🚩 Go to bit.ly/thld_cs_historymarche and use code HISTORYMARCHE to save 25% off today. Thanks to Curiosity Stream for sponsoring today’s video. 🚩 The Battle of Grunwald was one of medieval Europe's most bloodiest battles. Polish-Lithuanian victory broke the Teutonic Order, marking the end of the order's expansion along the southeastern coast of the Baltic Sea and the beginning of the decline of its power. 🚩 Consider supporting our work on Patreon and enjoy early access ad-free videos for as little as $1: www.patreon.com/historymarche
Hey I whod suggest you ma,e a video about king david the fourth the builder when you'll find time for it but please if you read this and are going to include in your plans reply so I dont annoy you I dont want to be an annoyance
Mr Author, what are Your souces here? Please explain how come ONE duel of King Jogailla with departed from the main formation single knight was prolonged fight of kings banner? Again, i would ask You for the sources, because You went way off with this one. Most notably You portrait this battle as nearly won by Teutonic Order, while there was no chance of winning it from about 3rd hour of fighting, when the initial heavy cavalry charge of Kinghts failed. Also this altilery thing was so innacurate and so primitive at the time, that it had loterally NO effect on the course of battle.
I have a feeling that the narrative in this video is a bit rushed as it skipped over a few important details, like Poles swiftly crossing the Vistula river using a pontoon bridge which caught Teutons completely off guard. There is also no mention of the command structure of either side. The composition and size of the armies were largely omitted. The terms of the peace of Thorn were mostly glossed over as well. There are also a couple of minor and major mistakes like: 9:52 *(...) stood the Lithuanians made mostly of light cavalry* --- This must be the most often repeated mistake about this battle. Lithuanian cavalry wasn't "light" cavalry. They used less protective equipment because Lithuanians were poorer and had lesser access to good western plate armor. Thus you could say they were lightER than their Polish or Teutonic counterparts. That doesn't mean they acted as light cavalry. They still used a wide array of protective equipment. The only light cavalry in this battle were the Tatars. 11:55 *Although not too efficient, the artillery fire was enough to provoke an attack by the Lithuanian cavalry* --- First time ever I encounter such an interpretation of the events. Polish-Lithuanian Army was outside of the range of Teutonic bombards until it emerged from the woods and began the attack. 13:35 *Czech mercenaries nearly broke and fled but were stopped by their commanders* --- No, they DID flee but were stopped near the Polish camp, not by their commanders but by the Polish deputy chancellor Mikołaj Trąba. After being reprimanded by him, they returned to the battlefield. 15:22 *The target of this attack was none other than the King himself* --- Except Teutons didn't even know where Władysław was. He was not the intended target. The intended target was the flank of the Polish army. Teutons literally marched past the Polish King's retinue unknowing that they had a chance to kill or capture the enemy leader. All except one Teutonic Knight - Dypold von Kökeritz who recognized Władysław Jagiełło and left his banner to charge alone at the king. Suffice to say he did not succeed. 16:32 *Ulrik found himself surrounded* --- Nah, most likely he was already dead at this point. The Teutonic reserve led by Ulrich was met by the Great Banner of Cracow and sources claim most of the Teutonic leadership was killed in the initial clash. Finally, my biggest gripe. You show Teutonic infantry being deployed and taking part in the battle from the very beginning. The Battle of Grunwald was a cavalry battle. The infantry didn't play any role until storming the fortified camp of the Teutonic army. Which was also omitted in the video.
Every single video about this battle from youtubers is different, but all repeat the old cliche "Lithuania light cavalry", thanks for pointing that out.
I agree with everything you said except for your first point about Lithuanian Light Calvary, they are light Calvary for the reason you stated as well as for the fact that heavy armor was not readily available or adopted as sound military strategy for nation states that were so expansive that they preferred mobility. Also this is cited by many historians to be accurate. Anecdotal, but this is the first I've ever heard to the contrary.
The Light Cavalry was accommodated for fighting in Lithuanian woods and marshes. Therefore it was meaningless to wear full plate body armor, besides that was very expensive. Except 250 Teutons, wealthy guests from Europe/mercenaries and some polish banners (Cracow), I doubt if there were any more knight wearing full metal armor. I agree with no infantry on battlefield... Some knight in the middle of wedge formation were using one hand crossbow, thats true, but "rain of arrows"?
excellent..I always enjoy critics on historic videos ..and that they are NOT DELETED away..it is beneficial to our learning and understanding. Thanx Kamil and thanx HMarche for doing the creative effort..
@@ThroatShredder1087 *"they are light Calvary for the reason you stated as well as for the fact that heavy armor was not readily available"* --- The distinction between light and heavy cavalry is not one of how heavy their armour is but what role did they play on the battlefield and how they fought. We don't have many sources describing this to us in the case of Lithuanian boyars. Equipment however may suggest to us how they fought. What we can say for sure is that Lithuanian boyars were trying to equip themselves with as much protective equipment as possible. They wore a variety of different armours and their combinations like chainmail, lamellar armour, coats of plates, and Rus style helmets. They also used small pavise shields. For the Eastern European standard (everything east of Poland) they are certainly meeting the conditions to call them heavy cavalry. The way Lithuanian troops were employed during the Battle of Grunwald also suggests they were expected to hold the line against Teutonic troops for at least a while. Light cavalry, on the other hand, should skirmish against heavy cavalry, not attack head-on.
Two interesting facts could be added. 8:33 The Polish army was too big to cross the river Vistula unnoticed. However Jagiello managed to do that and surprised Teutons. How? Months earlier he ordered to build parts of floating bridges on Polish territory, once they were ready they were floated down to Teuton lands. Instead of weeks needed to cut new logs and build bridges, everything was done in couple of hours! 11:33 Important notice here, full steel armored Teuton army waited in the devastating hot summer sun, while Polish/Lithuanian army enjoyed shade of the forest for couple of hours. Teutons sent emissaries with two naked swords to encourage Jagiello to start fighting earlier. He just thanked them for swords and was still waiting... till the time Teutons were tired.
@@opatkapiechoty9759 battle started at around 9 AM*. I was pretty sure thats what i had in my book, so i double checked it on wiki and thats what it shows too. I think they had enough time to get tired, especially since those two people who were sent to give swords to poles, told them to stop resting in forest and to strike already, kinda confirming that it was an issue for teutonic army.
@@JacobG4lant i heard yet another interpretation. The day the battle begun was a day when Jesus sent the apostles. Jesus told them to buy 2 swords but not 12 (for each one) in order to defend themselves but not to attack. It was a sort of justification of the battle for the Order. They were not allowed to attack christians. Basically a diplomatic action made in way to insult and enrage Jagiełło.
I knew sooner or later this battle would be covered here. Thank you. Interesting to hear pronunciation of lithuanian and polish commanders. I think you did very well on those.
The biggest clue in the Lithuanian cavalry charge is that they had a Tartar prince among them. That final cavalry charge out of nowhere when the enemy is at the brink of perceived victory is a textbook steppe manoeuvre.
Funny story just before batlle of grundwald, vytautas lost to golden horde at batlle of river vorskla(year 1399) because of exact same maneuver and that's where he learned it. Also this defeat is what caused lithuania to seek alliance with Poland due to heavy losses at this batlle.
" *a textbook steppe manoeuvre* " There was a Lithuanian knight, who went really far with it. Namely, to Vilnius. He arrived first and told everybody that the battle was lost... Basically, I don't buy it. The Lithuanians ran away, Vytautas managed to stop some of the route and counterattacked when it made sense and/or he was able to. Simple. Works.
@@Crazyman12457 " *that's where he learned it* " The Poles were on the brink of collapse. Whether intended or not, this maneuver barely worked. Jogailo himself was in mortal danger, the banner of Krakow was taken. Yet the brilliant Vytautas waited for a more opportune moment to save the day... Fantasy.
The Battle of Grunwald!!! I’m amazed and ashamed that I never learned about this battle when I was a kid, reading my history books!! It was only when I went to Poland as an English teacher, and learned that it is the battle that every Polish person knows the date of (the equivalent of 1066 Battle of Hastings in England or 1314 Battle of Bannockburn in Scotland) It also actually helped me to teach the word “Battle” in the lower level classes: after one disastrous attempt to explain what the word meant (by trying to describe an abstract battle)…the next time I had to teach the word “battle” in a different class, I simply just wrote first 1410, then Grunwald…and they understood the word “Battle” immediately…
Another reason everyone knows date is because it is hidden recipe for vodka. 1410- 1kg of sugar 4l of water 10dag of yeasts. After destilation gives about 1l of 50% vodka
It is not surprising that education in Britain focuses on British history. By the way, Here is an addition to the video! That was obviously a planned feigned retreat of the Lithuanian troops because they manifestly turned around and even destroyed the pursuers. Because there were no Teutonic Order troops who then took part in the battle, but instead the Lithuanian troops, who returned in full strength in good time and then attacked in a coordinated manner. All this makes it clear that this was a successful feigned retreat. Even after the battle, the Poles did not reproach the Lithuanians for what would happen if the Lithuanians had fled. The new Grand Master of the Order was also warned cautioned t to look out for feigned retreats of the kind that had been used in the Great Battle in a letter from German survivors of the battle in a letter written a few years after the battle. What is not mentioned in the video is the fact that there were defeats of the Teutonic Order both against Poland and against Lithuania before this battle and that various defeats after this battle resulted in the Teutonic Order being forced to become a vassal of the Polish king who ruled Poland and Lithuania from which the Polish Empire arose. What was also not mentioned is the fact that first the Teutonic Order exterminated the Baltic old Prussians and then tried the same thing with the population of Grand Duchy of Lithuania. So the Teutonic Order's attempted genocide against the population of the Lithuanian territories, which consisted of Slavic Ruthenians and Balts. For two centuries, the German knights waged a war against the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. They made more than 300 "Reisen" (Journeys) to the Ruthenian and Baltic lands of Grand Duchy of Lithuania. So-called "Reisen" journey raids were genocidal sacking, looting, and pillaging with massacre of the civilian population. These journey raids were also used for slave hunting and cattle were also robbed! It was precisely around that time that the entire swath of land between the Order and Lithuania became a scarcely-inhabited territory. These journey raids mostly took place in winter, because the horses with the heavily armored knights made much better progress in the swampy areas in winter. Always in winter, when the ground was frozen and the knights could easily ride in the swampy areas, there were veritable extermination campaigns. So, for the population of the areas of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, winter was the season of massacres. Almost 300 winter journey raids to lands of Grand Duchy of Lithuania can be verified between 1305 and 1409 using sources So it's not surprising that in Germany in the 30's and 40's the Teutonic Order was one of the models from history that was greatly revered. The Teutons also murdered Poles! For example the Order massacred in 1308 the Polish population of Gdansk! Because of this permanent Teutonic aggression, Poles and Lithuanians have allied against the Order! Poland and Lithuania were 1410 in the personal union! So under the leadership of the King of Poland! 1385 - Union of Krewo - a personal union that brought the Grand Duke of Lithuania, Jogaila, to the Polish throne. After the negotiations in 1385, Jogaila converted to Christianity, married the Polish queen Jadwiga, and was crowned King of Poland in 1386. That was the foundation of the Polish Empire
The Teutonic-Polish-Lithuanian Wars are some of the most interesting conflicts in Eastern European history and I want to study it more in depth but it’s hard to find any good books that focus on this period exclusively. I appreciate you taking the time to make such a great video on this legendary battle!
ThrashingMadPL UA-cam channel made, so far, 5 part series about Grunwald Battle with extensive background history of the Polish-Teutonic war. It is in Polish but perhaps if you make contact with the creator he may suggest to you some relevant bibliography.
Well, there're quite some sources written by Polish authors, but (as usual) they go rather overlooked in western Europe and hence not many (if any) are translated.
If you have the opportunity to visit Malbork's castle (ancient Marienburg) in actual Poland, please just go, it's really amazing. Probably the best castle I have ever visited. And, as a French guy, I think it's a nice witness. Very easy access by train from Gdansk, about 1h to go.
@@jxfwliz5ldnheeg I live in GDA since July, first time (before living here) I went by train because no car and was very cheap and almost the time as by car. Still a nice option for those who want to save money. It's true inside it's pretty empty, not so many furnitures, it's been rebuilt after war (you can see a photo from 1945 and see the huge work they made) but it's still very impressive, architecture massive and interesting, exhibitions and audioguides very nice to me. The area around by the river is perfect for a pleasant walk, so I would recommend it any way for a one-day trip from Gdansk. 🙂
@@bartoszchudzinski8830 yep, it's older and with different style, more with rocks as limestone or granite than bricks :) But because older, not necessarily renovated, so pretty as ruins :/
It is not "actual Poland". It was Poland for 900 years (until the partitions of Poland at the end of the 18th century), and the castle was one of the few main residents of the Polish kings for 500 years, who had rebuilt it and made it more impressive. Even in the times of Teutonic Order (100 years - 13th -14th century) it was Poland (the order got some earth from the prince Konrad Mazowiecki - called Ziemia Chełmińska and formally was s a vassal of the Kingdom of Poland). The castle was destroyed by Soviets in 1945 and rebuilt by Poles,
Wow, the genuine timing on this. Just last night I recalled the moment I visited Poland and saw the battle of Grunwald renactment and now this comes out from my favorite war history channel 👍
wow so happy i found this video! although im asian (Philippines) and nothing knows much about old european cultures but i gotta say im a very big fan of european medieval warfare! this story was very impressive to me but hey im not a violent person lol im just a big fan of medievals. i want more videos of this please! im so willing to listen!
Oh my God this is great, my father gave me a book called "Knights of the cross" by polish author Henryk Sienkiewicz and it's a great book, historical novel and it ends with the battle of grunawld, great read.
It is a great read, however keep in mind that Sienkiewicz wrote it under the dissolved Poland and all of his works about the Commonwealth are mainly written "to warm the hearts", as he stated. So a whole lot of the stuff he wrote is historical fiction, made so to bolster the morale of the poles and make sure the repressed polish history is remembered and documented. They are still great works, if not treated as historical documentaries. And if you like his style, check out the Trilogy. It's pretty good too.
ONE ERROR: it was not whole SQUADRON who attacked king Wladysław Jagiełło, but only ONE KNIGHT, namely Dypold von Köckritz. The king charged at Dypold initially, but it was Zbigniew Oleśnicki, court chancellor, who attacked the German knight sneakily from the side and dismounted him. The King then wounded Dypold's face with his lance and the knight was finished off later on by king courtiers. Zbigniew;s attack has been recognised by other Polish knights as dishonoured one and closed the gates for Oleśnicki knighthood career. Within next years he choose clergy career, finally becoming bishop and then cardinal.
Were you there? I always find it wierd how people on internet are sure that the source from where they learned history is superior than the one used by History Marche when making this video.
@@stroqus3830 Well I hate to break it to you but History Marche did a terrible job with this video so his sources were probably shit. I mean, he makes even to most obvious mistakes like referring to the Polish-Lithuanian Union as Commonwealth which wasn't established yet. As for what @joannita XVI wrote, he is almost entirely correct since it is supported by not one but TWO primary sources describing the battle: Cronica Conflicti and Annales Regni Poloniae.
Today is the same. Polish-Ukrainian partnership is a barier against today's virus.
2 роки тому+130
This battle influenced the Czech yeoman Jan Zizka who became one of the six never defeated military leaders of all times. Funny enough, Jan Zizka achieved his success not with a regular army but with an army made out of peasants.
