The State of the Order

The figures required to build my Teutonic contingent up to its desired size were ordered from Black Tree Design on 30' Sept.

These included;
15 cavalry in padded leather armour and kettle helmets.
8 crossbowmen in padded leather armour and kettle helmets.
4 swordsmen in padded leather armour and kettle helmets.

On Wednesday (25'Nov) 16 cavalry riders arrived, without horses. This is some what disapointing, but is (apparently) due to BTD having fallen behind in their stocks and new casts are pending. When these will arrive is any ones guess.

In the mean time, I have acquired wagon drivers for my baggage units, which will feature in some games, and I'm considering these hand gunners, plus some period artillery from Front Rank.

Apart from figures, I have also ordered two books for research. The first book I ordered (11Oct) was 'The Teutonic Knights: A Military History' by William Urban. It has yet to arrive as "there is a delay obtaining stock".

The second book I ordered was Osprey's Teutonic Knight, which has arrived and seems very good (as yet unread). I will almost certainly be buying more Osprey books in the new year.

The other Osprey titles I have my eye on are;

MAA 155 Knights of Christ
MAA 160 German Medieval Armies 1300–1500
MAA 310 German Medieval Armies 1000–1300
MAA 333 Armies of Medieval Russia 750–1250
MAA 367 Medieval Russian Armies 1250–1500
MAA 396 Medieval Scandinavian Armies I 1100–1300
MAA 399 Medieval Scandinavian Armies II 1300–1500
MAA409 the Hussite Wars 1419 -36
MAA436 The Scandinavian Baltic Crusades 1100–1500
MAA445 Medieval Polish Armies 966–1500
FOR11 Crusader castles of the Teutonic Knights I - The red-brick castles of Prussia 1230–1466
FOR19 Crusader castles of the Teutonic Knights II - The stone castles of Latvia and Estonia 1185–1560
CAM122 Tannenberg 1410 - Disaster for the Teutonic Knights

Naturally there are other Osprey books I'd like from the same period, but they don't have any direct connection to this campaign.

To build or not to build?

As usual my greedy ambition is getting the better of me and I am debating with myself the merits of building a small Teutonic castle. I am particularly inspired by this image of a tower with its white washed stone masonry and pyramid roof. I envison a single model, with a courtyard, stables, a main building with tower and a gate house. In my head I can fit the whole thing on a 50x60cm base

Its a question of pro's and cons. Do I have the space to store such a gargantuan model? No. Do I have the time to build it? Depends on how soon I want to use it I suppose, but probably not. Will I use it often enough once I have built it? Almost certainly not, there are only so many times such a model can be used without it becomes a cliché.

The only viable alternative might be modular castle elements, but I've been down that path before and I stagnated, though that could be because I grew better at building models and I grew impatient with the clumsiness of my previous attempts (not an exageration).

What ever the case may be, skirmish fighting in the countryside and ransacking farms has only so much scope... I have to think of new possibilities if I want this campign to be something different to my previous endeavours. Perhaps modular is the way to go, only this time, plan it better and don't use great big blocks of wood when card and cork give the chance for more space within?

A modular castle will still take up room however, and take a long time to build... decisions, decisions.

Northern Europe and the domains of the Teutonic Order, Circa 1410

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Vytautas the Great

Vytautas the Great is the Grand Duke of Lithuania, and widely regarded as a king by his own people. In 1410 he is one of the most powerful men in Europe and a major opponent of the Ordenstaat, having opposed the Teutonic Knights since the first Lithuanian Civil war, when his cousin Jogaila who would later become King of Poland, allied himself with the Teutonic Knights agianst Vytautas's father Kęstutis.

By 1410, Jogaila has become Władysław II Jagiełło, King of Poland and technically, Vytautas is now a nominal vassal of his cousin though the Union of Vilnius and Radom gives Vytautas and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania vast internal autonomy and Vytautas is often regarded as the more powerful of the two.

At the Battle of Grunewald/Tannenberg, Vytautas, aged sixty, commands the Lithuanian flank and Jagiełło is Supreme Commander of the combined army. Rumours abound however that Vytautas is the true architect of the allied battle plan.

