Book Description
The Teutonic knights were powerful and ferocious advocates of holy war. Their history is suffused with crusading, campaigning and struggle. Feared by their enemies but respected by medieval Christendom, the knights and their Order maintained a firm hold over the Baltic and northern Germany and established a formidable regime which flourished across central Europe for 300 years. This book surveys the gripping history of the knights and relates their rise to power; their struggles against Prussian pagans; the series of wars against Poland and Lithuania; the clash with Alexander Nevsky's Russia; and the gradual stagnation of the Order in the fourteenth century. The book is replete with dramatic episodes - such as the battle on frozen Lake Peipus in 1242, or the disaster of Tannenberg - but focuses primarily on the year-after-year struggle to maintain power, fend off incursions and raiding bands, and to launch crusades against unbelieving foes. And it was the crusade, with knights demonstrating their valor, which chiefly characterized and breathed life into this militant, conquering Holy Order. The narrative charts the rise and fall of the Order, and, in an accessible and engaging style, throws light on a band of knights whose deeds and motives have long been misunderstood.
Customer Reviews:
Good, but flawed.......2007-02-11
I have very conflicted feelings towards this book. Mr. Urban does a good job of trying to depoliticize the history of the Teutonic Knights, a tough job indeed. He has favorite figures on both sides of the stuggle, and you never get the feeling that he's manipulating the past. Overall, the book gives an impression of being an unbiased report. The scholarship behind the work seems solid. The author does a good job of conveying his passion for the subject to the reader.
Those strengths are offset by significant weaknesses. The most significant weakness in this book is its organization. The chapters are organized by topic (One chapter dedicated to the conquest of Prussia, one to the conquest of Livonia, a few to the struggle with Lithuania, etc.) This makes the book very difficult for a newcomer to follow, as the topics are interrelated and aren't easily divided. Urban is constantly referring to people who he doesn't fully introduce into later chapters. One chapter will end in 1310, the next begins in 1210. This problem is compounded by the fact that he doesn't even maintain chronological order within his topics. It's difficult for a reader who is new to the topic to grasp the big picture, because you don't know what is going on in the other areas of the TK's realm.
This poor organization also enhances the other major problem with this book: Urban's tendency to name drop. Although this book is divided into territorial topics, the actual TK leadership seemed to be more fluid. Someone who was in Prussia at time A was likely to be in Livonia at time B. Urban will introduce a figure at time A (which is at page 50), and then name drop him at time B (which is at page 130). In between those times, Urban has covered 100 years of history in one area and introduced 35 more figures. By the time you get to point B you have forgotten who that man was. Urban drops his name, but you have to go back to the earlier chapter to determine who he was. What's even worse is that, at times, Urban will name drop the guy at point A and then not fully introduce him until point B, dozens of pages later. When you're dealing with dozens of people, many of whom have the same names, many more of whom have names that are alien looking to English speakers, and almost all of whom are obscure historical figures unfamiliar to U.S. readers, you have a situation where it really takes a few read throughs to fully understand what is going on.
I know that it wouldn't be perfect, but I think that this book would have been easier to read had it been organized chronologically rather than topically. Those uninitiated in the history of medieval Baltic Europe should look elsewhere. Those with some degree of familiarity with the topic might enjoy it.
Good overview of the Topic.......2006-05-06
There are a few books out there that briefly cover the Teutonic Knights and their campaigns, mostly their shorter history in the Holy Lands. And there is some reference to them in Prussia.
This book fills in many gaps that the average reader may have regarding the Teutonic Knights. The book traces the history of the Teutonic Knights, from their founding forward by their military campaigns in Eastern and Northern Europe.
Seeing the "A Military History" on the cover made me consider the content of the book and how other "military history" books have been rough reading. But I was very pleasantly surprised as I got into the material. There is much more here than just the medieval Military History.
This book is very extensive in the history it provides. It does a very good job at giving us the big picture of the areas of Prussia, Rus' (Russia) and the areas of Livonia and Lithuania. The author is fair in his depiction of the Teutonic Knights.
