Riga - Chief City of the Livonian Confederation

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and two

 

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Evolution of Mother Church
(‘An instructional page for the education of those who have turned their hearts away from the true faith of the Universal Catholic Church’)​

First Ecumenical Council -- Nicaea I

SITE: Nicaea (in N.W. Asia Minor)
YEAR: A.D. 325
POPE: St. Sylvester I, 314 - 335
EMPEROR: Constantine I, The Great, Western Roman Emperor 306-337; Sole Emperor 324 - 337

ACTION: Called by the emperor and ratified by the Pope, this council condemned the heresy of Arius (priest of Alexandria, d. 336) by defining the CONSUBSTANTIALITY of God the Son with God the Father. The Son is of the "same substance," homo-ousion, as the Father (St. Athanasius); not merely a "like substance," homoi-ousion (as with the semi-Arians); nor is He (as Arius taught) some sort of super-creature.

NOTE: St. Athanasius, Doctor of the Church (d. 373), Bishop of Alexandria, was present as deacon and peritus at Nicaea; exiled five times and excommunicated by the Arians. St. Ephrem, Doctor of the Church (d. 373), deacon, was also present at Nicaea as peritus.

HERESIARCH: ARIUS.
Reference


Second Ecumenical Council -- Constantinople I

SITE: Constantinople
YEAR: A.D. 381
POPE: St. Damasus I, 367 - 384
EMPEROR: Theodosius I, the Great, 379 - 395

ACTION: It appears that Pope St. Damasus I was not contacted in regard to this council attended by about 186 bishops. Called by the emperor, it was not attended by the pope or his legates or any bishops from the West. Nevertheless, it is listed as a General Council of the 4th century by papal decrees of the 6th century, by which time its doctrinal definitions were accepted throughout the Church. This council condemned the heresy of Macedonius by clearly defining the divinity of the Holy Ghost: He is not created like the angels no matter how high an order is attributed to such a "creature." The council also reaffirmed the faith of Nicaea.

NOTE: St. Gregory Nazianzen, Doctor of the Church (d. 389), was the bishop presiding. St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Doctor of the Church (d. 386), was also in attendance.

HERESIARCH: MACEDONIUS.
Reference



Third Ecumenical Council – Ephesus

SITE: Ephesus
YEAR: A.D. 431
POPE: St. Celestine I, 423 - 432
EMPEROR: Theodosius II, 408 - 450

ACTION: Called by the Eastern Emperor, Theodosius II, influenced by his pious sister, St. Pulcheria (Emperor in the West was Valentinian III, 425 - 455), and ratified by Pope Celestine I, this council condemned the heresy of Nestorius by clearly defining the Divine maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. There are two natures in Christ (Divine and Human), but only one Person (Divine). Mary is the Mother of this one Divine Person, the eternal Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. Nestorius was deposed as bishop of Constantinople. This council also briefly affirmed the condemnation of the Pelagians (see local Council of Carthage, A.D. 416).

NOTE: St. Cyril of Alexandria, Doctor of the Church (d.444), was the bishop presiding.

HERESIARCH: NESTORIUS.
Reference


Fourth Ecumenical Council -- Chalcedon

SITE: Chalcedon, (north of Constatinople)
YEAR: A.D. 451
POPE: St. Leo I, the Great, 440 - 461
EMPEROR: Marcian, 450 - 457

ACTION: Called by Emperor Marcian, spouse of the chaste and noble St. Pulcheria, and ratified by Pope St. Leo the Great, the council condemned the heresy of the Abbot Eutyches, MONOPHYSITISM, which claimed that there existed only "one nature" (the divine) in Christ from the Incarnation onward. Though the council had approved the assertion that Constantinople should be ranked first after Rome ecclesiastically, Pope St. Leo did not. The primacy of the See of Rome was due to it's possession of the Chair of Peter, not to any political power. In his "Dogmatic Epistle," read by his legates at the end of the second session of the council (Oct. 10, 451), Pope St. Leo I also declared invalid all that had been done at the "Robber Synod of Ephesus" (a false Ephesus II): " ....we see no Council, but a den of thieves (Latrocinium)." In the greatest testimony of the Eastern Council to the primacy of the Pope, the bishops cried out: "Behold the faith of the fathers, the faith of the Apostles; thus through Leo has Peter spoken!" Eutyches was excommunicated.

