentence is the war between the Teutonic Knights and the Ancient Prussians. One can imagine how bloody the Teutonic Knights experienced.
Under the baptism of war, the Teutonic knights became the most powerful military force in Northern Europe. At the time of the decline of the first two knights, the Teutonic Knights completed the transformation and became the Teutonic Knight State dominating the Baltic Sea. William Urban's book "Teutonic Knights" describes this transformation in a particularly detailed manner. From the perspective of the pope and the emperor, he interprets the internal reasons for the establishment of the Teutonic Knights.
The protagonists of "Teutonic Knights" are naturally these knights, but these knights are involved in a wide range of areas that the first two do not have. As the translator of this book, Mr. Lu Dapeng, said, such a book is not just an English. The world’s writings also involve the languages and cultures of Germany, Prussia, Baltic, Poland, and Lithuania. The author of this book, William Urban, is an authoritative figure in the study of the Crusades and the above-mentioned regions, and tells us the uniqueness of these regions in a simple and simple way. Cultural values.
Why was Hitler’s plan to advance eastward in World War II called Tannenberg’s revenge? Why did the Germans have a unique attitude towards the Battle of Tannenberg? The book "Teutonic Knights" used a whole chapter to review this battle. The German persistence or the wishful thinking of outsiders, why did the Teutonic Knights have the most profound influence on the Germans afterwards?
As a Chinese, it is difficult to understand the meaning of European religion. The Teutonic knights use their religious beliefs as the endorsement of their lives. Countless young people have joined the knights. They strictly abide by the precepts of poverty and obedience, and live almost proletarian lives. What is their motivation? In William's pen, we can see this group of devout Christians whose dedication is in pursuit of achievement in the religious sense. They would rather be the guardians of Jesus and the spreaders of religion during the most precious years of their lives. Even if they have nothing, they will be respected by the people around them when they are about to die.
It has always been said that the Crusaders are a group of out-and-out bandits, blindly pursuing the wealth of the Holy Land, and the Crusades were robbing Muslims. The home game of the Teutonic Knights in the later period was on the coast of the Baltic Sea, where there is no wealth of the holy land, and there are no wealthy Muslims. The ancient Prussians did not even have their own language and script, they were still in the stage of primitive society. William believes that the Teutonic Knights enlisted in the army for various reasons, the main reason being to complete the salvation of the soul.
After the Teutonic Knights had their own land and military armaments, they became the No. 1 Northern European hegemon. It stands to reason that with such a unique geographical position, their large group leader will inevitably expand frantically. However, the Teutonic Knights appeared more as Christian monks. When the arch rival Daugas of Lithuania took the initiative to accept the Christian faith, the Teutonic Knights retracted the cross sword and took out the Bible and the cross.
The establishment of the Baltic States and the formation of the nation are sandwiched between the Germans and the Slavs. What is their early history of struggle?
What is the origin of the rapid rise of the Prussian region into the spiritual core of Germany? What is the influence of Prussia on the Germans?
As representatives of religion and secularity, what role did the pope and emperor play in the era of the Crusades? What is the positioning of the Knights in the eyes of the two?
How much blood was involved in the conquest of pagans in the Catholic world? What is your attitude towards heresy? How powerful is religion in Europe?
How magnificent is the century-old history of the Teutonic Knights? What does true chivalry look like?
The answer can be found in the book "Teutonic Knights-A Military History". William Urban used detailed citations and expositions to pierce the fog of modern nationalism and restore a wonderful but little-known thing in European medieval history. Chapter.
The book combs through the history of the Teutonic Knights from the rise to the decline, during which dramatic scenarios emerge one after another, such as the Battle of the Ice Lake in 1242 and the fiasco of the Knights at Tannenberg, but the focus is still on its maintenance of territory year after year. Control, fight against small groups of enemy harassment and looting, and launch a holy war against enemies who do not believe in Catholicism.
The life, creed, and actions of the German Crusaders in the Middle Ages, as well as the 500-year history of the Teutonic Knights, are thus vividly presented.