The book is professionally put together, with much more information than you would think. It is well thought through, nicely laid out with good cross referencing. For research purposes, it's very good. I recommend this book for the High School level reading and up. For interest, there is much that
will hold your attention. medievalcrusadesbabe
The true story of the Christian order of Teutonic Knights of central Europe during the medieval era.......2006-04-06
The Teutonic Knights: A Military History is the true story of the Christian order of Teutonic Knights of central Europe during the medieval era. Covering roughly the 1200's through the 1500's, including the order's rise and fall, The Teutonic Knights examines both the order's strengths and its inequities, which have been to some degree exaggerated by propagandists, nationalists, secularists, and Protestants. A handful of black-and-white photographic plates illustrate this meticulously documented historical text, embellished with a bibliography and index. The Teutonic Knights brings the era and daily life alive, as surely as it illuminates power struggles between factions, Christian orders, noblemen, and nations, and is a superb contribution to medieval and military history shelves.
Dispels the Myth's.......2005-07-14
This author writes a scholarly and comprehensive history of the Teutonic knights. This book is packed with fact and helps destroy the myths around the undeserved reputation that the knights had acquired. The book is not an easy read; don't expect to finish this quick. I rated this book 4 stars because of its scholarly contributions, had it flowed a little easier I would have rated it a 5
Terry Tucker, Professor Military History, US Army, Ret, Richland, TX
Reevaluation of traditional "bad guys".......2004-07-06
This book does a good job of explaning the Teutonic Order to a modern audience, very much needed. The author, a professional historian, has set out to write a fairer history of the Teutonic Knights. They are best known for their defeats, Lake Peipus and Tannenberg, were their adversaries have been cast as the "good guys". Here he proves that history is so much more complex. He follows their history from the foundation of the order until they become secular landwoners in the fifteenth century. The order did not exist in a political vacuum: northern Europe was a hotbed of intrigue where the knights were just one part. The author carefully explains the complex politics surrounding the unification of Poland and the christianization of Prussia and Lithauinia. We also find out that there were hardly any teutonic knights present at the famed battle of Lake Peipus, and that the defeat at Tannenberg was not the death knell of the order: it was the political infighting in the order afterwards!
The order was not worse than any other of their contemporaries, oftentimes they were even more humane and civilized. As with all medieaval histories, we lack details. Something the reader just will have too live with.
I have some complaints: The maps seem to exist without any connection to the text, and then, the narrative just stops. The author just explains that there exists no research on the order's later activities in the Balkans. The order still exists (there were involved in the opposition against Hitler), but that is not mentioned. This should be remedied in future editions.
Book Description
Throughout their stormy history the Teutonic Knights of Germany have always been the most controversial brotherhood ever to call themselves 'Knights of Christ'.They were the most warlike of the religious orders, and this is reflected in the architecture they left behind. In contrast to the Templars who are remembered for their churches, the Teutonic memorials are the magnificent brick-built castles they built as a result of their conquest of Prussia between 1230 and 1380. Many of these dramatic fortresses still exist today in what is now Poland and provide a unique example of an architectural style that closely reflects the nature of the Order.
Customer Reviews:
Good, but..........2005-03-17
I have just reviewed three Osprey books, and found one excellent, one terrible, and this one, which actually is very good but very annoying too. Stephen Turnbull knows his stuff and does writes well, which you expect from an Osprey veteran like him, so this is interesting information on an unusual subject, as far as it goes, I wish I had it when I was visiting Poland where it would have been invaluable. But this book is only half the length is seems. The captions on the pictures and the artwork are simply pasted from the text word for word. The chapters often repeat each other. For a short book this is really frustrating. I think Osprey has become a victim of its own format. Here they cannot talk about the history of the castles as that would be the Campaign series; they cannot talk about the knights themselves as that would be their Warrior series. Instead they just repeat themselves and put in a lot of filler. What a shame, as more maps would have been nice, or larger plans of the castles, or if they could have just made the pictures larger I would have been happy. But the repetition mars a good book; I recommend this book, as there's nothing else like it, but you will grit your teeth often enough.
Good Overview.......2004-04-29
After the Crusades, a new order of Military Knights started in Germany. Created by a group of German Merchants for the care of countrymen who had been at the siege of Acre and had suffered, they started with makeshift hospitals for their care.