NOTE: Pope St. Leo I, Doctor of the Church (d. 461), was called the "Soul" of Chalcedon.

HERESIARCH / HERETICS: EUTYCHES - MONOPHYSITES.
Reference


Fifth Ecumenical Council -- Constantinople II

SITE: Constantinople
YEAR: A.D. 553
POPE: Vigilius, 537 - 555
EMPEROR: Justinian I, 527 - 565

ACTION: Effectively called by Justinian I and eventually ratified by Pope Vigilius, Constantinople II condemned a collection of statements known as the "Three Chapters": 1) the person and the writings of Theodore of Mopsuestia, Master of Nestorius, originator of that heresy; 2) the writings of Theodoret of Cyrrhus; 3) the writings of Ibas of Edessa. The last two friends of Nestorius had been restored to their sees by Chalcedon when they no longer opposed the teachings of St. Cyril of Alexandria (d. 444) and of Ephesus. Chalcedon was not discredited here (as the Monophysites had hoped) since it had been concerned with men. Constantinople II was concerned with their writings, although a hundred years after they had died.

NOTE: Two important local councils condemning heresies: Carthage (416) solemnly approved by Pope Innocent II, (401 - 417), and then in 418 by Pope Zosimus (417 - 418), condemned Pelagianism (Pelagius, a British Monk), which heresy denied original sin calling it only "bad example." Orange (429) France, solemnly approved by Pope Boniface II (530 - 532), condemned Semi-Pelagianism (an over-reaction to St. Augustine on grace), which claimed man needed grace only after his first supernatural act. St. Augustine made it clear that God's grace is first.

NOTE: Council referred much to St. Cyril, Bishop of Alexandria, Doctor of the Church (d. 444).

HERESIARCH: THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA ("3 Chapters").
Reference


Sixth Ecumenical Council -- Constantinople III

SITE: Constantinople
YEARS: A.D. 680 - 681
POPES: St. Agatho, 678 - 681, and St. Leo II, 682 - 683
EMPEROR: Constantine IV, 668 - 685

ACTION: Called by Emperor Constantine IV, and its calling authorized by Pope St. Agatho, this council condemned the heresy of the Monothelites (Mono-one thelema-will), which attributed only one will, to Christ (the divine), instead of two wills (divine and human), which two are in perfect accord within the one divine person, Jesus. Constantinople III also reconfirmed Chalcedon. Pope St. Leo II, 682 - 683, approved the decrees of Constantinople III, Pope St. Agatho having died (Jan. 10) before the council's end.

NOTE: Pope St. Leo II also condemned Pope Honorius I (625 - 638) for negligence of duty in the face of heresy, in that he should have ascertained that Sergius was teaching not a mere harmony (oneness) of wills in Christ but literally one will in Christ, the divine will. Honorius had not spoken ex cathedra, so infallibility had not been involved.

HERESY/HERESIARCH: MONOTHELITISM originated by SERGIUS (patriarch of Constantinople, 610 A.D.).
Reference


Seventh Ecumenical Council -- Nicaea II

SITE: Nicaea
YEAR: A.D. 787
POPE: Hadrian I, 772 - 795
EMPERORS: Constantine VI, 780 - 797 and Empress Irene (797 - 802)

ACTION: This council, called by Empress Irene (widow of Emperor Leo IV and regent for her son Constantine VI), with its doctrinal decree ratified by Pope Hadrian I, condemned ICONOCLASM. The Pope's epistle here, just as with Pope St.Leo I at Chalcedon, set the tone of the council.

NOTE: Brewing beneath the surface at this time, however, was a rejection of papal authority. The Eastern Bishops, cut off from Rome and receptive to heresy under persecution, were held suspect by Rome.

NOTE: Iconoclasm had been fostered by Emperor Leo III (717 - 741), who was opposed by Popes Gregory II (715 - 731) and Gregory III (731 - 741) and by St. John Damascene (d.749), priest and Doctor of the Church, who published three discourses in defense of images.