January 30, 2021
读史书总能学到新东西……
对历史过于简化的误读，历史学家负有相当大的责任，甚至比制造历史的人的责任更大，因为历史学家原本应当更好地理解自己的行为会造成怎样的后果。中世纪历史满是暴行和残忍，但继续传播仇恨是不对的。
历史不只是对受害者的认定，也不只是对英雄的表彰。历史远远超过历史学家所能书写的范围，但历史学家必须尽其所能。最重要的是，我们要记住，历史学家如果把复杂的往昔过度简单化，就会伤害未来的人们，因为他们会受到历史学家作品的深刻影响。
对历史过于简化的误读，历史学家负有相当大的责任，甚至比制造历史的人的责任更大，因为历史学家原本应当更好地理解自己的行为会造成怎样的后果。中世纪历史满是暴行和残忍，但继续传播仇恨是不对的。
历史不只是对受害者的认定，也不只是对英雄的表彰。历史远远超过历史学家所能书写的范围，但历史学家必须尽其所能。最重要的是，我们要记住，历史学家如果把复杂的往昔过度简单化，就会伤害未来的人们，因为他们会受到历史学家作品的深刻影响。
August 17, 2023
The only drawback I found is the blurred focus in the middle section - this focus sometimes shifted far away from the Teutonic Knights in order to provide a context of what was happening around them. Otherwise I recommend it very highly. No myths, no blames, but very detailed and neutral descriptions of even debatable stuff like the whole agenda of the Teutonic order, the myths and propaganda around the so called Battle on the Ice and who actually participated there and the personalities of some of the Dramatis Personae. Surprisingly, I was really impressed by, apart from the obviously expected Hermann von Salza, by the two von Plauens and by Jogaila, who turns out as a very interesting person. And the biggest plus, there's nowhere in the book any sign of the overwhelmingly negative attitude towards the Teutonic order, abundant pretty much everywhere else. There's neutrality and objectiveness in their portrayal, even some sympathy. Which is a great thing.
Overall, I'm really delighted by this book and will definitely read more on the Northern Crusades and the histories of Poland and Lithuania.
Overall, I'm really delighted by this book and will definitely read more on the Northern Crusades and the histories of Poland and Lithuania.
February 13, 2019
A very informative book on the history of the military order of the Tuetonic Knights. This book explains the origins of the order and its role in Crusading warfare. Mainly in the Northern crusades bringing christianity by force to the pagan peoples in the Baltic regions. It eventually becomes caught up with obtaining and ruling land and forgetting its crusading ideals. There are not many books about the Tuetonic Knights, and its campaigns in English. This is a very thourough book on the subject.
February 13, 2018
Buon lavoro...
Questo libro è un buon saggio sull'Ordine dei Cavalieri Teutonici, ne consiglio la lettura a chiunque abbia un interesse per la storia medioevale, per le regioni dell'area del baltico o per gli ultimi pagani d'Europa.
Una nota importante per il possibile lettore è che tutto quanto è scritto in maniera piacevole e scorrevole
Questo libro è un buon saggio sull'Ordine dei Cavalieri Teutonici, ne consiglio la lettura a chiunque abbia un interesse per la storia medioevale, per le regioni dell'area del baltico o per gli ultimi pagani d'Europa.
Una nota importante per il possibile lettore è che tutto quanto è scritto in maniera piacevole e scorrevole
August 17, 2023
"The Teutonic Knights: A Military History" by William Urban is a comprehensive account of the Teutonic Knights, a medieval military order that was founded in the 12th century. The book covers their origins and early years, their battles and conquests, and their eventual decline and dissolution in the 16th century.
The Teutonic Knights were not only significant during the Crusades, but they also played an important role in shaping the political and religious landscape of Europe. In fact, the book provides a detailed description of their activities during this time, and how their actions affected the Crusades. Moreover, the book explores how the Teutonic Knights expanded into Eastern Europe, where they established a powerful state that lasted for centuries.
The book provides examples of how the Teutonic Knights interacted with other European powers, such as their alliance with Poland and Lithuania against the Mongol Empire. It also describes their interactions with local populations, such as their conversion of the pagan Prussians to Christianity and their treatment of the conquered populations in Eastern Europe. The book goes into detail about their military tactics, such as their use of heavy cavalry and crossbowmen, as well as their organizational structure, which was based on a feudal hierarchy.
In addition to providing a historical account of the Teutonic Knights, the book examines their lasting legacy and influence on European history. The book discusses how their military tactics and organizational structure influenced later military orders, and how their role in the Crusades helped shape the political and religious landscape of Europe. The book further examines their impact on the people in Eastern Europe, and how their presence helped shape the regional culture.
Overall, the book provides a detailed and comprehensive account of the Teutonic Knights, their impact on European history, and their lasting legacy.
The Teutonic Knights were not only significant during the Crusades, but they also played an important role in shaping the political and religious landscape of Europe. In fact, the book provides a detailed description of their activities during this time, and how their actions affected the Crusades. Moreover, the book explores how the Teutonic Knights expanded into Eastern Europe, where they established a powerful state that lasted for centuries.
