Livonian Brothers of the Sword: Map & History
The order of Livonian Brothers of the Sword or Sword Brethren, formally known as the Militia of Christ of Livonia, was a Catholic military order of German crusading knights established in 1202 in Livonia by Albert, the third bishop of Riga.
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The order of Livonian Brothers of the Sword or Sword Brethren, formally known as the Militia of Christ of Livonia, was a Catholic military order of German crusading knights established in 1202 in Livonia by Albert, the third bishop of Riga. Pope Innocent III sanctioned the establishment in 1204 for the second time.
Modern Countries Once Part of Livonian Brothers of the Sword
At its mapped extent, Livonian Brothers of the Sword covered territory in 2 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Livonian Brothers of the Sword's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Livonian Brothers of the Sword in Depth
History
Albert, Bishop of Riga (also called Prince-Bishop of Livonia) (or possibly Theoderich von Treyden) realised that a standing army in Livonia would be more useful than crusaders staying a short time. As rewards for secular knights in the Baltic area were not enough to ensure their long-term stance, Albert founded the Brotherhood in 1202 to aid the Bishopric of Livonia in the conversion of the pagan Livonians, Latgalians and Selonians living across the ancient trade routes from the Gulf of Riga eastwards.
The Brotherhood had its headquarters at Fellin (Viljandi) in present-day Estonia, where the walls of the Master's castle still stand. Other strongholds included Wenden (Cēsis), Segewold (Sigulda) and Ascheraden (Aizkraukle).
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Livonian Brothers of the Sword (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Livonian Brothers of the Sword: Key Facts
| Founded | 1202 |
|---|---|
| Dissolved | 1237 |
Succeeded by
- Livonian Order
Facts from Wikidata Q157605 (CC0).
Livonian Brothers of the Sword Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 68,087 km² in 1238 CE.
Livonian Brothers of the Sword: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Livonian Brothers of the Sword exist?
Livonian Brothers of the Sword is dated to 1202 CE – 1240 CE, in the High & Late Middle Ages era.
How large was Livonian Brothers of the Sword at its peak?
At its peak in 1238 AD Livonian Brothers of the Sword covered about 68,087 km².
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