HERESY: ICONOCLASM.
Reference


Eighth Ecumenical Council -- Constantinople IV

SITE: Constantinople
YEARS: A.D. 869 - 870
POPE: Hadrian II, 867 - 872
EMPEROR: Basil, 867 - 886

ACTION: Called by Emperor Basil and ratified by Pope Hadrian II, this council condemned and deposed PHOTIUS (820 - 891), the patriarch of Constantinople and author of the Greek schism.

NOTE: In 1054 the Greek schism was actually consummated by Michael Cerularius, the Patriarch of Constantinople at that time. PHOTIUS attacked enforced clerical celibacy, the addition by the West of the "FILIOQUE" to the Creed, and the crowning of Charlemagne in the West. CERULARIUS (about 200 years later) closed the churches of the Latins in Constantinople, had the Blessed Sacrament cast out and trodden underfoot as invalid, and persisted in refusing to see the three delegates sent by Pope Leo IX (1049 - 1054). On 16 July, 1054, they publicly placed on the altar of Saint Sophia the document containing his excommunication.

HERESIARCH: PHOTIUS.
Reference


Ninth Ecumenical Council -- Lateran I

SITE: The Basilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome
YEAR: A.D. 1123
POPE: Callistus II, 1119 - 1124
EMPEROR: Henry V, 1106 - 1125

ACTION: Called and ratified by Pope Callistus II, this council confirmed the Concordat of Worms (1122) between Emperor Henry V and Pope Callistus II, which secured that all elections of Bishops and Abbots should be made freely by the proper ecclesiastical authorities (electors). In Germany the emperor was to preside over these free elections and then bestow temporal power on the bishop so chosen, in return for temporal fealty. Outside Germany the emperor was to have no part in any elections.

NOTE: Also dealt with at this council was the subject of clerical marriages. It was decided that once ordained, a priest may not marry in either Latin or Eastern Rites.

CONTROVERSY: LAY INVESTITURE.
Reference


Tenth Ecumenical Council -- Lateran II

SITE: The Basilica of Saint John Lateran (Rome)
YEAR: A.D. 1139
POPE: Innocent II, 1130 - 1143
EMPEROR: Conrad III, 1137 - 1152

ACTION: Called and ratified by Pope Innocent II, this council voided the acts of the deceased antipope, Anacletus II (d. 1138), ending the Papal schism of the time. It also condemned the heresies of: 1) Peter Bruys (Bruis) and his NEO-MANICHEANS, who denounced the Mass as a "vain show," opposed the Eucharist, marriage, and the baptism of children -- all this leading to Albigensianism ("Material things are evil in themselves"); 2) Arnold of Brescia, who contended that the Church was an "invisible body," not of this world, and should own no property.

NOTE: St. Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church (d. 1153), preached against the abuses and laxity attendant upon lay investiture, and the Lateran Council set down laws to remove them.

HERESIARCHS: PETER BRUYS and ARNOLD of BRESCIA.
Reference


Eleventh Ecumenical Council -- Lateran III

SITE: The Basilica of Saint John Lateran (Rome)
YEAR: A.D. 1179
POPE: Alexander III, 1159 - 1181
EMPEROR: Frederick Barbarossa, 1152 - 1190

ACTION: Called and ratified by Pope Alexander III, this council regulated the election of popes (two-thirds majority vote by the College of Cardinals was required for the Pope to be elected, and the emperor was excluded from voting). It annulled the acts of three antipopes: ANTIPOPE VICTOR IV (1159) and TWO SUCCESSORS. One of its chapters excommunicated the Albigensians, but dealing with them in greater detail was Lateran IV Council, under Pope Innocent III.
Reference


Twelfth Ecumenical Council -- Lateran IV

SITE : The Basilica of Saint John Lateran (Rome)
YEAR: A.D. 1215
POPE: Innocent III, 1198 - 1216
EMPEROR: Otto IV, 1208 - 1215