The book provides examples of how the Teutonic Knights interacted with other European powers, such as their alliance with Poland and Lithuania against the Mongol Empire. It also describes their interactions with local populations, such as their conversion of the pagan Prussians to Christianity and their treatment of the conquered populations in Eastern Europe. The book goes into detail about their military tactics, such as their use of heavy cavalry and crossbowmen, as well as their organizational structure, which was based on a feudal hierarchy.
In addition to providing a historical account of the Teutonic Knights, the book examines their lasting legacy and influence on European history. The book discusses how their military tactics and organizational structure influenced later military orders, and how their role in the Crusades helped shape the political and religious landscape of Europe. The book further examines their impact on the people in Eastern Europe, and how their presence helped shape the regional culture.
Overall, the book provides a detailed and comprehensive account of the Teutonic Knights, their impact on European history, and their lasting legacy.
February 11, 2018
Huge Kudos to Urban for tremendous research and bringing this subject to life in the English language. The history of the Teutonic Knights is fascinating, from the Crusades, to the Conquest of Prussia and large parts of the Baltics, wars with medieval pagans deep in Lithuanian forests, and even their decline at the hands of Poles, Ivan the Terrible -- and even the teachings of Martin Luther.
However, it seems that better edits would have improved the book markedly. Chapter upon chapter appear to suggest that the reader is an expert in medieval history and/or knows German fluently. Large parts of the book appear to be serialized articles, rather than a continuous narrative. Urban should take a step back at times to explain the larger picture -- e.g the Hussite Wars, political dynamics of the Holy Roman Empire, etc. Timelines and chapter summaries would help as well. Conversely, one can also say that Urban could really go into the weeds and write separate volumes on the rise, flourishing, and decline of the Order.
Still, a fun read. Chalk full of maps, etc, and brutal medieval sieges, as well as descriptions of "Crusaders" from the rest of Europe.
However, it seems that better edits would have improved the book markedly. Chapter upon chapter appear to suggest that the reader is an expert in medieval history and/or knows German fluently. Large parts of the book appear to be serialized articles, rather than a continuous narrative. Urban should take a step back at times to explain the larger picture -- e.g the Hussite Wars, political dynamics of the Holy Roman Empire, etc. Timelines and chapter summaries would help as well. Conversely, one can also say that Urban could really go into the weeds and write separate volumes on the rise, flourishing, and decline of the Order.
Still, a fun read. Chalk full of maps, etc, and brutal medieval sieges, as well as descriptions of "Crusaders" from the rest of Europe.
March 12, 2023
Solid, if somewhat short, overview of the Teutonic Order. While the subject of northern crusades is fascinating (and sadly abused by historians and politicians of the region) it is also less covered by such work, at least compared to Levantine crusades. And unlike similar works on the Teutonic order Urban covers their earlier period, namely their work in Levant and Hungary. And more than usual attention is given to conquest of Prussia, similar works tend to rush through this period and focus on later struggles with Lithuania, Poland and Novgorod.
What I miss is more attention to military organization of the order, utilization of technology available to them, how that contrasted with their enemies and the like. Urban sadly covers this only briefly, for example he says that since terrain was sandy castles couldn't be built from stone and started to be built when brick production took off, but that's all. I'd like to know more about how they were built, how much bricks had to be made and such, specially given how important castles were as native population lacked siege technology to take them.
Given the scarcity of books about this topic this is a welcome addition.
What I miss is more attention to military organization of the order, utilization of technology available to them, how that contrasted with their enemies and the like. Urban sadly covers this only briefly, for example he says that since terrain was sandy castles couldn't be built from stone and started to be built when brick production took off, but that's all. I'd like to know more about how they were built, how much bricks had to be made and such, specially given how important castles were as native population lacked siege technology to take them.
Given the scarcity of books about this topic this is a welcome addition.
October 10, 2019
The Teutonic Knights (2006) by William Urban is a heavy going but interesting book that looks at the remarkable order that changed North Eastern Europe.
The Teutonic Knights were a remarkable order that started out in Crusades in the Holy Lands around 1200 before returning to Europe and setting up in and around Prussia, there they fought and converted The Prussians and the Livonians. After hundreds of years of fighting North Eastern Pagans they then fought and lost to the Poles and the lands that they ruled became secularised in the sixteenth century.