Some drill, motivation and good tactics and peasants could be dangerous ;) Hussites, Macedonian phalanx, English longbowmen, Swiss pikemen - in their best days, these warriors were deadly for their opponents
Here's a little addition! That was obviously a planned feigned retreat of the Lithuanian troops because they manifestly turned around and even destroyed the pursuers. Because there were no Teutonic Order troops who then took part in the battle, but instead the Lithuanian troops, who returned in full strength in good time and then attacked in a coordinated manner. All this makes it clear that this was a successful feigned retreat. Even after the battle, the Poles did not reproach the Lithuanians for what would happen if the Lithuanians had fled. The new Grand Master of the Order was also warned cautioned t to look out for feigned retreats of the kind that had been used in the Great Battle in a letter from German survivors of the battle in a letter written a few years after the battle. What is not mentioned in the video is the fact that there were defeats of the Teutonic Order both against Poland and against Lithuania before this battle and that various defeats after this battle resulted in the Teutonic Order being forced to become a vassal of the Polish king who ruled Poland and Lithuania from which the Polish Empire arose. What was also not mentioned is the fact that first the Teutonic Order exterminated the Baltic old Prussians and then tried the same thing with the population of Grand Duchy of Lithuania. So the Teutonic Order's attempted genocide against the population of the Lithuanian territories, which consisted of Slavic Ruthenians and Balts. For two centuries, the German knights waged a war against the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. They made more than 300 "Reisen" (Journeys) to the Ruthenian and Baltic lands of Grand Duchy of Lithuania. So-called "Reisen" journey raids were genocidal sacking, looting, and pillaging with massacre of the civilian population. These journey raids were also used for slave hunting and cattle were also robbed! It was precisely around that time that the entire swath of land between the Order and Lithuania became a scarcely-inhabited territory. These journey raids mostly took place in winter, because the horses with the heavily armored knights made much better progress in the swampy areas in winter. Always in winter, when the ground was frozen and the knights could easily ride in the swampy areas, there were veritable extermination campaigns. So, for the population of the areas of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, winter was the season of massacres. Almost 300 winter journey raids to lands of Grand Duchy of Lithuania can be verified between 1305 and 1409 using sources So it's not surprising that in Germany in the 30's and 40's the Teutonic Order was one of the models from history that was greatly revered. The Teutons also murdered Poles! For example the Order massacred in 1308 the Polish population of Gdansk! Because of this permanent Teutonic aggression, Poles and Lithuanians have allied against the Order! Poland and Lithuania were 1410 in the personal union! So under the leadership of the King of Poland! 1385 - Union of Krewo - a personal union that brought the Grand Duke of Lithuania, Jogaila, to the Polish throne. After the negotiations in 1385, Jogaila converted to Christianity, married the Polish queen Jadwiga, and was crowned King of Poland in 1386. That was the foundation of the Polish Empire
Teutonic soldiers were waiting for the Lithuanians and poles to attack in order to avoid a trap but fell into one by staying on the open field in the summer sun while the enemy remained in the shade of the forest.
Not quite. They waited, because they needed the advantage of their guns on open field. Vytautas immediately identified that threat as possibly very dangerous and outcome deciding and destroyed most of their guns in initial charge with light cavalry. Only half lithuanians survived the battle and sacrificed their lives for those guns. Also they made 2/3 of all teutonic forces commit into attacking them, tiring them. The retreat was definitely planned, but got delayed because it took longer than planned to destroy chasing teuton heavy knights in the marches. Jan Žižka, paid personally with Vytautas money through Jogaila, was in position at the forest to support lithuanians and hit teutons in the back from synchronic two sides when they returned from the rout. Germans admitted to their mistake of chasing lithuanians in their chronicles.
@@HenioGracieIt was not about the casualties. The guns main goal is to disrupt formations and break morale. It was a new weapon which made people were very cautious of, their impact unclear. Also horses, which lithuanians and polish had a lot of and which were not pre-trained to ignore cannonballs, could have been scared away from the fight by those guns.
@@ORGAniZMs true about the psychological effect, but they were waiting for over 4 hours, then they sent two bare swords with a massage saying that Teutonic troops will move back so the Polish army may safely enter the open field. I think waiting for bombards wasn't their initial plan
There is also a letter made after the battle where one Teutonic knight warns then current master of the order to avoid fighting on the open field and also charging out of order to prevent such faint retreats and surrounds like in this battle, so it's likely that it was pre-planned.
@@ORGAniZMs Teutons believed it differently as is implied in their letters. It is likely that lithuanians picked up the tactic of feigned retreat from Mongols in their fights against Golden Horde.
It is highly debatable whether Lithuanian cavalry was truly light, as it is often claimed in many coverages here about Grunwald battle. First of all, it is true that the bulk of Lithuanian cavalry in the battle of Grunwald was not heavy knights. The still pagan society of western part of the country and the Slavic part of the central and eastern part of the duchy in the beginning of XV century did not possessed “estate economy”, necessary to support the upkeep the heavy knights formations. Secondly, the military expansion and growth of the GDL in XIV century eastwards required highly mobile cavalry army, in order to cover vast distances over short periods of time and to compete with also very mobile forces of Golden Horde and Slavic states. On the other hands, it is plane suicidal to charge the heavy cavalry formations with only light cavalry head-on. The initial attack of the battle clearly demonstrates that Lithuanians even without true heavy cavalry were able to stand their ground and realize charging tasks. This is in line with Lithuanian warfare in the east, where they always sought close engagements against mongol-tatar and Slavic forces (see battle of the Blue Waters and alike). The main weapon of heavy cavalry of the period in discussion was heavy lance and charging tactics; the main benefit of light cavalry was bow (much less frequently crossbow) and skirmishing tactics. Interestingly, Lithuanians (not to confuse with Slavic forces, also present in GDL army during late medieval) in the medieval period NEVER used bows in battlefields at substantial scale. This is well covered by study of V. Raskevičius “Arbaletas ir lankas Lietuvoje XIII-XVI am.” [“Crossbow and bow in Lithuania in XIII-XVI c.”]. All this points to the idea, that Lithuanian cavalry, being less armored than the teutonic and polish counterparts, was quite well suited and often used in closed combat, experiencing higher mobility and maneuver capabilities at the same time.
Yeah, Lithuanians rarely used bows, though it's not far to assume that this was "light" cavalry Why? Since Lithuanians, like the Romans - favoured the Javelin for their light horses, see "The Battle of Saule" where a Teutonic grand master was killed by a Javelin.
@@RazorsharpLT Lithuanian largely used light cavalry tactics and javelin throwing a hundred years before battle of Grunwald. Even then they did like closed combat, often dismounting their steeds and fighting on foot. Later, during almost constant wars in XIV century, such light cavalry tactics was rendered innefective against heavy cavalry of Order , obsolete and was gradually abandoned. To imagine Lithuanian army in the battle of Grunwald better, I suggest to take three sets of sources into consideration: 1. It is really well documented in multiple sources, that during initial attack right (GDL) wing of allied army was in shock (wedge) formation. 2. Order, in it’s German manner, had excellent documentation of their forces. Let’s take a look into typical Prussian (i.e. Baltic tradition, likely similar to Lithuanian) solder of Order, described by Order officials in 1404: “„Die fryen und dienste sollen iclicher synen harnasch haben II sper und synen schilt und I satilbyel“ (Codex Diplomaticus Prussicus, 1861, S. 179-184, doc. No. 163) - armour (likely not plated), two spears (of them, likely one throw-able javelin), shield and battleaxe. 3. In “Die Staatsschriften des Deutschen Ordens in Preußen im 15 Jahrhundert. Band I: Die Traktate vordem Konstanzer Konzil (1414-1418) über das Rescht des Deutschen Ordens am Lande Preußen. Bearb. v. E. Weise. Göttingen, 1970, S. 107-109”, written during Constanz process between Order and Lithuania, we can find description of Lithuanian gentry heavy cavalry, similar to that of Teutons: “Want die ungloubigen, von den man nu redit, itczunt obirall mit blankem harnisch, mit gerosse und andir kriclichen geczoien mechtig dirscheinen, also das sie in reisen und hofferteger beweisunge den spitczen der cristenlichen heeren nichtes nicht geringer und gecziret werden irfunden und itczunt in der schule der cristen mit tegelicherubunge die konst czu striten, mit welchir konst vorwert mogen die cristen obirwinden, haben gelart”.
"All this points to the idea, that Lithuanian cavalry, being less armored than the teutonic and polish counterparts, was quite well suited and often used in closed combat, experiencing higher mobility and maneuver capabilities at the same time. " Polish? Yes. Teutonic not so much. Teutonic elite and western guests were heavy knights but quite a lot of teutonic troops were armed similar to Lithuanians. Chainmail or coat of plates, eastern helmet, sulica spear, cavalry pavise, battleaxe. Generally Lithuanian troops were significantly heavier than commonly belived and Teutonic quite not heavy.
Here's a little addition! That was obviously a planned feigned retreat of the Lithuanian troops because they manifestly turned around and even destroyed the pursuers. Because there were no Teutonic Order troops who then took part in the battle, but instead the Lithuanian troops, who returned in full strength in good time and then attacked in a coordinated manner. All this makes it clear that this was a successful feigned retreat. Even after the battle, the Poles did not reproach the Lithuanians for what would happen if the Lithuanians had fled. The new Grand Master of the Order was also warned cautioned t to look out for feigned retreats of the kind that had been used in the Great Battle in a letter from German survivors of the battle in a letter written a few years after the battle. What is not mentioned in the video is the fact that there were defeats of the Teutonic Order both against Poland and against Lithuania before this battle and that various defeats after this battle resulted in the Teutonic Order being forced to become a vassal of the Polish king who ruled Poland and Lithuania from which the Polish Empire arose. What was also not mentioned is the fact that first the Teutonic Order exterminated the Baltic old Prussians and then tried the same thing with the population of Grand Duchy of Lithuania. So the Teutonic Order's attempted genocide against the population of the Lithuanian territories, which consisted of Slavic Ruthenians and Balts. For two centuries, the German knights waged a war against the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. They made more than 300 "Reisen" (Journeys) to the Ruthenian and Baltic lands of Grand Duchy of Lithuania. So-called "Reisen" journey raids were genocidal sacking, looting, and pillaging with massacre of the civilian population. These journey raids were also used for slave hunting and cattle were also robbed! It was precisely around that time that the entire swath of land between the Order and Lithuania became a scarcely-inhabited territory. These journey raids mostly took place in winter, because the horses with the heavily armored knights made much better progress in the swampy areas in winter. Always in winter, when the ground was frozen and the knights could easily ride in the swampy areas, there were veritable extermination campaigns. So, for the population of the areas of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, winter was the season of massacres. Almost 300 winter journey raids to lands of Grand Duchy of Lithuania can be verified between 1305 and 1409 using sources So it's not surprising that in Germany in the 30's and 40's the Teutonic Order was one of the models from history that was greatly revered. The Teutons also murdered Poles! For example the Order massacred in 1308 the Polish population of Gdansk! Because of this permanent Teutonic aggression, Poles and Lithuanians have allied against the Order! Poland and Lithuania were 1410 in the personal union! So under the leadership of the King of Poland! 1385 - Union of Krewo - a personal union that brought the Grand Duke of Lithuania, Jogaila, to the Polish throne. After the negotiations in 1385, Jogaila converted to Christianity, married the Polish queen Jadwiga, and was crowned King of Poland in 1386. That was the foundation of the Polish Empire
Before 1410 Lithuanian fought against the Golden Horde. The foe used retreat - counterattack tactics. Lithuanians upon learning the technique used it in 1410 battle. They retreated and some troops of the Tutonic order followed them, after regrouping Lithuanians finished the pursuing enemy and joined the Polish army.
You are overinterpreting some facts in your favour ... main commander of the polish-lithuanian forces was Jogaila and he was very suprised by the sudden attack of Witolds forces and then their retreat as well as some part of the lithuanian army like Smolensks regiments who stood their ground almost to the last man standing. More to say most of the reatreating forces didin't even returned to the battlefield as well as chasing them Teutons. There were some regiments who Witold managed to rout and move back to the battlefield but it wasn't as significant force as shown on the film and it was clearly some tartar influence because none of european knights would do that as an act of dishonour.
Here's a little addition! That was obviously a planned feigned retreat of the Lithuanian troops because they manifestly turned around and even destroyed the pursuers. Because there were no Teutonic Order troops who then took part in the battle, but instead the Lithuanian troops, who returned in full strength in good time and then attacked in a coordinated manner. All this makes it clear that this was a successful feigned retreat. Even after the battle, the Poles did not reproach the Lithuanians for what would happen if the Lithuanians had fled. The new Grand Master of the Order was also warned cautioned t to look out for feigned retreats of the kind that had been used in the Great Battle in a letter from German survivors of the battle in a letter written a few years after the battle. What is not mentioned in the video is the fact that there were defeats of the Teutonic Order both against Poland and against Lithuania before this battle and that various defeats after this battle resulted in the Teutonic Order being forced to become a vassal of the Polish king who ruled Poland and Lithuania from which the Polish Empire arose. What was also not mentioned is the fact that first the Teutonic Order exterminated the Baltic old Prussians and then tried the same thing with the population of Grand Duchy of Lithuania. So the Teutonic Order's attempted genocide against the population of the Lithuanian territories, which consisted of Slavic Ruthenians and Balts. For two centuries, the German knights waged a war against the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. They made more than 300 "Reisen" (Journeys) to the Ruthenian and Baltic lands of Grand Duchy of Lithuania. So-called "Reisen" journey raids were genocidal sacking, looting, and pillaging with massacre of the civilian population. These journey raids were also used for slave hunting and cattle were also robbed! It was precisely around that time that the entire swath of land between the Order and Lithuania became a scarcely-inhabited territory. These journey raids mostly took place in winter, because the horses with the heavily armored knights made much better progress in the swampy areas in winter. Always in winter, when the ground was frozen and the knights could easily ride in the swampy areas, there were veritable extermination campaigns. So, for the population of the areas of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, winter was the season of massacres. Almost 300 winter journey raids to lands of Grand Duchy of Lithuania can be verified between 1305 and 1409 using sources So it's not surprising that in Germany in the 30's and 40's the Teutonic Order was one of the models from history that was greatly revered. The Teutons also murdered Poles! For example the Order massacred in 1308 the Polish population of Gdansk! Because of this permanent Teutonic aggression, Poles and Lithuanians have allied against the Order! Poland and Lithuania were 1410 in the personal union! So under the leadership of the King of Poland! 1385 - Union of Krewo - a personal union that brought the Grand Duke of Lithuania, Jogaila, to the Polish throne. After the negotiations in 1385, Jogaila converted to Christianity, married the Polish queen Jadwiga, and was crowned King of Poland in 1386. That was the foundation of the Polish Empire
@@expert69able Which actually almost happened ... fleeing Lithuanians put a threat on center of united forces which led to falling of the main battle standard and also threat to king itself who was like 100 meters from charging Teutons. Situation was rescued by Polish counterattack and Smolensk forces located near the center. Smolensk forces were under Vytautas command but didn't participated in his "genius manovuer" and stood their ground to the last man suffering huge casualties ... Wonder why ? Because Vytautas was fleeing not manouvering and it is simple as fuck ...
@@baconbaron1776 considering it offers you the possibility to advance, yes it is. If he has a family that won't be enough but better than starving or not doing anything.
At the beginning of the 15th century, there was no Commonwealth as it was still 150+ years away. At that time it was two separate states, the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Also, not mentioning those 2 swords sent by the Grand Master to provoke Władysław made me sad. Good job covering the battle though.
@@ORGAniZMs But it was two separate states still. Lithuanian nobles did what they wanted and poles had no say in that matter. They kept their own currency, army, court and laws and everything. Only the ruling dynasty (Gediminiaiciai) was shared between the two states. Only when Lithuanians were weakened in their wars against Moscovites the union was signed in 1569. It was important date to Ukraine too as thats when Ukraine were given to Poles as a part of that deal that union. Poles differently from lithuanians used heavy hand diplomacy and forced polanisation and religion conversions which did not sit well with Ukraine and the Cossacks started their numerous uprisings but that is the story for another day.
@@gediminaskucinskas6952 Give me a source for Poles forcefully Polonizing Ruthenians, or Lithuanians for that matter. And I'm not talking about Lithuanian and Ruthenian nobles adopting the Polish language and religion, and then forcing that language and religion on their own peasants for prestige, but an example where by law or through violence Polish nobles Polonized Lithuania or Ruthenia. Edit: Btw, Polish nobles had nothing to say in the matter of what the Lithuanian nobles did after the union either, unless it was voted on in the Sejm but in that case the Lithuanian nobles had as much control over the Polish nobles as the Polish over the Lithuanians. And the majority of the pre union institutions in Lithuania remained after 1569.