ACTION: Called and ratified by Pope Innocent III [which pope defined ex cathedra (Denz. 430): "There is but one Universal Church of the faithful, outside of which no one at all is saved."], Lateran IV prescribed at least annual confession and communion for all the faithful and made official the use of the word, "TRANSUBSTANTIATION." Its only failure was the Fourth Crusade. It reformed discipline and condemned the heresies of: 1) ALBIGENSIANISM (NEO-MANICHEANISM), which opposed marriage and all sacraments and belief in the resurrection of the body; 2) WALDENSIANISM (anti-clerical heresy), which claimed that laymen living an apostolic life could forgive sins, while a priest in the state of sin could not absolve. Waldensianism also held that oath taking and assigning death penalties were held to be mortal sins. They also held that the Evangelical Counsel of poverty was a commandment, thus they forbad all private ownership of property.

HERESIES: ALBIGENSIANISM and WALDENSIANISM.
Reference


Thirteenth Ecumenical Council -- Lyons I

SITE: Lyons, France
YEAR: 1245
POPE: Innocent IV, 1243 - 1254
EMPEROR: Frederick II, 1215 - 1250

ACTION: Called and ratified by Pope Innocent IV, this council excommunicated Emperor Frederick II, grandson of Frederick Barbarossa, for his contumacious attempt to make the Church merely a department of the state. Lyons I also directed a new crusade (the 6th) under the command of King St. Louis IX (1226 - 1270) of France against the Saracens and the Mongols.

HERETIC: EMPEROR FREDERICK II.
Reference


Fourteenth Ecumenical Council -- Lyons II

SITE: Lyons, France
YEAR: 1274
POPE: Blessed Gregory X, 1271 - 1276
EMPEROR: Rudolph I of Hapsburg, 1273 - 1291

ACTION: Called and ratified by Pope Gregory X, this council declared the double procession of the Holy Ghost from the Father and the Son: "Qui ex Patre Filioque procedit." The return of the Eastern Church to union with Rome, sought by the popes, failed utterly.

NOTE: St. Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church (d. 1274), died on his way to Lyons II. St. Bonaventure, Cardinal and Doctor of the Church (d.1274), was prominent at Lyons II, died there, and was buried by the council. FILIOQUE DEFINED and added to Nicene Creed.
Reference


Fifteenth Ecumenical Council -- Vienne

SITE: Vienne (South of Lyons), France
YEARS: 1311 - 1312
POPE: Clement V, 1305 - 1314
EMPEROR: Henry VII, 1308 - 1313

ACTION: Called and ratified by Pope Clement V, first of the Avignon Popes (The "Avignon Captivity" lasted from 1305 until 1377, when Pope Gregory XI returned the Holy See to Rome), this council suppressed the Knights Templars (Master: Jacques de Molay) for crimes charged by King Philip IV of France. Their confiscated property was given to the Hospitalers or, in Spain, to national orders that had fought against the Moors. The council also declared that anyone who obstinately holds "that the rational or intellectual soul is not the form of the human body in itself and essentially, must be regarded as a heretic." (Denz. 481) The council also condemned the Beghards (males) and Beguines (females), who so stressed "inner union with God". Quietism, that prayer and fasting became unimportant. Quietism taught that the "spiritual" person is so perfect that he or she can give free reign to fleshly desires.

NOTE: In his 1302 Bull UNAM SANCTAM Pope Boniface VIII (1294 - 1303), declared ex cathedra that it is "...absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff." (Denz. 469) He was opposed by the French King Philip IV, the "Fair" (1268-1314), who seems to have given up on gaining a condemnation of Pope Boniface, while gaining one against the Knights Templars at Vienne, 1311.

HERESIES: The Errors of Peter John of Olivi and QUIETISM.
Reference


[Borrowed in entirety, with permission, from Mettermrck]

 

[Innocent]

The Order Hierarchy

Hochmeister (Grandmaster)​

Preceptor (Grand Commander) – who had the general supervision of the clergy and serving brethren
Ordensmarschal (Marshal) – acted as lieutenant-general in the field of battle under the grand master
Spittler (Grand Hospitaler) – who had the superintendence of the hospitals and of all that related to their management
Trappier (Quartermaster) – who supplied the knights with their clothing and accoutrements
Tressler (Treasurer) – who received and paid all the money that passed through the hands of the order

These high officials are elected by the General Chapter of the Order. The Hochmeister runs the day-to-day operations of the Order but cannot make major policy decisions or take actions without the consent of the Chapter. Elections for offices are held each year.