Dedicated Teutons

I've posted these two images before on JRC-1138, but that was as a part of the Takshendal game. I'm posting them here to get my ball rolling with regards to the actual wargaming part of the campaign. The shields need to be updated but apart from that they are ready for battle. I've ordered eight more crossbowmen, four swordsmen and fifteen cavalry, all in the same padded leather and kettle helmets. These will represent the heavier elements. I already have the three ritterbruder and their various support elements, and once the current order has been recieved and painted, and adding the twenty brown skirmishers I already have, this will bring the total Teutonic force to sixty nine figures, not including civilians, artillery or baggage. Enough to accomidate as many as four players (Horsemen/Spears/Skirmishers/Bowmen) in an eight player game.
I'll post more pictures when I get a new digital camera.

Glossary of terms

Ballei
(Balliwick) the area of jurisdiction of a Komtur. Orders coming from several provinces assembled with Komtur at the top.

Gebietiger
The highest-ranking religious officials of the Teutonic Order; Großkomtur (Grand Komtur), Ordensmarschall (Grand Marshal), oberster Spittler (unknown), oberster Tressler (unknown), oberster Trappier (unknown), Landmeister von Livland (Land master of Livonia), Landmeister von Preußen, (land master of Prussia). There are others, but I don't yet have a full translation.

Grand Marshal
One of the highest offices within the Teutonic Order. When the campaign begins, this office is held by Friedrich von Wallenrode.

Graumäntler, or Sariantbrüder
(Grey Mantles) Ritterbrüder with special status, which, instead of wearing the white cloak of the Knights had a gray coat and a lighter weaponry.

Halbbrüder
(Half Brothers). Members of the Order but whose period of service and duties are less than the RitterBruder or DiendeBruder. HalbBrudern do not take monastic vows of service for life. HalbBruder wear a light grey Jupon with a tau cross. Unlike other Brethren of the Order HalbBrudern are allowed to combine their family coats of arms with that of the Tau Cross.

Hauskomtur
A deputy to the Komtur, primarily entrusted with the care of the Convention.

Hochmeister or Deutschmeister
(Grand Master). Master of the country bailiwicks in the Holy Roman Empire and the Mediterranean. The Supreme head of the Teutonic Order. When the campaign begins, this office is held by Ulrich von Jungingen.

Hoch-und Deutschmeister
Master of German and Gallic lands, administrator of the Hochmeistertums in Prussia

Komtur
(Bailiff) A rank within the Teutonic Knights. The Komtur is the commander within a specific region, or commandry (Komturia or Komturei). A Komtur commanded procurators. There are thirty five Komturia in Prussia, one in Germany and one in Livonia.

Marienburg Castle
The seat of power of the Hochmeister of the Order of Teutonic Knights in 1410 at the time of the campaign.

Ordensburg or Ordenshaus
(Monastry) in the parlance of the Order, though usually a fortress. Typically in Prussia and in the Baltic region, mostly three-story brick buildings built around a courtyard in a square in the style known as backsteingotik (brick gothic). The main rooms are not usually on the ground floor, but in one of the top floors. These include chapel, chapter house, refectory and dormitory and are especially well furnished. Ordensburg typically have high walls with battlements and often towers.
The first Teutonic castle was founded in 1230 in Nessau, by 1300 there were already 23 Teutonic castles.

Ordenstaat
The State of the Teutonic Order.

Prague groschen
The Prague groschen is a groschen-type silver coin that is common throughout Central Europe in 1410. It is a silver coin with obverse sign DEI GRATIA REX BOEMIE (By the grace of God the king of Bohemia) and on the verso GROSSI PRAGENSIS (Prague groschen). Sub-divisions are twelve coins called parvus (small) with a Bohemian heraldic lion on the obverse. Names like Groschen, grossus/grossi, grossone, Grosz, Gros, Groš, Garas etc. are used for all thick silver coins, as opposed to thin silver coins such as deniers or pennies. The weight of the coin is between 3.5 and 3.7 g with a fineness of 933/1000 of silver.

Procurator
A Procurator is a rank in the Teutonic Order, responsible for court matters and administration of a specific region called a procuratoria, as well as commanding the army. As a commander, the procurator had brothers of the Teutonic Knights and vassal Old Prussians at his disposal. Procurators were under the direct command of the komturs.

