Crusader Castles of the Teutonic Knights (2) The Stone Cstles of Latvia and Estonia 1185-1560

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.Bull, Stephen is the author of 'Crusader Castles of the Teutonic Knights (2) The Stone Cstles of Latvia and Estonia 1185-1560', published 2004 under ISBN 9781841767123 and ISBN 1841767123.