Landmeister (National Commander)
Landkomtur (Province Commander)
Komtur (Commander)​

The lower level officials run the appropriate levels of the Order, including the county, province, and nationen of the Order, respectively. Currently, the Order is divided into four provinces which are grouped into two nationen. Like the higher officials, these are elected by their respective chapters, which have the same powers of consent for major decisions as the General Chapter.

Organisation​

]The knights were organized into battles, typically derived from the Komturei (provinces) or Ballei (bailiwicks) or the Order’s territory. It was these battles that formed the lines of knights during the engagement.

Knightly Banners​

The Knightly banners of the Order army formed the majority of its forces. These Banners can be put into three distinct groups, Order Banners, Vassal Banners and other Banners.

The Order Banners​

These Knightly Banners varied in size and composition. Normally a Banner represented the forces of a Komturei. This would comprise of the RitterBrudern, the Diendebrudern, MitBrudern, HalbBrudern of the Komturei and all their mounted retainers. Alongside these the Banner could also contain any mercenaries hired to replace Burghers of the Towns and those that had bought themselves out of military service. Separate Banners could also be fielded by Bailiwicks, Procuratorships, towns and cities, and even occasionally Bishoprics. Though in these cases it was usually only those on frontiers that were of sufficient size to be able to form their own Banners. Sometimes several Komturei or associated divisions would combine to form one Banner fighting under the Landmeister of a Province. The very nature of the Order, that of Monastic rules and Obedience, meant that these Banners were highly disciplined and accustomed to obeying orders. These banners were in effect Professional troops and did not display the impetuosity and disregard for orders commonly associated with medieval Knights.

Vassal Banners​

This is a bit of a misnomer. These banners were in reality a mix of Mercenaries, MitBrudern and small contingents of German volunteers. The majority of these Banners were either MitBrudern or Mercenaries. What distinguishes them from the Banners discussed under 'Other Banners' below is that they were usually led by a Brethren Knight, usually a RitterBrudern. Their composition meant that their effectiveness was somewhat less that Order banners as they were unaccustomed to fighting as a cohesive unit. Never the less these troops were usually disciplined and well organised.

Other Banners​

A catch all to cover Banners that fell outside the professionalism of the rest of the Order's forces. This includes crusading volunteers, Vassals and allies of the Order who provided sufficiently large forces to insist on personal control of their troops. The Vassals Banners were those not led by Brethren of the Order. As such all of these Banners appear to have acted just as impetuously as their Western Counterparts.

Light Horse​

A mix of native horse and Turkopolen. Unlike their Lithuanian counterparts the native horse were skirmishers unlikely to be involved in close combat. The majority of native light horse was supplied by the Livonian vassals of the Order and as such may not have participated in the campaigns against Lithuania. Required equipment appears only to have been a horse and a bow. The Turkopolen may have been more capable of engaging in close combat as they appear to have been based or at least named from the their original counterparts in the Holy Land, suggesting a similar role. This implies light armour, lance, bow and possibly a shield in the fashion of the Lithuanian Light horse. There is little evidence for the role of Turkopolen however except that they performed scouting duties for the Order and were used as a second line in battle.

Order Infantry
The infantry fielded by the Order can be divided into two main groups.​

Men-at-Arms - They were a mix of armoured spearmen and Crossbowmen and were led by Brethren Officers. These units like their mounted counterparts were a mix of Mercenaries, Order foot, Vassal foot and City militias. They probably differed little from their German counterparts.

Native Levy/Militia - Rarely mentioned in sources and usually only in terms of the numbers killed or captured. Organisation was likely to be minimal and their equipment varied. The native levies were of most use in the raiding carried out by the Order.