That is correct. It'd be good to say that Commonwealth was a multilingual country, where dialects of Old Lithuanian and Old Polish were mixing with dialects of Ruthenian, Armenian, Tatar etc. Nobody really cared what language people spoke in differents parts of the domain. And it was a huge territory with very weak central power, dominated by local interests, and that means economically controlled by the nobility. Most of the time people spoke a few languages or spoke pidgin versions if they weren't educated (most of the time actually). Variety has become something of a pillar there, and that even turned into lavish, oriental style of the elites. There was absolutely no drive or even minimal interest to force one language onto a speaker of another one. That is one of the worst cases of "presentism" actually.
Hello from Portugal. LOVE your channel and love the Baltic States (visite only on holydays). Their medieval history is very different of the one of my country but I don´t know why but I feel a "brotherhood " feeling with them. Keep doing great informative videos, and may I return to the Baltic States to learn more of them :)
Here's a little addition! That was obviously a planned feigned retreat of the Lithuanian troops because they manifestly turned around and even destroyed the pursuers. Because there were no Teutonic Order troops who then took part in the battle, but instead the Lithuanian troops, who returned in full strength in good time and then attacked in a coordinated manner. All this makes it clear that this was a successful feigned retreat. Even after the battle, the Poles did not reproach the Lithuanians for what would happen if the Lithuanians had fled. The new Grand Master of the Order was also warned cautioned t to look out for feigned retreats of the kind that had been used in the Great Battle in a letter from German survivors of the battle in a letter written a few years after the battle. What is not mentioned in the video is the fact that there were defeats of the Teutonic Order both against Poland and against Lithuania before this battle and that various defeats after this battle resulted in the Teutonic Order being forced to become a vassal of the Polish king who ruled Poland and Lithuania from which the Polish Empire arose. What was also not mentioned is the fact that first the Teutonic Order exterminated the Baltic old Prussians and then tried the same thing with the population of Grand Duchy of Lithuania. So the Teutonic Order's attempted genocide against the population of the Lithuanian territories, which consisted of Slavic Ruthenians and Balts. For two centuries, the German knights waged a war against the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. They made more than 300 "Reisen" (Journeys) to the Ruthenian and Baltic lands of Grand Duchy of Lithuania. So-called "Reisen" journey raids were genocidal sacking, looting, and pillaging with massacre of the civilian population. These journey raids were also used for slave hunting and cattle were also robbed! It was precisely around that time that the entire swath of land between the Order and Lithuania became a scarcely-inhabited territory. These journey raids mostly took place in winter, because the horses with the heavily armored knights made much better progress in the swampy areas in winter. Always in winter, when the ground was frozen and the knights could easily ride in the swampy areas, there were veritable extermination campaigns. So, for the population of the areas of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, winter was the season of massacres. Almost 300 winter journey raids to lands of Grand Duchy of Lithuania can be verified between 1305 and 1409 using sources So it's not surprising that in Germany in the 30's and 40's the Teutonic Order was one of the models from history that was greatly revered. The Teutons also murdered Poles! For example the Order massacred in 1308 the Polish population of Gdansk! Because of this permanent Teutonic aggression, Poles and Lithuanians have allied against the Order! Poland and Lithuania were 1410 in the personal union! So under the leadership of the King of Poland! 1385 - Union of Krewo - a personal union that brought the Grand Duke of Lithuania, Jogaila, to the Polish throne. After the negotiations in 1385, Jogaila converted to Christianity, married the Polish queen Jadwiga, and was crowned King of Poland in 1386. That was the foundation of the Polish Empire
@@kyyyzee5619 How pathetic insulting others as bed wetters. This is typical of fools who use insults to cover up the fact that their claims are stupid and do not correspond to reality. Including silly chatter of orcs! Only a fool would deny that Poland was an empire. Poland was an empire before the foundation of the Union of Lublin in 1569 and also after it. Of course Poland was an empire. According to the usual definition is an Empire usually a very large in terms of area multi-ethnic state with political and military dominion of one ethnic group. According to this definition was Poland an empire in the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries! This already proves the enormous size of the territory compared to other European countries that the Polish king and the Polish parliament ruled. The Poles were also the political and military dominant ethnic group of this Empire. The Poles ruled over various peoples and 5 different religious groups. So it was a Polish empire, because the Poles were the nation in power. The Poles ruled the other peoples and partially assimilated them. Only one nation was relevant in this empire and that was the Poles. When talking about the Danish Empire, Ghana Empire and Ethiopian Empire, Poland should be called an empire much more! Also a stupid chatter about supposedly equal nations! This claim completely contradicts reality, because there was no such thing as equality between Poles and Lithuanians. The Polish king ruled over the entire empire and later after the founding of the Polish "Rzeczpospolita" with the Imperial Constitution "Nihil novi" of 1505 to the noble republic, the Polish king together with the Polish parliament ruled over the Polish empire. The massive Polonization of the Lithuanians also makes it clear that there was no equality between Poles and Lithuanians, because the Poles were the dominant ethnic group of this empire. Polonization of the Lithuanians is a historical fact. This can also be seen very clearly today in the size of Lithuania compared to Poland. Poland has 5 times the area of Lithuania. One can see the Polonization of the Lithuanians even more clearly in the population comparison. Poland has 14 times more inhabitants than Lithuania. This is so because at an early stage a large part of the Lithuanians were assimilated to Poles after the Polish takeover of Lithuania. For this reason before the World War II, today's Lithuanian capital, Wilno, was a Polish city with a predominantly Polish population. Only 4% of the inhabitants of this city were Lithuanians. It should be noted that before Lithuania was taken over by Poland, this city was the capital of Lithuania. So the former Lithuanian capital Vilnius also became the Polish city of Wilno, which was also inhabited mainly by Poles. So due to the Polishization of Lithuanians, this city became a Polish city. This city is symbolic for all of Lithuania and Lithuanians. Because the city was Polonized like a large part of Lithuania and the Lithuanian population. Unfortunately, after World War II, the overwhelming majority of the Polish urban population was expelled from Wilno city by the Soviets. Poles were also murdered. The Lithuanians assisted the Soviets in this action against the Polish population of Wilno! By the way, this was not a violent Polonization. In any case, the Polonization happened voluntarily. The assimilation of the Lithuanians was favored by several factors. One of the most important factors was the cultural superiority of the Poles. As I have already reported, the Polonized Lithuanian nobility sent their sons to Poland for education. By the way, the oldest university in Lithuania is the University of Vilnius, which was founded in 1579 by the Polish king. The oldest university in Poland is the Jagiellonian University of Karaków founded in 1364 by the polish King Casimir III the Great and by the way, this ist one of the oldest universities in continuous operation in the world. By the way, the official and written language of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania before being taken over by Poland was not the Lithuanian language, which only became a written language in the 16th century, but Ruthenian, an early form of today's Belarusian and Ukrainian languages. Before being taken over by Poland in 1385, the East Slavic language Ruthenian, as most common language, was used as the written language, not Lithuanian. Besides that after Lithuania became part of the Polish Empire in 1385 everywhere the upper class spoke Polish. Only the peasants spoke Lithuanian! In any case, due to the cultural superiority of the Poles, the assimilation was greatly accelerated. This is how more and more Lithuanians want to be Poles! It was just worth becoming a Pole. So in reality, the Polish monarchical noble republic "Rzeczpospolita", like the Kingdom of Poland before it, was the Polish Empire and Lithuania was a part of it ruled by the Poles as dominant ethnic group. It was simply worth becoming a Pole and being part of the dominant ethnic group. It was worth being assimilated by the Poles! Most of Lithuanian nobility were polonized and spoke Polish. The nobility was a role model for the rest of the population and that is why more and more non-nobles spoke Polish. In addition, it was simply worth becoming a Pole, because Poles were in power in the state. Another aspect which accelerated the polonization of Lithuania was the Christian belief. The pagan Lithuanian Grand Duke of Lithuania Jogaila became a Christian by marrying the Polish Queen and thus all of lithuania was considered Christian. But only a fool believes that a country could be Christianized only by marriage and conversion of the ruler. Because there was a Christianization campaign of Lithuania from Poland long before that. Christianity was already known in Lithuania and at least partially established. The conversion of the ruler to Christianity then strengthened the Christianization, but that was definitely not the beginning of the Christianization. Of course, the Polish priests and Polish monks already had influence in the country, they all had helpers who were already learning Polish. Some believers probably also learned Polish through contact with these clergymen! Thus, the Polonization began parallel to the Christianization. Also, Polish traders were already on the move in the country, they also had local helpers who learned Polish. Lithuanian mercenaries fought for Poland and probably also learned Polish. All this was the beginning of the Polonization, which certainly did not start with the Union of Krewo from 1385. Because at the time of the beginning of the Union of Krewo and the beginning of the Polish Empire, the Polonization of Lithuania was already relatively advanced. So the Grand Duke of Lithuania Jogaila who was Polonized to the Polish king Władysław II Jagiełło was certainly not the first Lithuanian to be Polonized, because at that time there were already many Polonized Lithuanians. Lithuanians today call the Union of Krewo of 1385 with which Poland took over Lithuania also the betrayal of the Lithuanian nobility who agreed to this takeover. Shortly after the Union of Krewo in 1385 a significant resolution was that in total 47 selected Lithuanian nobles were adopted by Polish nobles heraldic families and granted Polish coats of arm. This symbolic gesture signified their desire to adopt Polish customs and integrate into Polish society. This was part of Poland's significantly increased Polonization of Lithuania. The Lithuanian nobility let themselves be polonized first, followed by the upper class and middle class and later even the lower classes were partially polonized. The founding of the Rzeczpospolita was in fact the end point of the Polonization of Lithuania. Lithuanians largely abandoned their own traditions, language and culture during the process of assimilation and Polonization. They were replaced by the Polish way of life. The Polish language as well as clothes and style of expression were adopted. Lithuanians became Poles! So today, this phenomenon is often perceived by Lithuanians as national treason. I described the result of the massive polonization above! An almost vanished nation!
@@kyyyzee5619 The Term of the "Rzeczpospolita of two nations" was used when the Rzeczpospolita was founded. But that was just an empty phrase that had nothing to do with reality. The term with the two nations was also not used as the name of the state. In the document establishing the Rzeczpospolita it is stated that by this agreement the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania are an inseparable, undivided entity and a common republic that united both states and nations into one people. But in reality it happened a long time ago due to the Polishization of Lithuanians. The term of the Rzeczpospolita of two nations was used very rarely. The term with the two nations was also not used as the name of the state. Used in international treaties and diplomacy, the state has been called the most serene ( most high) Rzeczpospolita Poland. Its residents simply referred it in the everyday language as Rzeczpospolita or Poland occasionally also the crown. In the document establishing the Rzeczpospolita it is stated that "by this agreement the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania are an inseparable, undivided entity and a common republic that united both states and nations into one people" So that contradicts this term with both nations. In any case, it all makes it clear that this absurd talk about an alleged Rzeczpospolita of two nations is completely superfluous because it doesn't contradict historical reality. This was in fact a Polish empire and a Polish state and definitely not a kind of legal basis for the equality and equal status of Poles and Lithuanians as the wrong term Commonwealth or the Rzeczpospolita of two nations suggests. To use this terms is nonsensical, as it suggests a kind of equality that did not exist! Incidentally, the first documented with the use of the term Rzeczpospolit as a designation of the Polish state can be found in Maćka Borkowica's act of allegiance, for the Polish king Kazimierz the Great on 16. February 1358 in the town of Sieradz. At that time Lithuania was not yet united with Poland at all! So the Polisch term Rzeczpospolit was the name for Poland even then. The treaty of Krewo for personal union of Poland with Lithuania in 1385 was the first step in Poland's takeover of Lithuania. This union was declared indissoluble. This personal union meant that the Polish king should also be the ruler of Lithuania. In fact, the union treaty also contained the provision of the attaching of Lithuanian and Ruthenian lands to the Polish Crown. This happened because the Poles were in power! Incidentally, there were also a total of 3 Polish Rzeczpospolitas, which also makes it clear that this is primarily a Polish state was. Properly called Polish Rzeczpospolitas by Poles, not incorrect Polish Lithuanian Rzeczpospolitas. That is why Poles today call their three republics: I Rzeczpospolita, II Rzeczpospolita and III Rzeczpospolita. Because that was always Poland! The Lithuanians don't also have the term Rzeczpospolita in their state name becuase that was a Polisch Rzeczpospolita. In reality, the Rzeczpospolita, like the Kingdom of Poland before it, was the Polish Empire and Lithuania was a part of it ruled by the Poles as dominant ethnic group.
@@GreatPolishWingedHussars Bull's crap, which you think is a theory, is not a theory :) The republic of both nations was a real state, with parliament where poles and lithuanians had equal rights, with ethmones, etc., in which the Polish language was dominant. Yes, the Republic was called the Crown, but in Lithuania it was not called Poland - the Lithuanian nobles were particularly dissatisfied with that, but it was difficult to fight against it. In fact, no one even paid attention - these were Lithuanians who spoke Lithuanian, but were able to communicate in Polish as well. The republic of both nations was not created due to the Polonization of Lithuanians, but due to the increase of common threats (as you know, Muscovy). Your whole theory about the empire is only a Polish theory, which is not recognized as the Kingdom of Poland that ruled Lithuania. Lithuania and Poland united by their own will, this great state was ruled by a family of nobles from Lithuania. So stop dreaming your polish chauvinistic wet dreams and come back to reality. Yes, Polonization was a reality, many Lithuanians who considered themselves Lithuanian spoke Polish (even my great-grandmother spoke), but she was Lithuanian and considered herself Lithuanian. In any case, your position about the empire and the Lithuanian people under it is a discrepancy in your imagination. It's like saying that the Austro-Hungarian Empire was just the Austrian Empire. This is not true. And the truth always wins. There is no point in continuing.
That was totally a Riders of Rohan moment at the end. Also I think it was planned. If they fled trying to get that many soldiers morale up that fast is almost impossible. Thousands of troops just don't randomly pull it together in an instant.
The greatest narrator voice ive ever heard. When i read dense material, i try to channel this narrators voice to keep it interesting. Great vid as always!
@@reinercreekman let's see how you react when surrounded and the people you have fought with are getting cut down. It takes nerves of steel to stay focused and continue to fight without just giving up that takes true courage
Duh, it’s kinda like US-Americans and the great battles of their civil war / the revolutionary war. After all, it became deeply engraved into both Polish and Lithuanian culture. It defined the era in the region. As a result, Poland got access to the sea and later the commonwealth and the crusaders were removed as a political power in the area.
@@ceasarby1033 But the first battle (1508) or the second battle (1514)? Because my ancestors and your ancestors defeated Moscow in this place twice. The third time (1564), the Muscovites simply fled the battle.
@@ceasarby1033 While Poland "inherited" the wars with Moscow from Lithuania, since it joined those wars, the vast majority of battles were won despite the overwhelming number of the enemy. These few lost battles were mainly due to the significant numerical superiority of the opponent. We won together: Toropec (1580), Mohylew (1581), Kluszyn (1610), Carowe Zajmiszcze (1610), Smoleńsk (1634), Nowa Woda (1654), Szklow (1654), Jezierna (1655), Ochmatow (1655), Konotop (1659), Lubar (1660), Cudnow (1660), Polonka (1660), Slobodyszcze (1660), Kuszliki (1661), Witebsk (1664) and so on. It is possible, my Fellow, that we will go to Moscow again, and then arranged a barbecue in the Red Square.
Vytautas was skilled commander and good learner. He used attack and retreat tacticts before and adopted it from lost battle vs Mongolians. Also Ulrich in the letter was warned about this tactic, but looks like didn't listen. I hope we will get much more great content like this from Eastern Europe
Vytautas was a genius politician, not necesarilly a military comamander. He delegated the military command to several nobles and distant members of his family.
Something the Poles liked to keep to themselves: "Throughout the 15th and early 16th century the Lithuanians had stolen a march on the poles generally by electing their Grand Duke as they were allowed to under a treaty of 1413 on the death of the previous Grand Duke, which meant that if the poles wish to continue the union they had to then elect the Grand Duke as King of Poland...
