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(Schwertbrüderorden) |
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The Order of Livonian
Sword Brothers (official name Fratres
Militiae Christi also knoown
as Schwertbrüderorden) was one of many knightly orders that were created during the Crusades. It was created in 1202 in The rules and
regulations of the Sword Brothers were quite similar to those of The Templars . The
uniform of the Order was a white mantle with the red sign of a cross over a
sword. Most of the brothers came from Northern Germany although some of them
were originating from |
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Between 1202 and 1236
the Sword Brothers launched successful campaigns against Novgorod-supported
Principalities of Hercike, Kukkenois
and Thalawa, as well as against Curonians,
Latgalians, Selonians and
Lithuanians. As a result, all of In 1218 – 1219 the Sword
Brothers conquered |
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In 1225
– 1236, all the territory conquered by the Sword Brothers (most of modern |
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The Brotherhood's headquarters and Other known major castles (some of them still standing)
included Ascheraden (Aizkraukle), Segewold (Sigulda), Traiden (Toraida) and Wenden (Cesis). The five-member Council
of the Order was headed by the Order’s Master and included Commanders
of Fellin, Goldingen (Kuldīga), Marienburg
(Alūksne),
Reval ( |
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In 1233 – 1234 the new military campaign against Prince Yaroslav of In 1236 the army of the Brotherhood was almost wiped out
by the united forces of Lithuanians and Zemgalians
at the battle of Saule (Shiauliai). The Brotherhood of
Sword failed to recover after that defeat and in 1237 it merged with the Teutonic Order. Since then it became an autonomous branch of the Teutonians under their own Commanders who were
subordinate to the Teutonic Order’s
Grand Master
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