The Order Military​

Knights​

The backbone of the army of the Teutonic Knights, this elite heavy cavalry forms the vanguard of the order’s military and is most effective as a shock weapon. As the order’s function is primarily one of military readiness, the knights arm is one of the most aspects of the Order’s forces. The knights’ chief weapons were the heavy lance and the broadsword. The lance was held with the hand and couched under the arm in order to transmit the weight and force of both horse and rider as they charged the enemy. Likewise, the heavy broadsword swung from the saddle could inflict awful cuts. To protect himself in hand-to-hand combat of this sort, the knight wore elaborate, heavy armor. A long-sleeved chain-mail coat, or hauberk, protected his body. The knight might also wear a mail coif or hood over his head, and he would certainly wear an iron helmet as well. He wore mail gloves and leggings and carried a shield on his left arm. The entire panoply might weigh 70 or more pounds, and the knight rode a horse specially bred to be strong enough to bear him and his armor. His weight was a weapon in itself--he hurtled through an enemy formation, then the foot soldiers ran up and dispatched those whom the knights had unhorsed, struck down, ridden over or brushed aside.

Ritterbrudern (Brother Knight) - These monastic Knights were the Elite of the Order. Their equipment was the best available of the time comparable with that of the best Knights of Western Europe. A White Jupon marked with a black cross distinguished the RitterBrudern from other troops in the Order's forces. These numbered no more than 500 in the late 14th century.

DiendeBrudern - These Brothers were those not of Noble birth. Their military role was either as lesser men at arms forming the rear ranks to the RitterBrudern and HalbBrudern or as infantry. Their infantry role was usually that of an officer commanding non-Brethren foot. The closest equivalent would be that of an NCO in modern armies as usually a Lay or Brethren Knight had overall command. The Diendebrudern wore a light grey Jupon with a tau cross. A Tau cross is the shape of a capital T.

HalbBrudern (Half Brothers) - These were members of the Order but whose period of service and duties were less than the RitterBrudern or DiendeBrudern. Unlike these Brethren the HalbBrudern did not take monastic vows of service for life. These Half Brothers may well have been an attempt to encourage people unwilling to join the Order for life or those fulfilling lesser Crusader vows. The HalbBrudern wore a light grey Jupon with a tau cross. Unlike other Brethren of the Order it appears that the HalbBrudern were allowed to combine their family coats of arms with that of the Tau Cross. This may explain why examples of such have been found even though the Statutes of the Order expressly forbid such practises. That said even some Hochmeisters quartered their coats of arms with the Order's Cross.

Turcopoles​

Turcopoles (Greek for "son of Turk") were originally probably lightly-armed, half-breed cavalry whose name applied to Turkish mercenaries employed in the Byzantine army, and later the term was adopted by the military orders. Most of the Order’s knights were derived from the nobility, though there were some auxiliary or secular knights who would serve with the Order from time to time, typically foreigners joining the Knights on Crusade, or secular landowners providing service for free. These auxiliaries were grouped in turcopole units, which could vary from battles just as heavily armed as the Order knights themselves, or lightly-armed cavalry better suited for scouting or raiding. Although officially frowned upon by the hierarchy, turcopoles were also an official way of using foreign mercenaries for service in Order ranks.

MitBrudern (Lay Knights) - Nobility that held land granted to them by the Order. These Nobles were almost always German though some of the border families were Polish in origin. As with much of Europe the holding of land imposed certain duties on the holder. In the case of land granted by the Order the amount defined the service. A surviving Order document relating to land holdings in Chelmno, dated 1223 provides information on two main types of service, The Rossdienst and the Platendienst. The Rossdienst was anyone holding over 40 Ian (also called a Hufen) was expected to muster a horseman in full armour with a barded steed along with two retainers, this forming the traditional German Lance. Note the barded steed may well be a mistranslation and in fact may merely mean a horse in a cloth housing. The Platendienst was anyone holding fewer than 40 Ian and usually refereed to native Prussians who was expected to muster in lesser armour and be mounted. Later Order documents show a reduction in the minimum, some as low as 15 Ian for Rossdienst. However these reductions appear in areas long pacified by the Order. There are two probable reasons for this. Firstly that these 'secure' areas were more effectively farmed/managed and so provided greater wealth. Secondly by the late 14th Century the Order was increasingly allowing vassals to buy their way out of military service so a downward trend in the minimum Ian would have increased revenues. Certainly frontier estates retained larger minima.
Mercenaries - The Order used mercenaries to bolster its forces, particularly as more vassals bought their way out of military service. These mercenaries were usually German in origin, for no other reason than the fractured nature of the Holy Roman Empire created large numbers of these troops. These lances were typically paid 11 marks per month.