From this arose the Teutonic Order. Never having seen battle in the Holy Land, their Crusade was against the pagans in Prussia. Their weapon... red-brick castles.
This book outlines the Teutonic Order, its origins, and the campaigns they waged in the areas of Prussia and Poland
These castles remain today as a memorial to the Order and the battles they fought and the lands they claimed. The book outlines the building of these fortresses, their designs and layouts, how they were used, and how the Teutonic Knights operated their campaigns.
The material is easy to follow, very descriptive in the campaigns and military strategies and historical details. This, accompanied by color and black and white photos of the castles, the surrounding areas, contemporary art depicting the Knights, and wonderfully detailed maps make this a book easy to understand and a good reference guide for the Order and the time period covered.
The author provides insights into the areas discussed, in everyday life as well as military references. This gives you a good grasp on the culture and background. He also provides key dates, important names and places.
There is a list in the back of the book of the important Prussian castles that have survived to the present day and their locations. There is a bibliography and a glossary of terms, important to help you understand some of the German titles and words. And there is an index for quick reference.
Worth noting are the detailed illustrations of castle layouts, battle scene illustrations and some wonderful photography of the actual castles, some intact, others of the remains. Overall, this makes for a fine book to familiarize yourself with the topic or to use as reference to include this in your studies of the time, the castles, or the Teutonic Order. A very good overview of the topic. medievalcrusadesbabe
The history of Teutonic castles in modern-day Poland.......2004-04-12
"Crusader Castles of the Teutonic Knights (1): The Red-brick Castles of Prussia 1230-1466" by Stephen Turnbull and illustrated by Peter Dennis concisely describes various aspects of Teutonic castles that are located in modern-day Poland. The history and transformation of the Teutonic castles from wooden forts to red-brick castles is described. Furthermore, the history of the rise and fall of the Teutonic Knights is covered.
Maps with the location of the Teutonic castles, color and black-and-white photographs of various Teutonic castles, several color illustrations, and a couple of floor plans make a vivid picture of the topic. The color illustrations are fantastic and breathtaking, filling one with awe at the splendor these castles possessed.
First published in 2003, this 64 page book serves as an excellent overview of the history of the Teutonic Knights' castles that are located in modern Poland. The book does discuss some of the Teutonic castles outside of the borders of Poland, however that is not its emphasis. The castles outside of Poland are to be reviewed in part 2 of the book.
Book Description
By 1400 the long running conflict between the Order of Teutonic Knights and Poland and Lithuania was coming to a head, partly as a result of the Order's meddling in the internal politics of its neighbours. In June 1410 King Wladislaw Jagiello of Poland invaded the Order's territory with a powerful allied army including all the enemies of the Teutonic Knights - Poles, Lithuanians, Russians, Bohemians, Hungarians, Tartars and Cossacks. This book recounts how, when the armies clashed on the wooded, rolling hills near the small village of Tannenberg, the Teutonic Knights suffered a disastrous defeat from which their Order never recovered.
Customer Reviews:
Turnbull should have stayed with the samurais.......2004-05-19
I have some problems with Turnbull as an author, too often is he careless with facts when he deals with medieval Europe. I do have excellent books written by him, so what went wrong in this book? This volume was unfortunately a bit of a disappointment, even though the overall story is informative Turnbull fails in some details. Especially when it comes to weapons, tactics and other military aspects Turnbull is very hasty in his depiction. The information on arms and armour are too sketchy and simplified to a degree of distortion - for example his only note on the tatars is that "they were dressed in traditional mongol heavy coats and boots". Also the plates by Richard Hook shows the tatars as 13th century mongol light horse archers, whereas the tatars of the 15th century were in fact Turkish (not Mongols!) and they had, in addition to horse archers, numerous heavy cavalrymen in various kinds of turco-mongol armour.