Lithuanian history in particular is very underrated. What was once the largest state in Europe, as well as the last pagan state in Europe, is rarely talked about nowadays unless it's in conjunction with Poland :(
One drawback of this battle is the date - it makes medieval reenactors stand in the open in plate armors literally in the middle of July. Heatstroke is no joke.
That Smolensk guys were the real MVP's for standing their ground and avoid encirclement. Also, as it said previously, about Lithuanians retreat, it is said that Vytautas did faint retreat learning from battle against Mongols where he suffered great losses. It's more like "hit and run" tactics which worked and Teutonic knights chased them in to the woods. Being "light" cavalry (it's not exactly true, they had armor on themselves but not as heavy as Teutonic knights) they encircle them in forest terain and killed the chasers. After that, they regrouped to deal the final blow into Teutonic rear.
It's also said that the Lithuanians actually did rout, but their commander was able to rally the men after a while. This was possible because the guest crusaders were unused to hunting down comparatively light cavalry (comparatively, in actually the Lithuanians we're something closer to a medium cavalry). The result was that the more numerous routed men overwhelmed the fewer crusaders.
Smolensk also had revolted from being a Lithuanian vassal after the disastrous (for Lithuanian army) battle of Vorskla against the Golden Horde in 1399. After regaining control of Lithuania from tatar raids, Vytautas subjugated and actually incorporated Smolensk into GDL in 1405(?). So looking cynically- in the battle of Grunwald a few years later, Smolenk troops got 'a chance to prove their loyalty'- and if they died, then there were less troops to revolt again..
Battle of the Vorskla River was the battle in witch Vytautas The Great witnessed fake retreat from tartars and lost the battle ( thats the only battle he ever lost ) so it is very doubtfull that Lithuanians just ran away from teutons
Again with this myth, both the Lithuanian and Teutonic forces were familiar with the tactic of a fake retreat as they both used it themselves in previous small scale engagements, they did not learn it from the battle of Vorska River. And it is not doubtfully they just ran away when you take into consideration the heavy casualties they suffered at the hands of the Teutonic forces, then the retreat is very believable, and I doubt they deliberately let there forces suffer casualties just to make the retreat look authentic.
Fantastic video HistoryMarche! *Here is my sacrifice to the Gods of the algorithm:* I firmly believe that this channel truly makes some of the best content about military history, from the exceptional presentation of the content, to the fantastic visuals and the great writing. Have a nice weekend, you deserve it!
As a Pole, we learn a lot of this battle at school. This is one of the most pivotal moment in the Polish history. I like how you provide context and additional details i didn't know about (and i am a history buff)
Can we all give a moment to appreciate this man’s dedication and talent to bring us quality videos about history. Beautifully narrated and easy to follow. Also I would personally love more videos about Germany in the Middle Ages and farther back. Well done
Funnily enough my family comes from Bobrowniki and the castle still stands, its is a ruin with remains of a tower and just a heap of bricks. Bobrowniki meanwhile lost their importance and turned into very small village with one or two stores and aging population. Barely anyone knows about it but people passionate about castles and ruins. Its a nice location, with a great view onto vistula river. Before the dam was constructed the castle was on an island, maybe the only reason locals didn't scavenge it for bricks completely over the centuries.
I remember being at the Grunwald site and monument with my grandparents as a boy. It’s quite the sight to picture what must have happened that day. It’s is definitely one of the top ten Polish battles of all time. Thanks for the video!👌🏼
I wasn't familiar with this battle, so I was pretty curious to see it unfold to mark the decline of the Teutonic Order. For a good part it seemed Ulrich was going to win this, but the return of the Lithuanian cavalry wrecked everything. It sort of reminds me of Zama. The Roman / Numidian cavalry had basically taken themselves out of the battle. Hannibal matched Scipio's lines and things were at a stalemate. But the cavalry returned and crashed decisively into Hannibal's rear, which was the decisive blow in getting the victory for Scipio.
To all those interested from abroad, the Battle of Grunwald and Poland's relations with the Teutonic Knights, I recommend Henryk Sienkiewicz's book "The Teutonic Knights" (Sienkiewicz is a Nobel laureate in literature). The book has been published in 50 languages, so it won't be hard to find it. This is of course a novel, prose, but based on historical facts, it reads with a dropped jaw. Enjoy reading! Regards
@@affernbrotgkg Propaganda, naive man, was created by the "Gehlen Organization", aimed at whitewashing Germany of its crimes against humanity, i.e. murdering tens of millions of people, looting, ruining, human tears. If the Germans of WWII are called "Nazis", then why aren't the Americans liberating Europe called Roosevelt Boys or Truman Boys, or why isn't it said that the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were dropped by the Democrats??? Logic is a science that, using perception, allows us to understand various aspects of life and the relationships that surround us. It should be followed if we want to correctly read the world around us. Netflix, twitter, tik tok, games and CNN scramble your brains and turn off your logic. One should also be interested in history, but true history not distorted by the German "(non)Nazis
As a Pole, I want to add smth - its not clear to us, but its believed by many historicians that Lithuanians made a planned retreat, and it was all a part of a plan to spread enemy forces and at the same time - to lure Teutons to a trap. as I said - its not clear, there are several sources about that battle, and they differ in details. But theory about planned retreat and placing a trap is quite possible, because of presence of experienced and quite tallented commanders at the Commonwealth`s side.
I swear, the polish-lithuanian army has so many great commanders (Wladislaw, Vytautas, Zawisa, Jalaladin, Alexander and Zizka) that it makes it look like a medieval version of the Avengers Edit: wow thank you for the likes.
@@Johnny3Batony they were heavily outnumbered I’m not white nor German and even I can see the Teutons would have won had it not been for the outnumbered army
There is small mistake in 6:26 - Bydgoszcz is misset. It should be to the north of Bobrowniki (Bydgoszcz is set between Brda and Vistula river). Settelment that you placed Bydgoszcz is Gniezno.
Seeing so many views on that topic i strongly recomend to cover battle of Kirholm 27.09.1605 or Kluszyn 4.07.1610. those are ready for hollywood movie. Much more dramatic and heroic than Greek Thermopile
While I am SO thankful of the quality of your work, I am surprised I did not find any battle related to the Castilla & Aragon kingdom. Especially the fall of Granada or something similar. Thank you again for this incredible work. Keep it up!
Urlich was killed by Mszczuj from Skrzynna :) not in the middle of the battle :) Mszczuj was elite knight and was knowing in Poland because he won some knights tournaments :) And u forgot about Zawisza Czarny, one of the best knight in Europe :)
Lithuanian retreat was textbook manoeuvre for light cavalry in steppe terrain, they quickly attacked, then quickly retreated, Teutonic knights were heavy and slow with full plate armour making pursuit idiotic and exactly as planned, then Lithuanians easily outflanked and picked-off pursuing units before returning to the battlefield, outflanking main element of Teutonic Kings and surrounding them, ultimately decapitating the leadership and winning the battle. I don't know who can even debate that, it was well known tactic, Lithuanian were known to do faint retreats, they were known to be very agile and fast on flanks, polish brought mostly heavy cavalry which was suitable to hold battle formation better, playing clearly into pre-planned tactic. This story of Lithuanians just running away and then miraculously gaining back composure 2 hours later just doesn't make sense. Somebody is forgetting they were being pursued, so at very least they should have dealt with some of the best armed and trained knights in that time. As such realistically they never left the battle, but took that battle far enough away so that it would look that way for Teutonic reserves and fool them in committing all they had for false hope of victory. There is not such thing as "regaining composure" in medieval times and then re-entering the battlefield as organised formation , this is only possible if it was pre-planned and it is only possible if Lithuanians first beaten their pursuers. So this was clearly masterful, pre-planned faint, executed perfectly to the smallest detail, not only by Lithuanians, but as well by leadership of combined armies, where units were used in the way most suitable to their abilities and achieving absolute most they could achieve in circumstances. Including small details, like committing heavy cavalry late, so that it could be in better shape to stay out fighting when light cavalry is fainting retreat, staying in the shade of the forest, waiting long to tire the enemy in the sun, fainting the attack, then fainting the retreating on pre-planned routes, luring knights into swamps, dealing with knights, then reorganising into formation and re-entering battle. That all was done in times where people didn't even have clocks, so believing it was just accident and luck is unrealistic. Or else one has to believe that it was blind luck, which worked out perfectly dozen times in a row and in multiple battles!
@@Ghreinos pursuit - yes. Kind of surprising that it worked out to be honest. But it worked for quite a few times for Lithuanians. May be cultural thing for knights as well - like they could not believe somebody would faint the attack/retreat, as for them was all honour and fighting honourably, so they probably could not comprehend such move.
@@povilas.gadliauskas I am pretty sure it was used by both mongols and against mongols. I would not say this is specifically tactic he learned from mongols, but rather tactic used by light cavalry in general and/or against heavy cavalry or other slower heavily armoured troops like knights. Perhaps it could be argued that tactic was "perfected" during the battles with mongols. In either case it was definitely pre-planned tactic - not merely running away into the forest and then miraculously killing all the pursuing knights and within hours forming back into formation to return onto battlefield.
Pronunciation of polish and lithuanian names must be very difficult. And You almost made it :) Thanks for the documentary, I like the style and aesthetics of Your clips very much.
dlatego głównie używają germańskich nazw tudzież łacińskich, jak Samogitia, Marienburg itd. bo łatwiej im wymówić Co niestety prowadzi do częstego przekonania że te ziemie oryginalnie były germańskie skoro mają germańskie nazwy. Podobnie z Konigsbergiem, Thorn, Karaunick itd.
Samogitia has access to Baltic sea. Grand Duchy of Lithuania did not hold land on Black sea by 1400. Tatars pushed them back. Defeat at Vorskla river was one of reasons for Vytautas "selling" again Samogitia to crusaders around that time.
There is a theory that King Jagiełło of Poland, who was a Lithuanian, deliberately delayed attacking the capital of the Teutonic Knights after the battle. In agreement with Lithuania, Jagiełło wanted the Teutonic Knights to survive, which would give meaning to the Polish-Lithuanian alliance.
One of my most favorite battles of history! The ruthless knights of the Teutonic Order, Conqueror knights building a nation for themselves!. Lithuania, fighting for survival with grim determination! Once allied to the teutonic now battered and regretful, Poland, which must face the demons it unleashed! 40000 vs 30000 one big battle to decide the fate and history of Eastern Europe. Back and forth battle progression. Number, quality, strategy all in one!
Vincent Gurbacki Eh? I thought that title goes to the Russian general’s bodyguard unit. They body everyone with barely any casualties and the only ones that get even close are Middle East culture bodyguard units and Western culture Bodyguard units.
Teutonic Knights are one of my favorite things to learn about, even though I know the outcome of this battle, I still will watch every single one of these over and over again.
@@kamilszadkowski8864 They are only genocidal in Polish nationalist historiography. But according to Polish nationalists all their opponents are genocidal.
@@ijh867zter6 Yeah, "Polish nationalist historiography" suuuure. Then you can easily prove this by citing them right? Moreover, I am sure they are not at all genocidal in Lithuanian, Belarusian, Latvian or Russian historiography. Just Polish.
@@kamilszadkowski8864 Because some of us understand why, for instance Poland, used to portray them this way. After all, Poland was partitioned and polish intellectuals used this medical order to criticise both the tsarist and royal Prussian rule during this period. And because we actually look not the entire relationship between the holy orders, Poland and Lithuania and the locals. The idea that the Teutonic order was somehow specifically evil for instance disregards that Poland itself ( a literal member of the actual Piast dynasty )had requested their services, knowing well that they were a militaristic order. ”In 1226, Konrad I, Duke of Masovia in north-eastern Poland, appealed to the Knights to defend his borders and subdue the pagan Baltic Old Prussians, allowing the Teutonic Knights use of Chełmno Land as a base for their campaign. This being a time of widespread crusading fervor throughout Western Europe, Hermann von Salza considered Prussia a good training ground for his knights for the wars against the Muslims in Outremer.[15] With the Golden Bull of Rimini, Emperor Frederick II bestowed on the Order a special imperial privilege for the conquest and possession of Prussia, including Chełmno Land, with nominal papal sovereignty. In 1235 the Teutonic Knights assimilated the smaller Order of Dobrzyń, which had been established earlier by Christian, the first Bishop of Prussia.” This is medieval Europe, not some fairy tale land with monsters and saints.
As a Lithuanian I was waiting for a video like this. It was the greatest time for Lithuania. And as well the greatest battle (Žalgirio mūšis) of our history. It was a peak of Lithuanians...
It's great time for Poland and I'm pround of that alliance as Polish. It's was big mistake when Konrad Mazowiecki invite teutonų riteriai to our land. They should distroy them when they were weaknes.
A good commander. We always imagine these big schemes but it’s just as possible that they were beaten, fled and were then rallied because the nobles leading them understood what was at stake and were very good at conveying the importance to stay and fight. The main reason why I doubt the feint retreat idea is that the Poles held the line, risking an encirclement. That seemed more like desperation on their end, not like a coordinated plan.
Thanks curiosity stream pages...also allot respect and love for history Marche....most informative history interests especially first times I heard a statement ( toutonic order)...thanks for sharing
As a Citizen of Koronowo it was really interesting to watch this video, because I knew many of The facts but still got to know something more. Great video 😉
Thank you for providing the context to the war. This was definitely missing from many history books, which mostly focused on the battle itself and the subsequent aborted siege.
There is one big error 0:15 Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (Rzeczposplity Obojga Narodów) was created by Union of Lublin in 1569. At the time of 1400 Poland and Lithuania were ally and king of Poland Władysław II Jagiełło and grand duke of Lithuania Witold Kiejstutowicz were cousins.
More correct- it was a Personal Union (a situation when two countries have the same king), refreshed all the way to 1569. During the Vytautas-Jogaila period, this relationship was contested by Vytautas, but, in the end, he did not manage to make Lithuania fully sovereign again, and it stayed the junior partner in personal union, even if just nominally, during his rule.
One correction for the Polish language subtitles: Peace of Thorn in 1411 was mentioned literally as "thorned peace" - "Pokój Cierniowy" which is an error. It should be just "pokój toruński" or "pierwszy pokój toruński" - "1st peace of Thorn".
What strange alternate history being shown here. Where's the Grand Principality of Reikland? Kislev is also worryingly missing! Some Tzeentchian sorcery is afoot, I say! Kidding aside, it's nice to learn about ACTUAL history with these videos, so thank you for that. The animations and overview maps are very helpful, and I greatly appreciate also the inclusion of events leading up to a particular battle as it gives great context and better understanding of a given situation. Good stuff HistoryMarche, in my unlearned eyes :)
Provide a reference, please. There are records of SOME Lithuanians retreating ALL THE WAY HOME. If this was a "planned" feigned retreat...why didn't EVERYONE turn around???
@@tadasklimas9188 If I remember correctly the very union almost ended on three occasions and there was aborted by the middle and low money nobility attempt at secession during the Deluge, war with the Swedish Empire
🚩 Go to bit.ly/thld_cs_historymarche and use code HISTORYMARCHE to save 25% off today. Thanks to Curiosity Stream for sponsoring today’s video.
🚩 The Battle of Grunwald was one of medieval Europe's most bloodiest battles. Polish-Lithuanian victory broke the Teutonic Order, marking the end of the order's expansion along the southeastern coast of the Baltic Sea and the beginning of the decline of its power.
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No new video on the hannibal series? 😰
Hey I whod suggest you ma,e a video about king david the fourth the builder when you'll find time for it but please if you read this and are going to include in your plans reply so I dont annoy you I dont want to be an annoyance
do about basiani battle
Sad black Templar noises intensifies
Mr Author, what are Your souces here? Please explain how come ONE duel of King Jogailla with departed from the main formation single knight was prolonged fight of kings banner?
Again, i would ask You for the sources, because You went way off with this one. Most notably You portrait this battle as nearly won by Teutonic Order, while there was no chance of winning it from about 3rd hour of fighting, when the initial heavy cavalry charge of Kinghts failed.
Also this altilery thing was so innacurate and so primitive at the time, that it had loterally NO effect on the course of battle.