The book covers this remarkable history in great detail. It would make a good reference book but is, with some effort, also readable. Remembering just who the many historic figures are is hard as is remembering and looking up where the events described are taking place, but the book includes a number of maps to help.
The Teutonic Knights are a fascinating order that changed the shape of Europe, anyone interested in them will find the book well worth reading.
The Teutonic Knights were a remarkable order that started out in Crusades in the Holy Lands around 1200 before returning to Europe and setting up in and around Prussia, there they fought and converted The Prussians and the Livonians. After hundreds of years of fighting North Eastern Pagans they then fought and lost to the Poles and the lands that they ruled became secularised in the sixteenth century.
The book covers this remarkable history in great detail. It would make a good reference book but is, with some effort, also readable. Remembering just who the many historic figures are is hard as is remembering and looking up where the events described are taking place, but the book includes a number of maps to help.
The Teutonic Knights are a fascinating order that changed the shape of Europe, anyone interested in them will find the book well worth reading.
February 20, 2023
Very informational, well written, well chronological book.
The books starts with the beginning of the Order at Acre in 1189 and ends with the fall in different time periods (for you to read what that means).
Meanwhile the writer truly makes sure that you (as someone that knows not so much/ nothing about the order) understand what is happening. Giving podium to many Grand Masters, battles, wars, mindset and archenemies of the Order it tells you just what you want to know when reading about the order.
Again it is really written in an good/informational/interesting way. So because of that it is 4 stars instead of 3 which I thought I would give this book when I read the first couple of pages.
The books starts with the beginning of the Order at Acre in 1189 and ends with the fall in different time periods (for you to read what that means).
Meanwhile the writer truly makes sure that you (as someone that knows not so much/ nothing about the order) understand what is happening. Giving podium to many Grand Masters, battles, wars, mindset and archenemies of the Order it tells you just what you want to know when reading about the order.
Again it is really written in an good/informational/interesting way. So because of that it is 4 stars instead of 3 which I thought I would give this book when I read the first couple of pages.
June 30, 2017
This was surprisingly the only book that I could find on the topic after a cursory search - with that said it covers the material rather exhaustively, if sometimes with a touch more romance than is appropriate for what is an otherwise scholarly work. This book sheds a lot of light on the origin and development of regional tensions between Germany, the Baltic states, the Polish/Lithuanian Commonwealth, and the various entities of the emerging Russian states during the medieval period. I'd recommend it for anyone already interested in the subject matter, but I'd guess it probably won't hold a lot of broader appeal outside that subset of readers.
November 3, 2020
This is a very readable history of a topic that some historians have treated very dryly. Urban has taken a very tough topic and made it interesting. After reading this work one can see how Hitler was able to use the ancient stories of the Teutons to his advantage to seduce a nation. you can also see how the world the Teutons left has effected the world from 1500 until today. Many of the problems that Northern Europe has dealt with are left over from the Teutons and there interactions with the Russ, Austrian's, Holy Roman Empire, Ottomans, and even the French and the English. Fascinating read with all the glory, action, politics, and intrigue one could want in a history.
April 2, 2021
There are many books/documentaries about the Crusades in the Middle East. However, there's not much about the Baltic Crusades by the Teutonic Knights. This serves as good start, going from how the Teutonic Knights began to how they ended.
I am not an expert on the topic so cannot comment on how historically accurate his portrayal of the different parties involved are.
It seems the events that happened during this time shaped the region for many years to come and even up to the current day.
I am not an expert on the topic so cannot comment on how historically accurate his portrayal of the different parties involved are.
It seems the events that happened during this time shaped the region for many years to come and even up to the current day.
December 2, 2016
Excellent history written by an excellent historian. Between Christensen and Urban, we have a depth of understanding of the eastern crusades far greater than enjoyed by earlier generations.
Urban's prose is easy and engaging. The subject matter, of course, is riveting. This is indispensable reading for anyone studying the Knights, the eastern crusades, or Eastern Europe in the later Middle Ages generally.
Urban's prose is easy and engaging. The subject matter, of course, is riveting. This is indispensable reading for anyone studying the Knights, the eastern crusades, or Eastern Europe in the later Middle Ages generally.
January 13, 2022
Chronicling knights and princesses--sort of. The chivalry age left a legacy that permeates our fantasy stories to this day. Knights rallied for Christ and lead the way to defeat pagans. Their devotion, discipline, skill, and sincerity galvanized a perception of divine guidance throughout the land. Run of the mill human fallibility couldn't keep its composure forever, though. Eventually, corruption and defeats bring down one of the most amazing military eras in history.