Another huge problem is Turnbull's choice of images in his book. Whereas other great osprey-writers like David Nicolle use to include informative images of contemporary drawings and archaeological findings - Turnbull instead insists on adding his 19th century paintings which rather misrepresent history than explain the time dealt with. In this book, there are no less than some 15 pictures from these much later paintings by 19th century national-romantic polish painters (whereas the only contemporary item shown is a single helmet). Sure they're fine pieces of art, but how can Turnbull try to convey a trustworthy image of early 15th century warfare by referring to completely irrelevant, un-historical art produced centuries after the described events? I was really annoyed by this waste of space in the thin book.
According to the description of the armies, a great part of the order's forces were infantry. Yet, Turnbull hardly make any other reference or depiction to these important troops, nor are they represented in the plates. The Czech and Russian contingents fighting for the Polish king are neither described. I got the feeling that Turnbull actually is uninterested in the other troops, and deliberately focuses on the knights in shiny armour just because they're more "romantic" (and more similar to his beloved samurais). Otherwise the colour plates by Hook and the maps are okey, even though the depiction of the Tatar and Lithuanian cavalry is in many ways incorrect and misleading. I really missed David Nicolle and his knowledge on central Asian and eastern European armies!
If you want a sketchy account of the Tannenberg campaign with lots of odd 19th century romantic art - then you can go for this book and buy it. If you want a better, more down-to-earth and historical description of medieval European armies I'd suggest David Nicolle, Christopher Gravett, Pete Armstrong and some other writers for Osprey. Turnbull should have stayed with the samurais...
The Beginning of the End of the Teutonic Order?.......2004-04-08
As I'm more interested in political and intellectual history than military history, I probably do not appreciate this book as its target audience, presumably military history aficionados, do. For me this is a double introduction: this is the first of Ospery's 'Campaign' series books I've read, and a rare detailed look into the tormented history of Poland, known to its people as the 'Christ of the nations'.
The Teutonic Order, originally ser out to battle crusades against the infidels, became a Prussian state, and its battles against the Poles, although dressed up in religious rhetoric were actually grabs for territories and power, as became increasingly apparent after the 1386 conversion of Lithuania, which the Teutonic Knights conveniently dismissed as a sham.
The session of hostilities between Poland and Lithuania, and Lithuania's Grand Duke Vytautas acceptance of the rule of Polish King Jagiello, led to increased confrontations with the Teutonic order, culminating in a Teutonic declaration of war and a Polish/Lithuanian invasion in 1410. The approximately 27 thousand Teutonic Knights out of whom, Turmbull estimates, only 250 were heavily mounted and armored knights (p.29) were defeated by the 39 thousand soldiers on the Polish/Lithuanian side near the village of Tannenberg on July the 15th, 1410.
Turnball's book begins with an introduction, tracing the events since the foundation of the Teutonic order in 1190 to the outbreak of the war. This part of the narrative was as exciting as high school history, a long list of Kings and campaigns, with very little description or analyses. I suppose it explains the background for the struggle - but that is all it does.
Next Turnbull gives a short description of the main protagonists, and a discussion of the troops constituting the Teutonic and Polish/Lithuanian armies. Even though the book is full of (sometimes marvelous) illustration, this part is strangely bereft of them, so the reader gets no pictures of either side's weapons or armor.
The description of the battle itself I found hard to follow. The great colored so called three dimensional maps of the battlefield are often put several pages away from the text's description of the events of the field, and (possibly because I'm not familiar with the format) I found them overcrowded and not clear. For example, Turnbull writes that the Teutonic may have dug pits in the battleground, but they are nowhere to be found on the maps.
The best parts of the book are the ones following the battle, detailing the Teutonic Order's recovery from the disastrous defeat, and the continuation of the war (sometimes through other means), until the second treaty of Thorn, in which the order essentially capitulated, and all that was left of the once vast Teutonic state was a small independent entity centered around Riga. The author then briefly considers the evolution of the Tannenberg myth until the Second World War, and how it was used for Propaganda purposed by Germans, Russians and Poles.
Turnbull writes that "the battle's true historical significance remains mired in controversy". Indeed, Turnbull's declaration that the Teutonic defeat "undoubtedly proved fatal in the long term" seems arguable to me. Were the Teutonic Knights fighting a desperate battle in the 1450s really doomed from the start? And if they were, was it because of a single battle defeat 40 years past?
