Thread by @MedievalScholar

The date is July 15th in the year 1410 near the village of Grunwald in modern day Poland. The Knights of the Teutonic Order clashed with the Polish-Lithuanian alliance. The ensuing Battle of Grunwald would be a defining moment in Medieval history. 🧵

The Teutonic Order, who were originally founded during the Crusades had expanded their influence and power to the Baltic region and now became rulers of a state in Prussia.

The Teutons would conduct crusades against their non-Christian neighbors, including the Duchy of Lithuania

In 1386 the ruler of Lithuania converted to Christianity and would marry the queen of Poland. When she died, he became the King of Poland, Władysław II Jagiełło.

The Teutons contested his conversion to Christianity and in 1409 the Teutons declared war on Poland and Lithuania.

Fast forward to 1410. During summer King Jagiellon joined by Grand Duke Witold of Lithuania would march on the Teutonic Knights and their capital of Marienberg.

The Teutons would respond and confront the Polish-Lithuanian invaders between the villages of Grunwald and Tannenberg.

The Teutons were outnumbered. Estimates of force strength range from about 16,000 to 39,000 men for the Polish-Lithuanian army and about 11,000 to 27,000 men for the Teutonic Knights.

Despite the difference in size the Teutons were confident in their armored cavalry to win.

The Teutonic Knights were led by their Grand Master, Ulrich von Jungingen as well as their Grand Marshal, Friedrich von Wallenrode.

The forces formed lines early in the morning of July 15th however the battle did not begin for hours and the Teutonic Knights would begin to bake inside their armor from the intense summer sunlight.

Eventually Grand Master Ulrich would taunt his enemies by sending them swords.

Eventually the fighting would finally begin and the Teutonic Knights would see immediate success, clashing with the Polish Lithuanian cavalry on the right side.

The Knights charged through them and returned to join in on tougher fighting on the left side against the Poles.

Grand Master Jungingen would lead the charge himself on the left side.

King Jagiellon would narrowly avoid death or capture after the surviving Lithuanian cavalry would return to the battle and slam into the tail end of the Teutonic forces.

Upon the second charge of the Lithuanian cavalry, Grand Master Ulrich von Jungingen would die in battle after a lance was thrust into his throat.

After the death of their Grand Master the Teutonic knights would make a withdrawal to their camp to set up a defensive position.

The Teutonic Knights would attempt to set up a defensive position behind their wagons however it would fail and many of them would be cut down. By the end of the day the majority of the Teutonic forces would be dead or captured.

The Polish-Lithuanian force would claim a huge victory but would fail to take Marienberg. The following year the two parties would make peace and agree to terms.

Poland-Lithuania became a major eastern European power and the Teutonic Knights would never regain their dominance.

A fun fact to follow up Grunwald was that in the First World War when the German Empire's forces defeated the Russians they called it the Battle of Tannenberg to claim vengeance for the defeat at Grunwald half a millennium later.

The Battle of Grunwald is remembered not only for its scale and strategic significance but also for the symbolism embedded in the clash of cultures and ideologies and is still remembered and celebrated today in modern day Belarus, Poland and Lithuania

You can visit Malbork Castle, the capital fortress of the Teutonic Knights today! It's a beautiful structure and possesses a rich history, I hope to visit it one day myself!