Ritterbrüder
(Brother Knight). The monastic Knights who make up the Elite of the Order. Their equipment is the best available of the time comparable with that of the best Knights of Western Europe. A White Jupon marked with a black cross distinguishes the Ritter Bruder from other troops in the Order's forces. There are five hundred and fifty or so Ritter Bruder just prior to the battle of Tannenberg.

This post will be expanded as time passes.

Chronology of pre-campaign events

1385
The Union of Kreva joins the crown of Poland and Lithuania, and the subsequent marriage of Grand Duke Jogaila of Lithuania and reigning Queen Jadwiga of Poland shifts the balance of power; both nations are more than aware that only by acting together can the expansionist plans of the Teutonic Order be thwarted. Jogaila accepts Christianity and becomes the King of Poland as Władysław Jagiełło. Lithuania's conversion to Christianity removes much of the rationale of the Teutonic Knights' anti-pagan crusades. It is also said that the Ordenstaat loses its raison d'etre at this point.

1386
Jagiello officially converts to Christianity.

1398
The Teutonic Knights invade the converted Christian states of Poland and Lithuania. At this time, the Poles and the Lithuanians have little option but to suffer in silence, for they are militarily unprepared to confront the power of the Knights.

The Treaty of Salynas is signed between the The Grand Duchy of Lithuania, The Kingdom of Poland and the Teutonic Order as preperation for a Crusade against the Golden Horde. Control of Samogitia passes to the Teutonic Knights.

The Teutonic Knights, under Grand Master Konrad von Jungingen conquer the island of Gotland and drive the Victual Brothers out of the Baltic Sea.

1406
The Incident of the Maiden of Plèsc. Asked by the Hochmeister Konrad von Jungingen to investigate a horrendous crime committed by a brother Knight, Lothar von Schöenberg is thwarted by the guilty Knights uncle, Friedrich von Wallenrode. The case is eventually dismissed by the newly appointed Hochmeister Ulrich von Jungingen and Lothar von Schöenberg falls into disfavour with his superiors.

1407
Grand Master Konrad von Jungingen dies and is replaced with his brother Grand Master Ulrich von Jungingen.

1409

Uprising in Teutonic-held Samogitia starts. Jagiełło of Lithuania announces that he will stand by his promises in case the Teutons invaded Lithuania. This is used as a pretext, and on August 14, 1409 the Teutonic Grand Master Ulrich von Jungingen declares war on the Kingdom of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania (click on map to enlarge).

1410
15 July. Battle of Grunewald/Tannenberg. With the death of the German King Rupert III, war breaks out between the Teutonic Knights and a Polish-Lithuanian alliance supported by Ruthenian and Tatar auxiliary forces. The climax of the war is the Battle of Grunewald which sees the complete destruction of the field army of the Teutonic Order.

Ulrich von Jungingen

Ulrich von Jungingen is the twenty sixth Hochmeister des Deutschen Ordens (Grand Master of the Teutonic Order). This means that he is the Supreme Commander of the Order, answerable to no one but God.

The Pope, Gregory XII has little influence on the politics of Prussia, finding himself very busy dealing with the Antipope Benedikt XIII.

In 1410, the position of Hochmeister is one Ulrich has held for only three years after his brother Konrad von Jungingen died of gall stones, in his bed at Marienburg Castle.

Ulrich von Jungingen is a hard nosed and belligerent character who has adopted a 'no nonesense' course of action against the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Poland.

He is 50 years old.

Ulrich von Jungingen does not feature in the games in person, but is present 'off stage' by virtue of who he is and what he means to the principal characters. More than any other, Ulrich von Jungingen, and his policies of belligerence and confrontation lead to the formation of the Schwartzekreutz Bruderschafft. The Brotherhood of the Black Cross.

Yet another moif blog

No big surprises or secrets here, this blog will be about my plans for a skirmish campaign featuring the adventures of Lothar von Schöenberg, his brother Maximillian von Schöenberg and their friend and brother-in-arms Albrecht Mansfeld.


My plan is to build up a respectable sized force around the afore mentioned characters. With time, this should number around one hundred infantry (including archers), fifteen heavy cavalry (already order from BTD), the three knights and their immediate retainers (already acquired but as yet unpainted), plus baggage, camp followers and artillery (all acquired and in various stages of completion).

There is no dead line for this project, but nor do I expect it ready any time in the immediate future.