I think Turnbull fails to consider the option that the collapse of the Teutonic order came not from the battlefield defeat, but from the changed political climate. The Teutonic Knights, invited to Poland by the Polish King to battle usurpers, now found against them a relatively united front of Poles and Lithuanians. And the conversion of Lithuania made it increasingly difficult to describe the wars as crusades, and to draw foreign guest crusaders.
The dim memory of the Teutonic Knights still reaches us through the centuries. But were they defeated on the battleground or by the changing of the times. How was it that the Teutonic world came to an end, in a bang or in a whimper?
Interesting and Concise History.......2004-01-12
Tannenberg 1410: Disaster for the Teutonic Knights by Stephen Turnbull is a concise but interesting history of a little known part of European History that had little immediate importance, but significant long term effect. In 1410 the Teutonic Knights of Prussia invaded Polish territory with the intent of expanding their empire. The Poles, along with their Lithuanian allies and a contingent of Czech mercenaries were able to rout the Knights, killing their Grand Master. Because of indecisive moves the Polish/Lithuanian allies they were unable to take advantage of their decisive victory; however, the victory weakened the Knights to such an extent that they eventually became inconsequential in European affairs.
In 96 pages, following the standard Ospery format, Turnbull concisely discusses the above in a well thought out and written manner. The book is well written and interesting to read. It is highly recommended for anyone who wants a taste of this part of European history.
July 15, 1410: An Important Date in Polish History.......2003-09-13
July 15, 1410 is an important date in Polish history. For on this date, the Polish, Lithuanians, and hired Czech mercenaries won an epic battle against the Teutonic Knights. This battle is know as "Tannenburg" to the Germans, "Grunwald" to the Polish, and "Zalgiris" to the Lithuanians.
"Tannenburg 1410: Disaster for the Teutonic Knights" by Stephen Turnbull and illustrated by Richard Hook is a concise account of the origins of the campaign, the battle itself, and its aftermath. This volume has photographs of various castles, views of the battlefield, statues, and paintings. Various maps and illustrations are also included.
In the 96 pages of this book, the reader is given a thorough overview of the events that lead up to this significant battle, how the battle unfolded, and the effects of the Polish/Lithuanian victory.
Rich in Historical Imagery.......2003-08-05
Thankfully, Osprey turned its Campaign series volume #122, Tannenberg 1410, over to Stephen Turnbull, rather than its household medieval specialist, Dr. David Nicolle. Turnbull, who is well known for his earlier works on Japanese Samurai, is able to deliver passion and humanity into his historical narrative, unlike the erudite but dull Nicolle. While Tannenberg might not have been one of the most critical battles in history, it was the kind of battle that created legends and historical traditions that greatly influenced future German-Slav relations. Turnbull's telling of this classic battle between the Polish-Lithuanian allies and the German Teutonic knights is first rate.
Tannenberg 1410 follows the standard Osprey Campaign series progression from introduction, through chronology, opposing commanders, opposing armies and opposing plans. The campaign narrative itself is 49 pages long. The aftermath section is fairly long at 12 pages, since the war continued for decades after Tannenberg. Turnbull uses five 2-D maps (Eastern Europe 1386, castles of the Teutonic order, the Polish invasion of Prussia, Kauernick to Tannenberg, Eastern Europe 1466) and three 3-D Birds Eye View maps on the Battle of Tannenberg itself. The three battle scenes by artist Richard Hook are quite good: the confrontation at the Kauernick ford, the Lithuanian charge, and the death of the Grand Master. Turnbull also provides notes on sources used and a visit to the modern-day battlefield.