Vitings​

Derived from the remnants of the traditional Prussian nobility, the Vitings served to augment the traditional Order cavalry force, light horse units capable of holding a flank, serving as scouts, or in need, to bolster the knight battles in a bitter struggle. They were accoutered in the implements similar to Lithuanian or Russian light cavalry - chain hauberk, pointed helmet, a medium-sized shield and a long spear.

The Order recruited large numbers of native troops to serve with their armies. These contingents were invariably lightly equipped and the least effective of the Order's soldiers. They were however abundant and provided the bulk of the army and as often as not took the brunt of the casualties as well. The quality of these troops was also highly variable. The Border provinces of the Livonian territories provided an enthusiastic levy for the Order as they were usually employed to fight their traditional enemies the Estonians. The long held Prussian Provinces tended to provide the least effective levy, presumably as their fighting spirit had long been crushed by Order control. It was the provinces that bordered Lithuania and Poland that produced the best native troops and also the most revolts. Overall the best were the light horse who were usually recruited under the Platendienst, these forming contingents known as Turkopolen. The levy foot were usually bow or spear armed and carried a shield. They however faired badly in European style warfare. That said the lightness of the native foot made them highly useful for the more normal raid and counter raid that distinguishes much of the Order's frontier wars of the period. They were far more effective in the woods and marshes of Lithuania than the heavily armoured mercenary infantry and Knights of the Order.

Knechte​

Although some of these attendants did function as western-style squires to the knights, the Knechte were organized primarily as cavalry units, and were used in reserve of the heavier knights. Typically compromised of younger men with lighter armor, these ‘attendant cavalry’ units were usually the first step for a Teutonic Knight in training before moving up to a full battle. There were usually two knechte for each knight on the field of battle, usually recruited from recruited poor Germans, Kashubians, and Prussian Vitings

Sergeants-at-arms​

Derived from older knights, knights with light to moderate injuries, foreign officers, as well as those secular soldiers of poorer means, the sergeants-at-arms functioned as a brace on the footsoldier levies, keeping them in line, providing them with training and discipline, and ensuring that they remained on the field during a battle. Sergeants-at-arms were typically lined up behind the footsoldiers to provider morale reinforcement during the critical moments of the fighting.

Footsoldiers​

The bulk of the infantry of the Teutonic Order was provided by either mercenaries or, when that was impossible, by coerced service of peasant levies, or the footsoldiers. Rarely were any of the units present of their own free will, and their participation had to be encouraged by means good and bad. Typically derived from Lithuanian and other native stock, they could be useful in battle if they could be made to stand up in the fighting and if they were used effectively as a tool of distraction or chaotic maneuver.

German Colonists - From its earliest conquests in the Baltic, the Order encouraged German colonists to settle in the new territories. This created numerous 'German' Towns and villages. As a result by the late 14th Century the Order was able to call upon quite significant Militias from these towns and villages. These Militias did take to the field though their usefulness was as suspect as their German counterparts, their primary function was defence of their town. The Richer Burghers of the towns were able to buy their way out of field service by supplying a mercenary replacement. This was either a mounted Knight or a foot soldier depending on their wealth.

Other Supporters​

Priests
Halpswesteren und Halpbrüderen
Lay Domestics
Artisans and Laborers
Serfs​

​

Ordnungslande​

Source​

[Borrowed in large part, with permission, from Mettermrck]

 

[Innocent]

five

 

[Innocent]

Six.

This court is currently under construction and is closed for a short time. It shall be opened for business, likely still under construction, within the week.

 

[unmerged(8915)]

please post a valid inscription in the nat.stats. thread, before i unlock this court. thank you