I have a feeling that the narrative in this video is a bit rushed as it skipped over a few important details, like Poles swiftly crossing the Vistula river using a pontoon bridge which caught Teutons completely off guard. There is also no mention of the command structure of either side. The composition and size of the armies were largely omitted. The terms of the peace of Thorn were mostly glossed over as well.
There are also a couple of minor and major mistakes like:
9:52 *(...) stood the Lithuanians made mostly of light cavalry* --- This must be the most often repeated mistake about this battle. Lithuanian cavalry wasn't "light" cavalry. They used less protective equipment because Lithuanians were poorer and had lesser access to good western plate armor. Thus you could say they were lightER than their Polish or Teutonic counterparts. That doesn't mean they acted as light cavalry. They still used a wide array of protective equipment. The only light cavalry in this battle were the Tatars.
11:55 *Although not too efficient, the artillery fire was enough to provoke an attack by the Lithuanian cavalry* --- First time ever I encounter such an interpretation of the events. Polish-Lithuanian Army was outside of the range of Teutonic bombards until it emerged from the woods and began the attack.
13:35 *Czech mercenaries nearly broke and fled but were stopped by their commanders* --- No, they DID flee but were stopped near the Polish camp, not by their commanders but by the Polish deputy chancellor Mikołaj Trąba. After being reprimanded by him, they returned to the battlefield.
15:22 *The target of this attack was none other than the King himself* --- Except Teutons didn't even know where Władysław was. He was not the intended target. The intended target was the flank of the Polish army. Teutons literally marched past the Polish King's retinue unknowing that they had a chance to kill or capture the enemy leader. All except one Teutonic Knight - Dypold von Kökeritz who recognized Władysław Jagiełło and left his banner to charge alone at the king. Suffice to say he did not succeed.
16:32 *Ulrik found himself surrounded* --- Nah, most likely he was already dead at this point. The Teutonic reserve led by Ulrich was met by the Great Banner of Cracow and sources claim most of the Teutonic leadership was killed in the initial clash.
Finally, my biggest gripe. You show Teutonic infantry being deployed and taking part in the battle from the very beginning. The Battle of Grunwald was a cavalry battle. The infantry didn't play any role until storming the fortified camp of the Teutonic army. Which was also omitted in the video.
Every single video about this battle from youtubers is different, but all repeat the old cliche "Lithuania light cavalry", thanks for pointing that out.
I agree with everything you said except for your first point about Lithuanian Light Calvary, they are light Calvary for the reason you stated as well as for the fact that heavy armor was not readily available or adopted as sound military strategy for nation states that were so expansive that they preferred mobility.
Also this is cited by many historians to be accurate. Anecdotal, but this is the first I've ever heard to the contrary.
The Light Cavalry was accommodated for fighting in Lithuanian woods and marshes. Therefore it was meaningless to wear full plate body armor, besides that was very expensive. Except 250 Teutons, wealthy guests from Europe/mercenaries and some polish banners (Cracow), I doubt if there were any more knight wearing full metal armor. I agree with no infantry on battlefield...
Some knight in the middle of wedge formation were using one hand crossbow, thats true, but "rain of arrows"?
excellent..I always enjoy critics on historic videos ..and that they are NOT DELETED away..it is beneficial to our learning and understanding.
Thanx Kamil and thanx HMarche for doing the creative effort..
@@ThroatShredder1087 *"they are light Calvary for the reason you stated as well as for the fact that heavy armor was not readily available"* --- The distinction between light and heavy cavalry is not one of how heavy their armour is but what role did they play on the battlefield and how they fought. We don't have many sources describing this to us in the case of Lithuanian boyars.
Equipment however may suggest to us how they fought. What we can say for sure is that Lithuanian boyars were trying to equip themselves with as much protective equipment as possible. They wore a variety of different armours and their combinations like chainmail, lamellar armour, coats of plates, and Rus style helmets. They also used small pavise shields. For the Eastern European standard (everything east of Poland) they are certainly meeting the conditions to call them heavy cavalry.
The way Lithuanian troops were employed during the Battle of Grunwald also suggests they were expected to hold the line against Teutonic troops for at least a while. Light cavalry, on the other hand, should skirmish against heavy cavalry, not attack head-on.
Two interesting facts could be added.
8:33 The Polish army was too big to cross the river Vistula unnoticed. However Jagiello managed to do that and surprised Teutons. How? Months earlier he ordered to build parts of floating bridges on Polish territory, once they were ready they were floated down to Teuton lands. Instead of weeks needed to cut new logs and build bridges, everything was done in couple of hours!
11:33 Important notice here, full steel armored Teuton army waited in the devastating hot summer sun, while Polish/Lithuanian army enjoyed shade of the forest for couple of hours. Teutons sent emissaries with two naked swords to encourage Jagiello to start fighting earlier. He just thanked them for swords and was still waiting... till the time Teutons were tired.
The second point is incorrect. The battle started around 7 A.M how would they get fatigued in such a short period of time?
@@opatkapiechoty9759 battle started at around 9 AM*. I was pretty sure thats what i had in my book, so i double checked it on wiki and thats what it shows too. I think they had enough time to get tired, especially since those two people who were sent to give swords to poles, told them to stop resting in forest and to strike already, kinda confirming that it was an issue for teutonic army.
@@JacobG4lant i heard yet another interpretation. The day the battle begun was a day when Jesus sent the apostles. Jesus told them to buy 2 swords but not 12 (for each one) in order to defend themselves but not to attack. It was a sort of justification of the battle for the Order. They were not allowed to attack christians. Basically a diplomatic action made in way to insult and enrage Jagiełło.
@@opatkapiechoty9759 i have never heard of it but its interesting. It does make some sense too
I think pontoon bridge was built in Lithuania
I knew sooner or later this battle would be covered here. Thank you. Interesting to hear pronunciation of lithuanian and polish commanders. I think you did very well on those.
False retreat is a classic tatar nomad tactic
It was not false retreat, it was a tactical retreat. The diference is, that all of lithuanian army routed, and the counterattack was very slow.
Ugh. The Polish is horrible.
@@AndrewBlucher Certainly not. It's not native, it's not great, but it's good by today's "standards".
@@Kneorlan Your standards. Polish pronunciation is pretty easy, since it's completely phonetic. You just have to care enough to try.
"Far too long have I rested in the shade. Now is the time to draw my dread blade."
-Zawisza the Black
Zawisza was really badass, there is interesting real story about small incident in Rome when pope Martin V was running away from him 😂
He also beat the best knight in Europe in a duel.@@wojciechkopec9728
The Teutonic Order were proto Nazis
The biggest clue in the Lithuanian cavalry charge is that they had a Tartar prince among them. That final cavalry charge out of nowhere when the enemy is at the brink of perceived victory is a textbook steppe manoeuvre.
I was thinking the same thing if you have commanders from the golden horde you might as well use their tactics
Funny story just before batlle of grundwald, vytautas lost to golden horde at batlle of river vorskla(year 1399) because of exact same maneuver and that's where he learned it. Also this defeat is what caused lithuania to seek alliance with Poland due to heavy losses at this batlle.
Wow, if you only were there!! I bet you could've saved the battle and even conquered EVROPA!!!
" *a textbook steppe manoeuvre* "
There was a Lithuanian knight, who went really far with it. Namely, to Vilnius. He arrived first and told everybody that the battle was lost...
Basically, I don't buy it. The Lithuanians ran away, Vytautas managed to stop some of the route and counterattacked when it made sense and/or he was able to.
Simple. Works.
@@Crazyman12457 " *that's where he learned it* "
The Poles were on the brink of collapse. Whether intended or not, this maneuver barely worked. Jogailo himself was in mortal danger, the banner of Krakow was taken.
Yet the brilliant Vytautas waited for a more opportune moment to save the day...
Fantasy.
Jan Zizka was at Grünwald and Ajincourt before the Hussites even started. Crazy life this guy had…
I don't think he was at Azincourt.
@@AndrewFrancisIlyrian it’s not about what you think, it’s a historical fact. Google it
Jan Ziska was a great Protestant warrior who was never defeated in battle
The Battle of Grunwald!!! I’m amazed and ashamed that I never learned about this battle when I was a kid, reading my history books!!
It was only when I went to Poland as an English teacher, and learned that it is the battle that every Polish person knows the date of (the equivalent of 1066 Battle of Hastings in England or 1314 Battle of Bannockburn in Scotland)
It also actually helped me to teach the word “Battle” in the lower level classes: after one disastrous attempt to explain what the word meant (by trying to describe an abstract battle)…the next time I had to teach the word “battle” in a different class, I simply just wrote first 1410, then Grunwald…and they understood the word “Battle” immediately…
Another reason everyone knows date is because it is hidden recipe for vodka. 1410- 1kg of sugar 4l of water 10dag of yeasts. After destilation gives about 1l of 50% vodka
@@michalacpl moonshine!!! 😅 (Bimber)
It is not surprising that education in Britain focuses on British history. By the way, Here is an addition to the video! That was obviously a planned feigned retreat of the Lithuanian troops because they manifestly turned around and even destroyed the pursuers. Because there were no Teutonic Order troops who then took part in the battle, but instead the Lithuanian troops, who returned in full strength in good time and then attacked in a coordinated manner. All this makes it clear that this was a successful feigned retreat. Even after the battle, the Poles did not reproach the Lithuanians for what would happen if the Lithuanians had fled. The new Grand Master of the Order was also warned cautioned t to look out for feigned retreats of the kind that had been used in the Great Battle in a letter from German survivors of the battle in a letter written a few years after the battle.
What is not mentioned in the video is the fact that there were defeats of the Teutonic Order both against Poland and against Lithuania before this battle and that various defeats after this battle resulted in the Teutonic Order being forced to become a vassal of the Polish king who ruled Poland and Lithuania from which the Polish Empire arose.
What was also not mentioned is the fact that first the Teutonic Order exterminated the Baltic old Prussians and then tried the same thing with the population of Grand Duchy of Lithuania. So the Teutonic Order's attempted genocide against the population of the Lithuanian territories, which consisted of Slavic Ruthenians and Balts. For two centuries, the German knights waged a war against the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. They made more than 300 "Reisen" (Journeys) to the Ruthenian and Baltic lands of Grand Duchy of Lithuania. So-called "Reisen" journey raids were genocidal sacking, looting, and pillaging with massacre of the civilian population. These journey raids were also used for slave hunting and cattle were also robbed! It was precisely around that time that the entire swath of land between the Order and Lithuania became a scarcely-inhabited territory. These journey raids mostly took place in winter, because the horses with the heavily armored knights made much better progress in the swampy areas in winter. Always in winter, when the ground was frozen and the knights could easily ride in the swampy areas, there were veritable extermination campaigns. So, for the population of the areas of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, winter was the season of massacres. Almost 300 winter journey raids to lands of Grand Duchy of Lithuania can be verified between 1305 and 1409 using sources So it's not surprising that in Germany in the 30's and 40's the Teutonic Order was one of the models from history that was greatly revered. The Teutons also murdered Poles! For example the Order massacred in 1308 the Polish population of Gdansk! Because of this permanent Teutonic aggression, Poles and Lithuanians have allied against the Order! Poland and Lithuania were 1410 in the personal union! So under the leadership of the King of Poland! 1385 - Union of Krewo - a personal union that brought the Grand Duke of Lithuania, Jogaila, to the Polish throne. After the negotiations in 1385, Jogaila converted to Christianity, married the Polish queen Jadwiga, and was crowned King of Poland in 1386. That was the foundation of the Polish Empire
@@GreatPolishWingedHussars Bravo !
The Teutonic-Polish-Lithuanian Wars are some of the most interesting conflicts in Eastern European history and I want to study it more in depth but it’s hard to find any good books that focus on this period exclusively.
I appreciate you taking the time to make such a great video on this legendary battle!
Just play the teuton dlc for total war medieval 2 and create your own history
thank you we crushed the biggest medival power on the east
ThrashingMadPL UA-cam channel made, so far, 5 part series about Grunwald Battle with extensive background history of the Polish-Teutonic war. It is in Polish but perhaps if you make contact with the creator he may suggest to you some relevant bibliography.
There's a ton of books on this, unfortunately most im German od Polish. Try Hartmut Boockmann or Marian Biskup for a starter, also Sven Ekdahl.
Well, there're quite some sources written by Polish authors, but (as usual) they go rather overlooked in western Europe and hence not many (if any) are translated.
Na Polské straně bojoval český rytíř Jan Sokol z Lamberka a neporazitelný vojevůdce Jan Žižka
Pravda.
Jan Sokol was a leader of czech mercaneries and he surely took a part in the battle but we don't have evidence that Jan Žižka was at the Grunwald.
Pozdrowienia z polski dla czeskich braci!
Prawda
There is no proof Jan Žižka was there. But he was at service for Jagiełło.
If you have the opportunity to visit Malbork's castle (ancient Marienburg) in actual Poland, please just go, it's really amazing. Probably the best castle I have ever visited. And, as a French guy, I think it's a nice witness. Very easy access by train from Gdansk, about 1h to go.
@@jxfwliz5ldnheeg I live in GDA since July, first time (before living here) I went by train because no car and was very cheap and almost the time as by car. Still a nice option for those who want to save money.
It's true inside it's pretty empty, not so many furnitures, it's been rebuilt after war (you can see a photo from 1945 and see the huge work they made) but it's still very impressive, architecture massive and interesting, exhibitions and audioguides very nice to me.
The area around by the river is perfect for a pleasant walk, so I would recommend it any way for a one-day trip from Gdansk. 🙂
I think in France is a lot of old, beautiful castles, like in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
@@bartoszchudzinski8830 yep, it's older and with different style, more with rocks as limestone or granite than bricks :)
But because older, not necessarily renovated, so pretty as ruins :/
It is not "actual Poland". It was Poland for 900 years (until the partitions of Poland at the end of the 18th century), and the castle was one of the few main residents of the Polish kings for 500 years, who had rebuilt it and made it more impressive. Even in the times of Teutonic Order (100 years - 13th -14th century) it was Poland (the order got some earth from the prince Konrad Mazowiecki - called Ziemia Chełmińska and formally was s a vassal of the Kingdom of Poland). The castle was destroyed by Soviets in 1945 and rebuilt by Poles,
I was just there two weeks ago. Incredible castle and history. Malbork is definitely a must visit if you're in the area.
Teutonic Polish border on the initial map is pretty inaccurate. You have handed Teutons big parts of Mazovia :)
Wow, the genuine timing on this. Just last night I recalled the moment I visited Poland and saw the battle of Grunwald renactment and now this comes out from my favorite war history channel 👍
Grunwald was the probably the largest battle in medieval Europe's history.
And the most epic
The siege of Constantinople and the followed battles were having clearly more participants there if u count Constantinople as battle ofc
It wasn't in terms of pure numbers of soldiers present but possibly if we include the participants of the battle
Not even close
@@samscopeproductionz Give examples, not just say ,,no"
Worth to mention that it was the biggest battle in medieval century
Nope. The biggest was probably the battle of Vorskla.
Google says that the battle of grunwald was the biggest in medieval Europe
@@Polish-Onion Bitwa pod Worsklą była prawdopodobnie największa.
@@plrc4593 według Wikipedia pod worsklą walczyło pomiędzy 38-90tyś a pod grunwaldem okokł 50tyś więc jest to możliwe
@@Polish-Onion xd przedział od 0 do miliona. Z takimi informacjami to tej bitwy równie dobrze mogło nie być.
wow so happy i found this video! although im asian (Philippines) and nothing knows much about old european cultures but i gotta say im a very big fan of european medieval warfare! this story was very impressive to me but hey im not a violent person lol im just a big fan of medievals. i want more videos of this please! im so willing to listen!
Oh my God this is great, my father gave me a book called "Knights of the cross" by polish author Henryk Sienkiewicz and it's a great book, historical novel and it ends with the battle of grunawld, great read.
Oh yes Iwan, its classic book that every Polish kid is supposed to read in school :D
that's true, however both states proclaimed Union few times in the past
Иван Баров Sienkiewicz's book is only a story. and the battle depicted in it is total nonsense
It is a great read, however keep in mind that Sienkiewicz wrote it under the dissolved Poland and all of his works about the Commonwealth are mainly written "to warm the hearts", as he stated. So a whole lot of the stuff he wrote is historical fiction, made so to bolster the morale of the poles and make sure the repressed polish history is remembered and documented. They are still great works, if not treated as historical documentaries. And if you like his style, check out the Trilogy. It's pretty good too.