The Teutonic Knights are rich in imagery, clad in white tunics with black crosses, ravaging Eastern Europe with fire and sword for generations. Although the Order, as it was called, was primarily German in origin, Turnbull notes that the organization was open to "guest crusaders." Indeed, the future English King Henry IV went in 1392 and brought many archers with him. Although the crusades in Eastern Europe were cast as a religious struggle of Christian knights against Pagans, the real motives were land and power. Turnbull notes that this hidden agenda was revealed in 1386 when the "conversion of Lithuania removed any justification for the continuance of the Teutonic Knights' aggressive expansion into Lithuania under the banner of a 'crusade'. The Order, however, had no intention of giving up the struggle." The pogroms and land-grabs by the Order in Eastern Europe might be viewed as the first instance of a Lebensraum tradition. Unfortunately for the Order, the marriage of Jadwiga and Jagiello led to a formal military alliance in 1401 between Poland and Lithuania, creating a major Slav alliance. Turnbull mentions the critical role of diplomacy and money in securing allies or inhibiting foes (Muscovy, Hungary, Bohemia, Moldavia), which demonstrates the complexity of this conflict. In August 1409, the Teutonic Knights declared war on Poland after making spurious claims against Polish Christianity (due to the presence of small numbers of Tartars in southern Poland, the Order claimed that Polish and Lithuanian Christianity was a sham), thus beginning the idiotic German tradition of attacking stronger coalitions.
Tannenberg was one of the bigger battles of the Middle Ages, with about 27,000 Teutonic troops versus 39,000 Poles/Lithuanians. Turnbull corrects some misconceptions about the battle, such as his estimate that only about 250 Teutonic troops were heavily armed, mounted knights (203 were killed in the battle). Poland's army was feudal in nature, but had few foot soldiers, regulars or mercenaries. The Order placed great emphasis on field artillery to disrupt the enemy but wet weather rendered their cannon ineffective. Tannenberg was a catastrophic defeat for the Order with fewer than 1,500 Teutonic troops escaping. However, victory did not come cheaply, since the Poles-Lithuanians suffered 30% losses themselves. Turnbull notes that Tannenberg mortally wounded the Teutonic Order and that it was unusual that the battle that decided a long war should come almost right at the beginning of the conflict.
If Tannenberg teaches us any lessons, it is that final victory can be very elusive even after a decisive battle. The Poles and Lithuanians failed to aggressively pursue the shattered Teutonic remnants and allowed the hero, Heinrich von Plauen to rally survivors and hold on to key castles. The Order also used its extensive diplomatic contacts to gain foreign support and this resiliency even allowed limited counteroffensives. For over fifty years, the mortally wounded Order fought a last ditch struggle against Poland and Lithuania, until their lands were finally absorbed in 1466. Turnbull concludes that, "the German-speaking peoples did not forget this reversal of fortunes, and three centuries later the "Partition of Prussia" was used as a justification for the Partition of Poland."
Book Description
The original forced conversion of pagan Livonia, what is now the Baltic states of Latvia and Estonia, was carried out by a military order known as the Brethren of the Sword. In 1236 this order was incorporated into the Teutonic Knights following a catastrophic military defeat. The knights had always consolidated their conquests through networks of castles and fortified places, and the Livonian Chapter of the Teutonic Order built castles of stone. This title covers the developmental and operational history of these fortresses over the length of the Middle Ages. It details how the Baltic fortifications of the Teutonic Knights evolved to reflect the changing nature of siege warfare and the increasing dominance of gunpowder in warfare.
Customer Reviews:
Second in the series.......2006-07-12
This book is the follow-up to Turnbull's equally strong work on the Teutonic Knights and their castles in Prussia. The book nicely covers the history of the coming of Christianity to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, and the resultant need of an armed force to protect the clergy. The cut away drawings of a Convent Castle, Riga Castle and a Gun Tower are excellent. My only gripe is that this book, easily, could have been incorporated into the first volume. It only has 60 pages of real informational content.
An overview of the history of the Teutonic Knights in the Latvia/Estonia region.......2006-05-15
"Crusader Castles of the Teutonic Knights (2): The Stone Castles of Latvia and Estonia 1185-1560" by Stephen Trunbull is the companion volume to his work on the Teutonic castles in Prussia. Each volume deals neatly with its own geographic region and history, so it is not exactly a sequel, but this book definitely is recommended to those that are looking for more history on the Teutonic Order. The history of the Teutonic Knights in the Latvia/Estonia region was noticeably different from Prussia. The Teutonic Knights actually moved into and took over the castles established by another religious crusader order called the Swordbrothers.
