The Polish-Lithuanian army
The Battle of Tannenberg (also known as the Battle of Grunwald) is a battle that took place on the 15h of July, 1410. It features in Medieval II: Total War as a historical battle. You take the role of the Polish-Lithuanian army under King Wladyslaw Jagiello as it battles the Teutonic army of Grand Master Ulrich von Jungingen.
Units[]
In-Game King Wladyslaw Jagiello (Polish)[]
In-History Vytautas the Great (Lithuanians) and King Wladyslaw Jagiello (Polish)[]
The Polish-Lithuanian army is composed mainly of halberd militia, supported by several units of heavy cavalry and horse archers.
In-Game Grand Master Ulrich von Jungingen (Holy Roman Empire).[]
In-history Grand Master Ulrich von Jungingen (The Teutonic Order)
The Teutonic army is composed mainly of Teutonic Knights, supported by several units of spearmen, several cannons and a few of mercenary crossbowmen.
In History[]
The army of the Teutonic Order
Founded during the Third Crusade in 1190, the Teutonic Order of Knights had a stronger national flavour than the other "knights of Christ" and it maintained strong ties with the Holy Roman Empire. When events in the Holy Land began to go awry, the Order cast about for another theatre of operations. The Prussian Crusade was launched in 1222, in response to a call for help from a Polish nobleman beset by Prussian pagans.
With Papal support, they began to establish their own state in the area, building a network of castles to reinforce their authority. Growing stronger, the Order began to cast its avaricious gaze further afield to the neighboring states of Poland and Lithuania, the latter of which was the largest surviving pagan state in Europe. The resulting series of crusades were easily the match of any previously seen in terms of barbarity on both sides.
Despite increased Papal displeasure at its actions, the Order's Grand Master had no difficulties attracting "guest" crusaders from across Europe to aid his forces in their onslaught.
As their strength grew though, changes began to take place withing the target states. In 1386 Wladyslaw Jagiello the Grand Duke of Lithuania came to the Polish throne. Beginning the conversion of Lithuania to Christianity, he was able to remove a barrier between the two people and create a powerful allied army.
In the summer of 1410, the allied army marched into Prussia, determined to capture the Order's headquarters at Marienburg and to destroy the Order utterly. Alerted to this threat, Grand Master Ulrich von Jungingen gathered his forces and waited for the onslaught at a prepared position near the villages of Tannenberg and Grunwald.
Trivia[]
- The in-game history of the battle is incorrect. King Wladyslaw Jagiello only led the Polish army. The Lithuanian army was led by Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytautas the Great.