It is indeed.
مقاطع اسطورية 👑♥️ احترام من بغداد 🇮🇶.العراق.
ONE ERROR: it was not whole SQUADRON who attacked king Wladysław Jagiełło, but only ONE KNIGHT, namely Dypold von Köckritz. The king charged at Dypold initially, but it was Zbigniew Oleśnicki, court chancellor, who attacked the German knight sneakily from the side and dismounted him. The King then wounded Dypold's face with his lance and the knight was finished off later on by king courtiers. Zbigniew;s attack has been recognised by other Polish knights as dishonoured one and closed the gates for Oleśnicki knighthood career. Within next years he choose clergy career, finally becoming bishop and then cardinal.
from one profitable field to another.
@@semregob3363 And now he abides in Catholic Heaven.
Were you there?
I always find it wierd how people on internet are sure that the source from where they learned history is superior than the one used by History Marche when making this video.
@@stroqus3830 Well I hate to break it to you but History Marche did a terrible job with this video so his sources were probably shit. I mean, he makes even to most obvious mistakes like referring to the Polish-Lithuanian Union as Commonwealth which wasn't established yet.
As for what @joannita XVI wrote, he is almost entirely correct since it is supported by not one but TWO primary sources describing the battle: Cronica Conflicti and Annales Regni Poloniae.
I dont think it was "sneakily"
Our Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was the best "pill" on west-east viruses.
Damn straight
Viva Poland 🇵🇱 ♥️
You what m8
Niech żyje Polska!!!
Today is the same. Polish-Ukrainian partnership is a barier against today's virus.
This battle influenced the Czech yeoman Jan Zizka who became one of the six never defeated military leaders of all times. Funny enough, Jan Zizka achieved his success not with a regular army but with an army made out of peasants.
Some drill, motivation and good tactics and peasants could be dangerous ;) Hussites, Macedonian phalanx, English longbowmen, Swiss pikemen - in their best days, these warriors were deadly for their opponents
Here's a little addition! That was obviously a planned feigned retreat of the Lithuanian troops because they manifestly turned around and even destroyed the pursuers. Because there were no Teutonic Order troops who then took part in the battle, but instead the Lithuanian troops, who returned in full strength in good time and then attacked in a coordinated manner. All this makes it clear that this was a successful feigned retreat. Even after the battle, the Poles did not reproach the Lithuanians for what would happen if the Lithuanians had fled. The new Grand Master of the Order was also warned cautioned t to look out for feigned retreats of the kind that had been used in the Great Battle in a letter from German survivors of the battle in a letter written a few years after the battle.
What is not mentioned in the video is the fact that there were defeats of the Teutonic Order both against Poland and against Lithuania before this battle and that various defeats after this battle resulted in the Teutonic Order being forced to become a vassal of the Polish king who ruled Poland and Lithuania from which the Polish Empire arose.
What was also not mentioned is the fact that first the Teutonic Order exterminated the Baltic old Prussians and then tried the same thing with the population of Grand Duchy of Lithuania. So the Teutonic Order's attempted genocide against the population of the Lithuanian territories, which consisted of Slavic Ruthenians and Balts. For two centuries, the German knights waged a war against the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. They made more than 300 "Reisen" (Journeys) to the Ruthenian and Baltic lands of Grand Duchy of Lithuania. So-called "Reisen" journey raids were genocidal sacking, looting, and pillaging with massacre of the civilian population. These journey raids were also used for slave hunting and cattle were also robbed! It was precisely around that time that the entire swath of land between the Order and Lithuania became a scarcely-inhabited territory. These journey raids mostly took place in winter, because the horses with the heavily armored knights made much better progress in the swampy areas in winter. Always in winter, when the ground was frozen and the knights could easily ride in the swampy areas, there were veritable extermination campaigns. So, for the population of the areas of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, winter was the season of massacres. Almost 300 winter journey raids to lands of Grand Duchy of Lithuania can be verified between 1305 and 1409 using sources So it's not surprising that in Germany in the 30's and 40's the Teutonic Order was one of the models from history that was greatly revered. The Teutons also murdered Poles! For example the Order massacred in 1308 the Polish population of Gdansk! Because of this permanent Teutonic aggression, Poles and Lithuanians have allied against the Order! Poland and Lithuania were 1410 in the personal union! So under the leadership of the King of Poland! 1385 - Union of Krewo - a personal union that brought the Grand Duke of Lithuania, Jogaila, to the Polish throne. After the negotiations in 1385, Jogaila converted to Christianity, married the Polish queen Jadwiga, and was crowned King of Poland in 1386. That was the foundation of the Polish Empire
@@GreatPolishWingedHussars Molto interessante, grazie.
Who were the other five?
How about Svejk?
Teutonic soldiers were waiting for the Lithuanians and poles to attack in order to avoid a trap but fell into one by staying on the open field in the summer sun while the enemy remained in the shade of the forest.
True
Not quite. They waited, because they needed the advantage of their guns on open field. Vytautas immediately identified that threat as possibly very dangerous and outcome deciding and destroyed most of their guns in initial charge with light cavalry. Only half lithuanians survived the battle and sacrificed their lives for those guns. Also they made 2/3 of all teutonic forces commit into attacking them, tiring them. The retreat was definitely planned, but got delayed because it took longer than planned to destroy chasing teuton heavy knights in the marches. Jan Žižka, paid personally with Vytautas money through Jogaila, was in position at the forest to support lithuanians and hit teutons in the back from synchronic two sides when they returned from the rout. Germans admitted to their mistake of chasing lithuanians in their chronicles.
@@ORGAniZMs what are You talking about, these guns were so innacurate that the made hardy any casualties.
@@HenioGracieIt was not about the casualties. The guns main goal is to disrupt formations and break morale. It was a new weapon which made people were very cautious of, their impact unclear. Also horses, which lithuanians and polish had a lot of and which were not pre-trained to ignore cannonballs, could have been scared away from the fight by those guns.
@@ORGAniZMs true about the psychological effect, but they were waiting for over 4 hours, then they sent two bare swords with a massage saying that Teutonic troops will move back so the Polish army may safely enter the open field. I think waiting for bombards wasn't their initial plan
Vytautas the Great learner from the Mongols. They used a feigned retest to lure him into a trap earlier, and he used the same trick here.
*Tatars who were mainly Kipchak ethnically
Yes, typo.
There is also a letter made after the battle where one Teutonic knight warns then current master of the order to avoid fighting on the open field and also charging out of order to prevent such faint retreats and surrounds like in this battle, so it's likely that it was pre-planned.
Wrong, it was a forced tactical retreat. Many lithuanians died initialy fighting the heavy knights.
@@ORGAniZMs Teutons believed it differently as is implied in their letters. It is likely that lithuanians picked up the tactic of feigned retreat from Mongols in their fights against Golden Horde.
It is highly debatable whether Lithuanian cavalry was truly light, as it is often claimed in many coverages here about Grunwald battle. First of all, it is true that the bulk of Lithuanian cavalry in the battle of Grunwald was not heavy knights. The still pagan society of western part of the country and the Slavic part of the central and eastern part of the duchy in the beginning of XV century did not possessed “estate economy”, necessary to support the upkeep the heavy knights formations. Secondly, the military expansion and growth of the GDL in XIV century eastwards required highly mobile cavalry army, in order to cover vast distances over short periods of time and to compete with also very mobile forces of Golden Horde and Slavic states.
On the other hands, it is plane suicidal to charge the heavy cavalry formations with only light cavalry head-on. The initial attack of the battle clearly demonstrates that Lithuanians even without true heavy cavalry were able to stand their ground and realize charging tasks. This is in line with Lithuanian warfare in the east, where they always sought close engagements against mongol-tatar and Slavic forces (see battle of the Blue Waters and alike).
The main weapon of heavy cavalry of the period in discussion was heavy lance and charging tactics; the main benefit of light cavalry was bow (much less frequently crossbow) and skirmishing tactics. Interestingly, Lithuanians (not to confuse with Slavic forces, also present in GDL army during late medieval) in the medieval period NEVER used bows in battlefields at substantial scale. This is well covered by study of V. Raskevičius “Arbaletas ir lankas Lietuvoje XIII-XVI am.” [“Crossbow and bow in Lithuania in XIII-XVI c.”].
All this points to the idea, that Lithuanian cavalry, being less armored than the teutonic and polish counterparts, was quite well suited and often used in closed combat, experiencing higher mobility and maneuver capabilities at the same time.
Yeah, Lithuanians rarely used bows, though it's not far to assume that this was "light" cavalry
Why? Since Lithuanians, like the Romans - favoured the Javelin for their light horses, see "The Battle of Saule" where a Teutonic grand master was killed by a Javelin.
@@RazorsharpLT Lithuanian largely used light cavalry tactics and javelin throwing a hundred years before battle of Grunwald. Even then they did like closed combat, often dismounting their steeds and fighting on foot. Later, during almost constant wars in XIV century, such light cavalry tactics was rendered innefective against heavy cavalry of Order , obsolete and was gradually abandoned.
To imagine Lithuanian army in the battle of Grunwald better, I suggest to take three sets of sources into consideration:
1. It is really well documented in multiple sources, that during initial attack right (GDL) wing of allied army was in shock (wedge) formation.
2. Order, in it’s German manner, had excellent documentation of their forces. Let’s take a look into typical Prussian (i.e. Baltic tradition, likely similar to Lithuanian) solder of Order, described by Order officials in 1404: “„Die fryen und dienste sollen iclicher synen harnasch haben II sper und synen schilt und I satilbyel“ (Codex Diplomaticus Prussicus, 1861, S. 179-184, doc. No. 163) - armour (likely not plated), two spears (of them, likely one throw-able javelin), shield and battleaxe.
3. In “Die Staatsschriften des Deutschen Ordens in Preußen im 15 Jahrhundert. Band I: Die Traktate vordem Konstanzer Konzil (1414-1418) über das Rescht des Deutschen Ordens am Lande Preußen. Bearb. v. E. Weise. Göttingen, 1970, S. 107-109”, written during Constanz process between Order and Lithuania, we can find description of Lithuanian gentry heavy cavalry, similar to that of Teutons: “Want die ungloubigen, von den man nu redit, itczunt obirall mit blankem harnisch, mit gerosse und andir kriclichen geczoien mechtig dirscheinen, also das sie in reisen und hofferteger beweisunge den spitczen der cristenlichen heeren nichtes nicht geringer und gecziret werden irfunden und itczunt in der schule der cristen mit tegelicherubunge die konst czu striten, mit welchir konst vorwert mogen die cristen obirwinden, haben gelart”.
"All this points to the idea, that Lithuanian cavalry, being less armored than the teutonic and polish counterparts, was quite well suited and often used in closed combat, experiencing higher mobility and maneuver capabilities at the same time. "
Polish? Yes. Teutonic not so much. Teutonic elite and western guests were heavy knights but quite a lot of teutonic troops were armed similar to Lithuanians. Chainmail or coat of plates, eastern helmet, sulica spear, cavalry pavise, battleaxe. Generally Lithuanian troops were significantly heavier than commonly belived and Teutonic quite not heavy.
Here's a little addition! That was obviously a planned feigned retreat of the Lithuanian troops because they manifestly turned around and even destroyed the pursuers. Because there were no Teutonic Order troops who then took part in the battle, but instead the Lithuanian troops, who returned in full strength in good time and then attacked in a coordinated manner. All this makes it clear that this was a successful feigned retreat. Even after the battle, the Poles did not reproach the Lithuanians for what would happen if the Lithuanians had fled. The new Grand Master of the Order was also warned cautioned t to look out for feigned retreats of the kind that had been used in the Great Battle in a letter from German survivors of the battle in a letter written a few years after the battle.
What is not mentioned in the video is the fact that there were defeats of the Teutonic Order both against Poland and against Lithuania before this battle and that various defeats after this battle resulted in the Teutonic Order being forced to become a vassal of the Polish king who ruled Poland and Lithuania from which the Polish Empire arose.
What was also not mentioned is the fact that first the Teutonic Order exterminated the Baltic old Prussians and then tried the same thing with the population of Grand Duchy of Lithuania. So the Teutonic Order's attempted genocide against the population of the Lithuanian territories, which consisted of Slavic Ruthenians and Balts. For two centuries, the German knights waged a war against the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. They made more than 300 "Reisen" (Journeys) to the Ruthenian and Baltic lands of Grand Duchy of Lithuania. So-called "Reisen" journey raids were genocidal sacking, looting, and pillaging with massacre of the civilian population. These journey raids were also used for slave hunting and cattle were also robbed! It was precisely around that time that the entire swath of land between the Order and Lithuania became a scarcely-inhabited territory. These journey raids mostly took place in winter, because the horses with the heavily armored knights made much better progress in the swampy areas in winter. Always in winter, when the ground was frozen and the knights could easily ride in the swampy areas, there were veritable extermination campaigns. So, for the population of the areas of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, winter was the season of massacres. Almost 300 winter journey raids to lands of Grand Duchy of Lithuania can be verified between 1305 and 1409 using sources So it's not surprising that in Germany in the 30's and 40's the Teutonic Order was one of the models from history that was greatly revered. The Teutons also murdered Poles! For example the Order massacred in 1308 the Polish population of Gdansk! Because of this permanent Teutonic aggression, Poles and Lithuanians have allied against the Order! Poland and Lithuania were 1410 in the personal union! So under the leadership of the King of Poland! 1385 - Union of Krewo - a personal union that brought the Grand Duke of Lithuania, Jogaila, to the Polish throne. After the negotiations in 1385, Jogaila converted to Christianity, married the Polish queen Jadwiga, and was crowned King of Poland in 1386. That was the foundation of the Polish Empire
Before 1410 Lithuanian fought against the Golden Horde. The foe used retreat - counterattack tactics. Lithuanians upon learning the technique used it in 1410 battle. They retreated and some troops of the Tutonic order followed them, after regrouping Lithuanians finished the pursuing enemy and joined the Polish army.
You are overinterpreting some facts in your favour ... main commander of the polish-lithuanian forces was Jogaila and he was very suprised by the sudden attack of Witolds forces and then their retreat as well as some part of the lithuanian army like Smolensks regiments who stood their ground almost to the last man standing. More to say most of the reatreating forces didin't even returned to the battlefield as well as chasing them Teutons. There were some regiments who Witold managed to rout and move back to the battlefield but it wasn't as significant force as shown on the film and it was clearly some tartar influence because none of european knights would do that as an act of dishonour.
@@naczelnyrabin7011 who da fuck is witold? history knows only VYTAUTAS.
Here's a little addition! That was obviously a planned feigned retreat of the Lithuanian troops because they manifestly turned around and even destroyed the pursuers. Because there were no Teutonic Order troops who then took part in the battle, but instead the Lithuanian troops, who returned in full strength in good time and then attacked in a coordinated manner. All this makes it clear that this was a successful feigned retreat. Even after the battle, the Poles did not reproach the Lithuanians for what would happen if the Lithuanians had fled. The new Grand Master of the Order was also warned cautioned t to look out for feigned retreats of the kind that had been used in the Great Battle in a letter from German survivors of the battle in a letter written a few years after the battle.
What is not mentioned in the video is the fact that there were defeats of the Teutonic Order both against Poland and against Lithuania before this battle and that various defeats after this battle resulted in the Teutonic Order being forced to become a vassal of the Polish king who ruled Poland and Lithuania from which the Polish Empire arose.