I did not find this book to be as easy to read as some of Turnbull's other books, making it a slower read having to consult a dictionary more often. It may be a good starting point to learn about the castles of the Teutonic Knights in Latvia and Estonia, beside the fact of it being one of the few books available on the topic, but it may take a bit more dedication and effort than most introductory books. The color illustrations by Peter Dennis are exceptional and bring to life what these magnificent castles looked like in their prime. However, I do think it would have been helpful if more of the illustrations and floor plans of the castles were located on the same or opposite page so a side-by-side comparison may be done, preventing flipping though the whole book trying to make a match. Overall, "Crusader Castles of the Teutonic Knights (2)" will provide you with a nice overview of the history of the castles and people who made and fought in them, as well as let you have a good idea of what they looked like with the photos and illustrations.
History of an area that is not usually covered.......2004-06-30
This book takes up were the first book on "Crusader Castles of the Teutonic Knights" left off, moving from Prussia to Latvia and Estonia and moving along the time line from 1185-1560.
The author covers the history of Latvia and Estonia (Livonia) in regards to the time leading up to the Teutonic Knights and their castle networks and then covers the Knights, their Crusades and control in that area. The conversion of the local people by the 'Brethern of the Sword' is examined and how they became absorbed by the Teutonic Knights. The history of these countries is well covered from the system of fortresses and how it helped them control the area to why the area was of interest to the Knights and the Church. The research is in depth, giving some very good accounts of the time.
Again, the illustrations stand out as enabling the reader to clearly visualize the castles, the maps give outstanding historical reference to the geography of the time and the pictures of the castles in the present day included by the author present a very well rounded view of the importance of these fortresses in the campaigns of the Teutonic Knights, and how they enabled these Knights to implement their control over the lives of the peoples of Livonia.
For those with interests in the Teutonic Knights, their means and methods of crusading and a good overall history of the Castles of this area, this is an excellent primer, easy to read, very detailed, well illustrated and a good reference tool. medievalcrusadesbabe
Customer Reviews:
Well written..........2007-06-01
This is a well written novel that does have an epic scope and is overall an entertaining story. However, the author uses this book to show off Polish Nationalism, and it does hurt the book. The Teutonic Knights are shown as faceless, evil men, while the Polish heroes are hansom, perfect knights. It is almost too stereotypical to bear. I would still recommend reading the book,but take everything in it with a grain of salt.
Sienkiewicz, Poland's National Hero of Literature.......2006-12-24
The sheer volume of this book was in itself discouraging. The amount of information contained in this book was just staggering. It really took an effort to remember the name of each character, the name of the towns they visited and to follow the intricate plot as the story unfolds in the chaos created by the Teutonic Knights in Central and Eastern Europe.
It was all well worth the effort, even when I think how I carried this hefty book with me everywhere I went for nearly a month.
The cast of characters are memorable as the book itself: Jurand, who swears revenge, Danusia, the innocent damsel, Jagienka the feisty virago, Hlawa, the noble squire, and Tougay Bey, the merciless Tartar warchief, just to mention a few.
I know I read a translation. Usually W.S. Kuniczak translates Sienkiewicz's books, but Alicia Tyszkiewicz did an excellent job in translating this lenghtly book and in doing so, she rendered a story in a style worthy of the Polish Laureate, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1905.
Through Sienkiewicz we feel the courage of the Polish people. A country ravaged by wars, and several invasions, coveted by neighbors, and fiercely defended by her children, the spirit of Poland lives through Sienkiewicz novels
In my opinion, Henryk Sienkiewcz is one of Europe's greatest writers. "Teutonic Knights", "With Fire and Sword" and "Quo Vadis?" are among the best novels I have ever read from a Polish author, and maybe, the best novels written in the 20th century!
Propaganda.......2004-05-02
This book offers a historically very inaccurate, one-sided and propangandistic accounts of the Knights, intended to serve the nationalisitc purposes of the author.
I Loved This.......2004-02-17
I stumbled on this book quite by accident, with no idea who Sienkiewicz was. What a great thing to stumble upon!
I'm a great fan of Walter Scott, and considered this very much in the same vein, a terrific adventure story with heroes and villains, although paced faster than Scott. Particularly, the first 500 pages or so of this big book move very quickly, the events leading compellingly onward through the narrative almost breathlessly.