March 12, 2019
The best book I have come across on the topic, it is an easy read with plenty of clear maps to help you follow where and what is happening. Much is made of the Teutonic Knights, but not much has been written about them in English.
The rise and fall of the Teutonic Knights make for an interesting read.
A recommended read.
The rise and fall of the Teutonic Knights make for an interesting read.
A recommended read.
December 15, 2020
本书所记述的内容，堪称是我长久以来缺失而不自知的一块巨大拼图。有了这块拼图，从瓜分波兰到迟至二战结束之后才尘埃落定的但泽走廊的问题，才能够更好地被理解；近二十年前读过并给我留下深刻印记的显克微支的《十字军骑士》一书的历史背景才姗姗来迟地显现出来。甚至直到读完这本书，我才恍然大悟，原来作为日后统一德国的核心的普鲁士人在被同化之前根本就是非德意志的波罗的海民族。而在面对这种充斥着纷争和鲜血的历史断层时，作者在全书末尾也说得异常深刻且精彩：“……历史满是暴行和残忍，但继续传播仇恨是不对的……历史不只是对受害者的认定，也不只是对英雄的表彰。历史远远超过历史学家所能书写的范围，但历史学家必须尽其所能。最重要的是，我们要记住，历史学家如果把复杂的往昔过度简单化，就会伤害未来的人们……”
August 3, 2022
大家都知道中東十字軍…但條頓騎士團是三大軍團之一，受現在比利時，波蘭，立陶宛當時的皇帝邀請希望他們進註保護他們
他們花很多年攻打當時普魯士異教部落⋯⋯
建立，經營早期小型地區銀行⋯
他們早期要攻打俄羅斯Alexander Nevsky 結果被打爆…所以現在的立陶宛，波蘭想要搞俄羅斯一樣…
最後沒經費也被消滅
9/10
目錄
第一章 軍事修會
第二章 條頓騎士團的建立
第三章 聖地的戰爭
第四章 外西凡尼亞的實驗
第五章 在普魯士反對異教的戰爭
第六章 立窩尼亞的十字軍東征
第七章 與波蘭爭奪領土
第八章 立陶宛的挑戰
第九章 立陶宛的皈依
第十章 坦能堡戰役
第十一章 漫長的衰落和騎士團在波羅的海的末日
第十二章 騎士團在立窩尼亞的末日
結語
他們花很多年攻打當時普魯士異教部落⋯⋯
建立，經營早期小型地區銀行⋯
他們早期要攻打俄羅斯Alexander Nevsky 結果被打爆…所以現在的立陶宛，波蘭想要搞俄羅斯一樣…
最後沒經費也被消滅
9/10
目錄
第一章 軍事修會
第二章 條頓騎士團的建立
第三章 聖地的戰爭
第四章 外西凡尼亞的實驗
第五章 在普魯士反對異教的戰爭
第六章 立窩尼亞的十字軍東征
第七章 與波蘭爭奪領土
第八章 立陶宛的挑戰
第九章 立陶宛的皈依
第十章 坦能堡戰役
第十一章 漫長的衰落和騎士團在波羅的海的末日
第十二章 騎士團在立窩尼亞的末日
結語
October 16, 2019
Baltic Crusade
A military history of the Teutonic Knights, mainly centred on the political interplay of Poland, Lithuania, and Moscovy around the Baltic lands held by the Teutonic Knights.
A military history of the Teutonic Knights, mainly centred on the political interplay of Poland, Lithuania, and Moscovy around the Baltic lands held by the Teutonic Knights.
April 3, 2024
Fantastic history, fast paced without skimming too much and attentive to details without bogging down. The story presented of the Tuetonic Knights is also fascinating as a subject matter and Urban presents fair and realistic assessments of the key player and factors involved
Read
November 13, 2024面向东方
January 7, 2025
Absolutely dizzying in its detail but fascinating and fair in its assessments nonetheless.
November 10, 2025
Christian propaganda by a Christian propagandist, as he makes clear in this article: https://www.jstor.org/stable/43212269...
Among many other gems, Franciscans are apparently unreliable in their reports about atrocities committed by the Crusaders because they were heretics(???).
In another article, he calls the crusades "one of the greatest adventures of Western civilization": https://www.historians.org/perspectiv...
Among many other gems, Franciscans are apparently unreliable in their reports about atrocities committed by the Crusaders because they were heretics(???).
In another article, he calls the crusades "one of the greatest adventures of Western civilization": https://www.historians.org/perspectiv...
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