What was also not mentioned is the fact that first the Teutonic Order exterminated the Baltic old Prussians and then tried the same thing with the population of Grand Duchy of Lithuania. So the Teutonic Order's attempted genocide against the population of the Lithuanian territories, which consisted of Slavic Ruthenians and Balts. For two centuries, the German knights waged a war against the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. They made more than 300 "Reisen" (Journeys) to the Ruthenian and Baltic lands of Grand Duchy of Lithuania. So-called "Reisen" journey raids were genocidal sacking, looting, and pillaging with massacre of the civilian population. These journey raids were also used for slave hunting and cattle were also robbed! It was precisely around that time that the entire swath of land between the Order and Lithuania became a scarcely-inhabited territory. These journey raids mostly took place in winter, because the horses with the heavily armored knights made much better progress in the swampy areas in winter. Always in winter, when the ground was frozen and the knights could easily ride in the swampy areas, there were veritable extermination campaigns. So, for the population of the areas of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, winter was the season of massacres. Almost 300 winter journey raids to lands of Grand Duchy of Lithuania can be verified between 1305 and 1409 using sources So it's not surprising that in Germany in the 30's and 40's the Teutonic Order was one of the models from history that was greatly revered. The Teutons also murdered Poles! For example the Order massacred in 1308 the Polish population of Gdansk! Because of this permanent Teutonic aggression, Poles and Lithuanians have allied against the Order! Poland and Lithuania were 1410 in the personal union! So under the leadership of the King of Poland! 1385 - Union of Krewo - a personal union that brought the Grand Duke of Lithuania, Jogaila, to the Polish throne. After the negotiations in 1385, Jogaila converted to Christianity, married the Polish queen Jadwiga, and was crowned King of Poland in 1386. That was the foundation of the Polish Empire
@@naczelnyrabin7011 That is just an interpretation that you like. The fact is that if Vytautas did not return may end the polish flank.
@@expert69able Which actually almost happened ... fleeing Lithuanians put a threat on center of united forces which led to falling of the main battle standard and also threat to king itself who was like 100 meters from charging Teutons. Situation was rescued by Polish counterattack and Smolensk forces located near the center. Smolensk forces were under Vytautas command but didn't participated in his "genius manovuer" and stood their ground to the last man suffering huge casualties ... Wonder why ? Because Vytautas was fleeing not manouvering and it is simple as fuck ...
Was at Marienburg (Malbork Castle) in 2019, such a huge castle, gorgeous too! Took lots of pictures.
Recently just lost my job of 16 years but honestly this always brings a little light into my heart
good luck getting a new job
Unless you really need big money: game tester and work from home, lulz.
@@baconbaron1776 considering it offers you the possibility to advance, yes it is. If he has a family that won't be enough but better than starving or not doing anything.
Dang. Sorry to hear that man. Thanks for taking the time to stop by!
At the beginning of the 15th century, there was no Commonwealth as it was still 150+ years away. At that time it was two separate states, the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Also, not mentioning those 2 swords sent by the Grand Master to provoke Władysław made me sad. Good job covering the battle though.
Jogaila was Vytautas cousin. The both states were very interconnected even bofore formal creation of commonwealth.
@@ORGAniZMs But it was two separate states still. Lithuanian nobles did what they wanted and poles had no say in that matter. They kept their own currency, army, court and laws and everything. Only the ruling dynasty (Gediminiaiciai) was shared between the two states. Only when Lithuanians were weakened in their wars against Moscovites the union was signed in 1569. It was important date to Ukraine too as thats when Ukraine were given to Poles as a part of that deal that union. Poles differently from lithuanians used heavy hand diplomacy and forced polanisation and religion conversions which did not sit well with Ukraine and the Cossacks started their numerous uprisings but that is the story for another day.
@@gediminaskucinskas6952 It was always seperate states. Even during commonwealth.
@@gediminaskucinskas6952 Give me a source for Poles forcefully Polonizing Ruthenians, or Lithuanians for that matter. And I'm not talking about Lithuanian and Ruthenian nobles adopting the Polish language and religion, and then forcing that language and religion on their own peasants for prestige, but an example where by law or through violence Polish nobles Polonized Lithuania or Ruthenia.
Edit: Btw, Polish nobles had nothing to say in the matter of what the Lithuanian nobles did after the union either, unless it was voted on in the Sejm but in that case the Lithuanian nobles had as much control over the Polish nobles as the Polish over the Lithuanians. And the majority of the pre union institutions in Lithuania remained after 1569.
That is correct. It'd be good to say that Commonwealth was a multilingual country, where dialects of Old Lithuanian and Old Polish were mixing with dialects of Ruthenian, Armenian, Tatar etc. Nobody really cared what language people spoke in differents parts of the domain. And it was a huge territory with very weak central power, dominated by local interests, and that means economically controlled by the nobility. Most of the time people spoke a few languages or spoke pidgin versions if they weren't educated (most of the time actually). Variety has become something of a pillar there, and that even turned into lavish, oriental style of the elites. There was absolutely no drive or even minimal interest to force one language onto a speaker of another one. That is one of the worst cases of "presentism" actually.
Excellent video on a subject that is NEVER discussed in the anglosphere!
Hello from Portugal. LOVE your channel and love the Baltic States (visite only on holydays). Their medieval history is very different of the one of my country but I don´t know why but I feel a "brotherhood " feeling with them. Keep doing great informative videos, and may I return to the Baltic States to learn more of them :)
Here's a little addition! That was obviously a planned feigned retreat of the Lithuanian troops because they manifestly turned around and even destroyed the pursuers. Because there were no Teutonic Order troops who then took part in the battle, but instead the Lithuanian troops, who returned in full strength in good time and then attacked in a coordinated manner. All this makes it clear that this was a successful feigned retreat. Even after the battle, the Poles did not reproach the Lithuanians for what would happen if the Lithuanians had fled. The new Grand Master of the Order was also warned cautioned t to look out for feigned retreats of the kind that had been used in the Great Battle in a letter from German survivors of the battle in a letter written a few years after the battle.
What is not mentioned in the video is the fact that there were defeats of the Teutonic Order both against Poland and against Lithuania before this battle and that various defeats after this battle resulted in the Teutonic Order being forced to become a vassal of the Polish king who ruled Poland and Lithuania from which the Polish Empire arose.
What was also not mentioned is the fact that first the Teutonic Order exterminated the Baltic old Prussians and then tried the same thing with the population of Grand Duchy of Lithuania. So the Teutonic Order's attempted genocide against the population of the Lithuanian territories, which consisted of Slavic Ruthenians and Balts. For two centuries, the German knights waged a war against the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. They made more than 300 "Reisen" (Journeys) to the Ruthenian and Baltic lands of Grand Duchy of Lithuania. So-called "Reisen" journey raids were genocidal sacking, looting, and pillaging with massacre of the civilian population. These journey raids were also used for slave hunting and cattle were also robbed! It was precisely around that time that the entire swath of land between the Order and Lithuania became a scarcely-inhabited territory. These journey raids mostly took place in winter, because the horses with the heavily armored knights made much better progress in the swampy areas in winter. Always in winter, when the ground was frozen and the knights could easily ride in the swampy areas, there were veritable extermination campaigns. So, for the population of the areas of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, winter was the season of massacres. Almost 300 winter journey raids to lands of Grand Duchy of Lithuania can be verified between 1305 and 1409 using sources So it's not surprising that in Germany in the 30's and 40's the Teutonic Order was one of the models from history that was greatly revered. The Teutons also murdered Poles! For example the Order massacred in 1308 the Polish population of Gdansk! Because of this permanent Teutonic aggression, Poles and Lithuanians have allied against the Order! Poland and Lithuania were 1410 in the personal union! So under the leadership of the King of Poland! 1385 - Union of Krewo - a personal union that brought the Grand Duke of Lithuania, Jogaila, to the Polish throne. After the negotiations in 1385, Jogaila converted to Christianity, married the Polish queen Jadwiga, and was crowned King of Poland in 1386. That was the foundation of the Polish Empire
Portugest are Sueves, and have Slav accent.
@@kyyyzee5619 How pathetic insulting others as bed wetters. This is typical of fools who use insults to cover up the fact that their claims are stupid and do not correspond to reality. Including silly chatter of orcs! Only a fool would deny that Poland was an empire. Poland was an empire before the foundation of the Union of Lublin in 1569 and also after it. Of course Poland was an empire. According to the usual definition is an Empire usually a very large in terms of area multi-ethnic state with political and military dominion of one ethnic group. According to this definition was Poland an empire in the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries! This already proves the enormous size of the territory compared to other European countries that the Polish king and the Polish parliament ruled. The Poles were also the political and military dominant ethnic group of this Empire. The Poles ruled over various peoples and 5 different religious groups. So it was a Polish empire, because the Poles were the nation in power. The Poles ruled the other peoples and partially assimilated them. Only one nation was relevant in this empire and that was the Poles. When talking about the Danish Empire, Ghana Empire and Ethiopian Empire, Poland should be called an empire much more!
Also a stupid chatter about supposedly equal nations! This claim completely contradicts reality, because there was no such thing as equality between Poles and Lithuanians. The Polish king ruled over the entire empire and later after the founding of the Polish "Rzeczpospolita" with the Imperial Constitution "Nihil novi" of 1505 to the noble republic, the Polish king together with the Polish parliament ruled over the Polish empire. The massive Polonization of the Lithuanians also makes it clear that there was no equality between Poles and Lithuanians, because the Poles were the dominant ethnic group of this empire. Polonization of the Lithuanians is a historical fact. This can also be seen very clearly today in the size of Lithuania compared to Poland. Poland has 5 times the area of Lithuania. One can see the Polonization of the Lithuanians even more clearly in the population comparison. Poland has 14 times more inhabitants than Lithuania. This is so because at an early stage a large part of the Lithuanians were assimilated to Poles after the Polish takeover of Lithuania. For this reason before the World War II, today's Lithuanian capital, Wilno, was a Polish city with a predominantly Polish population. Only 4% of the inhabitants of this city were Lithuanians. It should be noted that before Lithuania was taken over by Poland, this city was the capital of Lithuania. So the former Lithuanian capital Vilnius also became the Polish city of Wilno, which was also inhabited mainly by Poles. So due to the Polishization of Lithuanians, this city became a Polish city. This city is symbolic for all of Lithuania and Lithuanians. Because the city was Polonized like a large part of Lithuania and the Lithuanian population. Unfortunately, after World War II, the overwhelming majority of the Polish urban population was expelled from Wilno city by the Soviets. Poles were also murdered. The Lithuanians assisted the Soviets in this action against the Polish population of Wilno!
By the way, this was not a violent Polonization. In any case, the Polonization happened voluntarily. The assimilation of the Lithuanians was favored by several factors. One of the most important factors was the cultural superiority of the Poles. As I have already reported, the Polonized Lithuanian nobility sent their sons to Poland for education. By the way, the oldest university in Lithuania is the University of Vilnius, which was founded in 1579 by the Polish king. The oldest university in Poland is the Jagiellonian University of Karaków founded in 1364 by the polish King Casimir III the Great and by the way, this ist one of the oldest universities in continuous operation in the world. By the way, the official and written language of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania before being taken over by Poland was not the Lithuanian language, which only became a written language in the 16th century, but Ruthenian, an early form of today's Belarusian and Ukrainian languages. Before being taken over by Poland in 1385, the East Slavic language Ruthenian, as most common language, was used as the written language, not Lithuanian. Besides that after Lithuania became part of the Polish Empire in 1385 everywhere the upper class spoke Polish. Only the peasants spoke Lithuanian! In any case, due to the cultural superiority of the Poles, the assimilation was greatly accelerated. This is how more and more Lithuanians want to be Poles! It was just worth becoming a Pole. So in reality, the Polish monarchical noble republic "Rzeczpospolita", like the Kingdom of Poland before it, was the Polish Empire and Lithuania was a part of it ruled by the Poles as dominant ethnic group. It was simply worth becoming a Pole and being part of the dominant ethnic group. It was worth being assimilated by the Poles! Most of Lithuanian nobility were polonized and spoke Polish. The nobility was a role model for the rest of the population and that is why more and more non-nobles spoke Polish. In addition, it was simply worth becoming a Pole, because Poles were in power in the state.
Another aspect which accelerated the polonization of Lithuania was the Christian belief. The pagan Lithuanian Grand Duke of Lithuania Jogaila became a Christian by marrying the Polish Queen and thus all of lithuania was considered Christian. But only a fool believes that a country could be Christianized only by marriage and conversion of the ruler. Because there was a Christianization campaign of Lithuania from Poland long before that. Christianity was already known in Lithuania and at least partially established. The conversion of the ruler to Christianity then strengthened the Christianization, but that was definitely not the beginning of the Christianization. Of course, the Polish priests and Polish monks already had influence in the country, they all had helpers who were already learning Polish. Some believers probably also learned Polish through contact with these clergymen! Thus, the Polonization began parallel to the Christianization. Also, Polish traders were already on the move in the country, they also had local helpers who learned Polish. Lithuanian mercenaries fought for Poland and probably also learned Polish. All this was the beginning of the Polonization, which certainly did not start with the Union of Krewo from 1385. Because at the time of the beginning of the Union of Krewo and the beginning of the Polish Empire, the Polonization of Lithuania was already relatively advanced. So the Grand Duke of Lithuania Jogaila who was Polonized to the Polish king Władysław II Jagiełło was certainly not the first Lithuanian to be Polonized, because at that time there were already many Polonized Lithuanians.
Lithuanians today call the Union of Krewo of 1385 with which Poland took over Lithuania also the betrayal of the Lithuanian nobility who agreed to this takeover. Shortly after the Union of Krewo in 1385 a significant resolution was that in total 47 selected Lithuanian nobles were adopted by Polish nobles heraldic families and granted Polish coats of arm. This symbolic gesture signified their desire to adopt Polish customs and integrate into Polish society. This was part of Poland's significantly increased Polonization of Lithuania. The Lithuanian nobility let themselves be polonized first, followed by the upper class and middle class and later even the lower classes were partially polonized. The founding of the Rzeczpospolita was in fact the end point of the Polonization of Lithuania. Lithuanians largely abandoned their own traditions, language and culture during the process of assimilation and Polonization. They were replaced by the Polish way of life. The Polish language as well as clothes and style of expression were adopted. Lithuanians became Poles! So today, this phenomenon is often perceived by Lithuanians as national treason. I described the result of the massive polonization above! An almost vanished nation!
@@kyyyzee5619 The Term of the "Rzeczpospolita of two nations" was used when the Rzeczpospolita was founded. But that was just an empty phrase that had nothing to do with reality. The term with the two nations was also not used as the name of the state. In the document establishing the Rzeczpospolita it is stated that by this agreement the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania are an inseparable, undivided entity and a common republic that united both states and nations into one people. But in reality it happened a long time ago due to the Polishization of Lithuanians. The term of the Rzeczpospolita of two nations was used very rarely. The term with the two nations was also not used as the name of the state. Used in international treaties and diplomacy, the state has been called the most serene ( most high) Rzeczpospolita Poland. Its residents simply referred it in the everyday language as Rzeczpospolita or Poland occasionally also the crown. In the document establishing the Rzeczpospolita it is stated that "by this agreement the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania are an inseparable, undivided entity and a common republic that united both states and nations into one people" So that contradicts this term with both nations. In any case, it all makes it clear that this absurd talk about an alleged Rzeczpospolita of two nations is completely superfluous because it doesn't contradict historical reality. This was in fact a Polish empire and a Polish state and definitely not a kind of legal basis for the equality and equal status of Poles and Lithuanians as the wrong term Commonwealth or the Rzeczpospolita of two nations suggests. To use this terms is nonsensical, as it suggests a kind of equality that did not exist! Incidentally, the first documented with the use of the term Rzeczpospolit as a designation of the Polish state can be found in Maćka Borkowica's act of allegiance, for the Polish king Kazimierz the Great on 16. February 1358 in the town of Sieradz. At that time Lithuania was not yet united with Poland at all! So the Polisch term Rzeczpospolit was the name for Poland even then.
The treaty of Krewo for personal union of Poland with Lithuania in 1385 was the first step in Poland's takeover of Lithuania. This union was declared indissoluble. This personal union meant that the Polish king should also be the ruler of Lithuania. In fact, the union treaty also contained the provision of the attaching of Lithuanian and Ruthenian lands to the Polish Crown. This happened because the Poles were in power!
Incidentally, there were also a total of 3 Polish Rzeczpospolitas, which also makes it clear that this is primarily a Polish state was. Properly called Polish Rzeczpospolitas by Poles, not incorrect Polish Lithuanian Rzeczpospolitas. That is why Poles today call their three republics: I Rzeczpospolita, II Rzeczpospolita and III Rzeczpospolita. Because that was always Poland! The Lithuanians don't also have the term Rzeczpospolita in their state name becuase that was a Polisch Rzeczpospolita. In reality, the Rzeczpospolita, like the Kingdom of Poland before it, was the Polish Empire and Lithuania was a part of it ruled by the Poles as dominant ethnic group.