The historical context of the book (Poles v. Germans) is interesting to note. Taking the book in the context of the development of the novel---well, Sienkiewicz isn't particularly interested in the psychology of his characters. The bad guys here are reeeeallly bad. The hero is not only good, he's unbearably handsome, too. But this is an exciting book and I will read more of this guy now that I've found him.
Timeless Values Win Over In This Timeless Struggle.......2003-12-30
Sienkiewicz provides the endless, legendary story of good versus evil. This time, it is of knights who stand up for their beliefs against knights who hide behind the Teutonic Order - a once upon a time establishment for virtuous beliefs.
The Nobel Prize winning author paints a picture of how a confederation is forged between unlikely candidates when confronting an overwhelming enemy. And, they learn that to "love thy neighbor" truly has value in protecting the ones you care for.
The Teutonic Knights are portrayed as the well armed, well trained and well fed antagonists. Likened to the medieval version of the Roman Legions, they are disciplined in the arts of war, but lack the heart to passionately pursue what they believe is right and just.
Our hero Zbyszko learns through his adventures what chivalry and love mean. The polish knight also learns that kindness works best when acting as a courageous, committed and honorable leader. Such values gain more friends and allies across borders of principalities, cultures and religions than the Teutonic Knights predicted.
The values taught through this book are timeless, but they truly do not write such greats like this one anymore!
Average customer rating:
- Excellent Introduction Overall to Waffen-SS Panzer Divisions
- A fine book that provides valuable information about the SS.
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Hitler's Teutonic Knights: SS Panzers in Action
Bruce Quarrie
Manufacturer: Patrick Stephens
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Hitler's samurai: The Waffen-SS in action
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SS-Wiking: The History of the 5th SS Division 1941-45
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The Waffen SS: Hitler's Elite Guard at War, 1939-45
ASIN: 1852600349 |
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Introduction Overall to Waffen-SS Panzer Divisions.......2007-10-10
This is an excellent introduction overall to the Panzer Divisions of the Waffen-SS. The writing throughout is superb: The text is clear, precise, and objective.
The book includes separate chapters on each of the major Panzer Divisions of the Waffen-SS: The 2nd (Das Reich); the 3rd (Totenkopf); the 5th (Wiking); the 9th (Hohenstaufen); the 10th (Frundsberg); and the 12th (Hitlerjugend).
These chapters do not stand alone, however, as mini-histories of each division. Instead, if actions of one division were included in connection with an already discussed division, then the author basically tells you to read the chapter on the already discussed division.
In addition, many of the chapters are extremely short (both because of the author's tendency to refer the reader back to prior chapters and because the divisions were short-lived). Thus, the chapters on the Hohenstaufen, Frundsberg, and Hitlerjugend divisions only cover a few pages each, with the majority of the book covering the exploits of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th divisions.
These two flaws preclude a five-star rating.
There is also a lengthy chapter on "Other" Panzer SS divisions but there is little information provided and most of the chapter is taken up by photos, although the photos are well-selected and well-reproduced.
In fact, the book includes well over 100 well-selected photos that enhance the text, including 16 pages of photos in full color, half of which are full-page photos and one is even a two-page spread of a Panzer Mark III (Panzerkampfwagen III) in Nov. 1941 crossing a snow-covered field in front of a farm and followed by 3 troops. These amazing pictures may be worth the price of book itself.
A fine book that provides valuable information about the SS........1997-04-25
A person looking for first-rate information about the Waffen-SS in combat can not do much better than this book. The author has an entire series of books on the SS and this one keeps with the tradition of quality found in the other books
Average customer rating:
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Das Soldbuch des Deutschen Ordens 1410/1411: Die Abrechnungen fur die Soldtruppen (Veroffentlichungen aus den Archiven Preussischer Kulturbesitz)
Teutonic Knights
Manufacturer: Bohlau
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 341205285X |
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Die Familiaren des Deutschen Ordens (Quellen und Studien zur Geschichte des Deutschen Ordens)
Gerard Muller
Manufacturer: Elwert
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ASIN: 3770806867 |
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