@@GreatPolishWingedHussars Bull's crap, which you think is a theory, is not a theory :) The republic of both nations was a real state, with parliament where poles and lithuanians had equal rights, with ethmones, etc., in which the Polish language was dominant. Yes, the Republic was called the Crown, but in Lithuania it was not called Poland - the Lithuanian nobles were particularly dissatisfied with that, but it was difficult to fight against it. In fact, no one even paid attention - these were Lithuanians who spoke Lithuanian, but were able to communicate in Polish as well.
The republic of both nations was not created due to the Polonization of Lithuanians, but due to the increase of common threats (as you know, Muscovy). Your whole theory about the empire is only a Polish theory, which is not recognized as the Kingdom of Poland that ruled Lithuania. Lithuania and Poland united by their own will, this great state was ruled by a family of nobles from Lithuania. So stop dreaming your polish chauvinistic wet dreams and come back to reality.
Yes, Polonization was a reality, many Lithuanians who considered themselves Lithuanian spoke Polish (even my great-grandmother spoke), but she was Lithuanian and considered herself Lithuanian.
In any case, your position about the empire and the Lithuanian people under it is a discrepancy in your imagination.
It's like saying that the Austro-Hungarian Empire was just the Austrian Empire. This is not true. And the truth always wins.
There is no point in continuing.
That was totally a Riders of Rohan moment at the end. Also I think it was planned. If they fled trying to get that many soldiers morale up that fast is almost impossible. Thousands of troops just don't randomly pull it together in an instant.
there were a lot of Tatars in the Lithuanian army for whom this strategy is very typical, so yes, the withdrawal was probably planned
The greatest narrator voice ive ever heard. When i read dense material, i try to channel this narrators voice to keep it interesting. Great vid as always!
its a bot, not a person
@@MrJammyGel No, look in the credits in the description- it says “narrated by ‘David McCallion’, it’s a person.
The fact that the Poles fought for 4 hours being fully surrounded is really impressive.
No not impressive
@@reinercreekman cope
@@reinercreekman let's see how you react when surrounded and the people you have fought with are getting cut down. It takes nerves of steel to stay focused and continue to fight without just giving up that takes true courage
U can do that only if you are sure that help is round the corner. This time as the returning Lithuanians.
@@antasosam8486 there's tons of instances in history when helps not coming and the men fighting knew that yet they continued to fight on.
As a Pole, I must admit that this is one of my favorite battles in the history of Europe.
Duh, it’s kinda like US-Americans and the great battles of their civil war / the revolutionary war. After all, it became deeply engraved into both Polish and Lithuanian culture. It defined the era in the region. As a result, Poland got access to the sea and later the commonwealth and the crusaders were removed as a political power in the area.
Every Belarusian can agree with you. Only Vorsha battle can be compared to Grunwald..
@@ceasarby1033 But the first battle (1508) or the second battle (1514)? Because my ancestors and your ancestors defeated Moscow in this place twice. The third time (1564), the Muscovites simply fled the battle.
@@piotrmodrzejewski3052 1514 is more known here, when Muscovites had double size army but still lost.
@@ceasarby1033 While Poland "inherited" the wars with Moscow from Lithuania, since it joined those wars, the vast majority of battles were won despite the overwhelming number of the enemy. These few lost battles were mainly due to the significant numerical superiority of the opponent. We won together: Toropec (1580), Mohylew (1581), Kluszyn (1610), Carowe Zajmiszcze (1610), Smoleńsk (1634), Nowa Woda (1654), Szklow (1654), Jezierna (1655), Ochmatow (1655), Konotop (1659), Lubar (1660), Cudnow (1660), Polonka (1660), Slobodyszcze (1660), Kuszliki (1661), Witebsk (1664) and so on. It is possible, my Fellow, that we will go to Moscow again, and then arranged a barbecue in the Red Square.
Vytautas was skilled commander and good learner. He used attack and retreat tacticts before and adopted it from lost battle vs Mongolians. Also Ulrich in the letter was warned about this tactic, but looks like didn't listen. I hope we will get much more great content like this from Eastern Europe
Vytautas was a genius politician, not necesarilly a military comamander. He delegated the military command to several nobles and distant members of his family.
Something the Poles liked to keep to themselves: "Throughout the 15th and early 16th century the Lithuanians had stolen a march on the poles generally by electing their Grand Duke as they were allowed to under a treaty of 1413 on the death of the previous Grand Duke, which meant that if the poles wish to continue the union they had to then elect the Grand Duke as King of Poland...
Lithuanian history in particular is very underrated. What was once the largest state in Europe, as well as the last pagan state in Europe, is rarely talked about nowadays unless it's in conjunction with Poland :(
@@CHRB-nn6qpniestety czy to się podoba czy nie Korona gwarantowała byt niescalonego wewnętrznie Księstwa
@@MrVafflisa to coś dziwnego?
That is one of the most epic battle outcomes I have ever seen.
Indeed, one of the most famous battles in Eastern European history, and one that helped to define the identity of its participants.
it's Central Europe
@HistoryMarche I suggest doing a video on the battle of Strėva. It happened in 1348 and it was a huge crusade against Lithuania.
Yeah, it would be cool to watch the rise of the Teutonic Knights too
One drawback of this battle is the date - it makes medieval reenactors stand in the open in plate armors literally in the middle of July.
Heatstroke is no joke.
That Smolensk guys were the real MVP's for standing their ground and avoid encirclement.
Also, as it said previously, about Lithuanians retreat, it is said that Vytautas did faint retreat learning from battle against Mongols where he suffered great losses. It's more like "hit and run" tactics which worked and Teutonic knights chased them in to the woods. Being "light" cavalry (it's not exactly true, they had armor on themselves but not as heavy as Teutonic knights) they encircle them in forest terain and killed the chasers. After that, they regrouped to deal the final blow into Teutonic rear.
It's also said that the Lithuanians actually did rout, but their commander was able to rally the men after a while. This was possible because the guest crusaders were unused to hunting down comparatively light cavalry (comparatively, in actually the Lithuanians we're something closer to a medium cavalry). The result was that the more numerous routed men overwhelmed the fewer crusaders.
@@khronostheavenger8923 It may be.. Different theories on that and all them may be true, but we can all agree that comeback they did was tremendous.
Smolensk also had revolted from being a Lithuanian vassal after the disastrous (for Lithuanian army) battle of Vorskla against the Golden Horde in 1399. After regaining control of Lithuania from tatar raids, Vytautas subjugated and actually incorporated Smolensk into GDL in 1405(?). So looking cynically- in the battle of Grunwald a few years later, Smolenk troops got 'a chance to prove their loyalty'- and if they died, then there were less troops to revolt again..
Actually their role in the battle was boosted due to Russian propaganda and the Smolensk forces were not that significant.
@@tropix4392 Yeah, like Jan Długosz was a prominent Russian propagandist! You, guys, are always such pathetic russophobes.
Battle of the Vorskla River was the battle in witch Vytautas The Great witnessed fake retreat from tartars and lost the battle ( thats the only battle he ever lost ) so it is very doubtfull that Lithuanians just ran away from teutons
Again with this myth, both the Lithuanian and Teutonic forces were familiar with the tactic of a fake retreat as they both used it themselves in previous small scale engagements, they did not learn it from the battle of Vorska River. And it is not doubtfully they just ran away when you take into consideration the heavy casualties they suffered at the hands of the Teutonic forces, then the retreat is very believable, and I doubt they deliberately let there forces suffer casualties just to make the retreat look authentic.
Fantastic video HistoryMarche!
*Here is my sacrifice to the Gods of the algorithm:*
I firmly believe that this channel truly makes some of the best content about military history, from the exceptional presentation of the content, to the fantastic visuals and the great writing.
Have a nice weekend, you deserve it!
Thank you sir. Much appreciated!
@@HistoryMarche please make a video on Emir Timur
This video brings back the memory of playing the battle on Medieval II Total War
As a Pole, we learn a lot of this battle at school. This is one of the most pivotal moment in the Polish history. I like how you provide context and additional details i didn't know about (and i am a history buff)
Nic nowego nie powiedział. Do szkoły gamoniu
@@jn1205 morda chamie
Can we all give a moment to appreciate this man’s dedication and talent to bring us quality videos about history. Beautifully narrated and easy to follow. Also I would personally love more videos about Germany in the Middle Ages and farther back. Well done
We would if it was not full of mistakes or missing information.
Funnily enough my family comes from Bobrowniki and the castle still stands, its is a ruin with remains of a tower and just a heap of bricks. Bobrowniki meanwhile lost their importance and turned into very small village with one or two stores and aging population. Barely anyone knows about it but people passionate about castles and ruins. Its a nice location, with a great view onto vistula river. Before the dam was constructed the castle was on an island, maybe the only reason locals didn't scavenge it for bricks completely over the centuries.
I remember being at the Grunwald site and monument with my grandparents as a boy. It’s quite the sight to picture what must have happened that day. It’s is definitely one of the top ten Polish battles of all time. Thanks for the video!👌🏼
What about Lithuania?
I wasn't familiar with this battle, so I was pretty curious to see it unfold to mark the decline of the Teutonic Order. For a good part it seemed Ulrich was going to win this, but the return of the Lithuanian cavalry wrecked everything. It sort of reminds me of Zama. The Roman / Numidian cavalry had basically taken themselves out of the battle. Hannibal matched Scipio's lines and things were at a stalemate. But the cavalry returned and crashed decisively into Hannibal's rear, which was the decisive blow in getting the victory for Scipio.
Teutons: *capture the Cracow banner*
Poles: Do you know how screwed you are right now?
Man nowdays also dont even think about capturing Wisła Kraków or Cracovia Cracov (football clubs) banners or you would end up just like Teutons xDD
To all those interested from abroad, the Battle of Grunwald and Poland's relations with the Teutonic Knights, I recommend Henryk Sienkiewicz's book "The Teutonic Knights" (Sienkiewicz is a Nobel laureate in literature). The book has been published in 50 languages, so it won't be hard to find it. This is of course a novel, prose, but based on historical facts, it reads with a dropped jaw. Enjoy reading! Regards
Yeah if you're interested in polish propaganda you should go ahead and read it
@@affernbrotgkg Propaganda, naive man, was created by the "Gehlen Organization", aimed at whitewashing Germany of its crimes against humanity, i.e. murdering tens of millions of people, looting, ruining, human tears.
If the Germans of WWII are called "Nazis", then why aren't the Americans liberating Europe called Roosevelt Boys or Truman Boys, or why isn't it said that the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were dropped by the Democrats??? Logic is a science that, using perception, allows us to understand various aspects of life and the relationships that surround us. It should be followed if we want to correctly read the world around us. Netflix, twitter, tik tok, games and CNN scramble your brains and turn off your logic. One should also be interested in history, but true history not distorted by the German "(non)Nazis
@@affernbrotgkg Gonna cry?
@@avrace2708 about what?
@@affernbrotgkg You are german, of course you hate us. We know that.
As a Pole, I want to add smth - its not clear to us, but its believed by many historicians that Lithuanians made a planned retreat, and it was all a part of a plan to spread enemy forces and at the same time - to lure Teutons to a trap.
as I said - its not clear, there are several sources about that battle, and they differ in details.
But theory about planned retreat and placing a trap is quite possible, because of presence of experienced and quite tallented commanders at the Commonwealth`s side.
I swear, the polish-lithuanian army has so many great commanders (Wladislaw, Vytautas, Zawisa, Jalaladin, Alexander and Zizka) that it makes it look like a medieval version of the Avengers
Edit: wow thank you for the likes.
Everyone was tired of Teutons at this point.
Pretty easy to be a good commander when you massively outnumber your opponent
@@eazzye33 German cope
@@Johnny3Batony what
@@Johnny3Batony they were heavily outnumbered I’m not white nor German and even I can see the Teutons would have won had it not been for the outnumbered army
There is small mistake in 6:26 - Bydgoszcz is misset. It should be to the north of Bobrowniki (Bydgoszcz is set between Brda and Vistula river). Settelment that you placed Bydgoszcz is Gniezno.
Seeing so many views on that topic i strongly recomend to cover battle of Kirholm 27.09.1605 or Kluszyn 4.07.1610. those are ready for hollywood movie. Much more dramatic and heroic than Greek Thermopile
Well, so the "surprise last minute cavalry charge" that we see in TV and movies does have a historical precedent, after all.
While I am SO thankful of the quality of your work, I am surprised I did not find any battle related to the Castilla & Aragon kingdom. Especially the fall of Granada or something similar. Thank you again for this incredible work. Keep it up!
Excellent Video with great narration, thankyou for a very informative 20 minutes....
Great video! There's not enough coverage on this conflict so I appreciate this one.⚔️
Oh hell yeah joined right at the 10 second countdown ! So hyped for this one
Urlich was killed by Mszczuj from Skrzynna :) not in the middle of the battle :) Mszczuj was elite knight and was knowing in Poland because he won some knights tournaments :) And u forgot about Zawisza Czarny, one of the best knight in Europe :)
Najlepszy
Zawisza Czarny - many tournaments in Europe, never defeated. Bear and thunder in human body...
Lithuanian retreat was textbook manoeuvre for light cavalry in steppe terrain, they quickly attacked, then quickly retreated, Teutonic knights were heavy and slow with full plate armour making pursuit idiotic and exactly as planned, then Lithuanians easily outflanked and picked-off pursuing units before returning to the battlefield, outflanking main element of Teutonic Kings and surrounding them, ultimately decapitating the leadership and winning the battle.
I don't know who can even debate that, it was well known tactic, Lithuanian were known to do faint retreats, they were known to be very agile and fast on flanks, polish brought mostly heavy cavalry which was suitable to hold battle formation better, playing clearly into pre-planned tactic.
This story of Lithuanians just running away and then miraculously gaining back composure 2 hours later just doesn't make sense. Somebody is forgetting they were being pursued, so at very least they should have dealt with some of the best armed and trained knights in that time. As such realistically they never left the battle, but took that battle far enough away so that it would look that way for Teutonic reserves and fool them in committing all they had for false hope of victory. There is not such thing as "regaining composure" in medieval times and then re-entering the battlefield as organised formation , this is only possible if it was pre-planned and it is only possible if Lithuanians first beaten their pursuers.
So this was clearly masterful, pre-planned faint, executed perfectly to the smallest detail, not only by Lithuanians, but as well by leadership of combined armies, where units were used in the way most suitable to their abilities and achieving absolute most they could achieve in circumstances. Including small details, like committing heavy cavalry late, so that it could be in better shape to stay out fighting when light cavalry is fainting retreat, staying in the shade of the forest, waiting long to tire the enemy in the sun, fainting the attack, then fainting the retreating on pre-planned routes, luring knights into swamps, dealing with knights, then reorganising into formation and re-entering battle. That all was done in times where people didn't even have clocks, so believing it was just accident and luck is unrealistic.
Or else one has to believe that it was blind luck, which worked out perfectly dozen times in a row and in multiple battles!
Was a really stupid move then
@@Ghreinos pursuit - yes. Kind of surprising that it worked out to be honest. But it worked for quite a few times for Lithuanians. May be cultural thing for knights as well - like they could not believe somebody would faint the attack/retreat, as for them was all honour and fighting honourably, so they probably could not comprehend such move.
Hit and run tactics was used latter by Hussars
Vytautas learned this move, when he was defeated that way in one of the previous battles :)
@@povilas.gadliauskas I am pretty sure it was used by both mongols and against mongols. I would not say this is specifically tactic he learned from mongols, but rather tactic used by light cavalry in general and/or against heavy cavalry or other slower heavily armoured troops like knights. Perhaps it could be argued that tactic was "perfected" during the battles with mongols. In either case it was definitely pre-planned tactic - not merely running away into the forest and then miraculously killing all the pursuing knights and within hours forming back into formation to return onto battlefield.
Finally! The greatest battle of medieval times is here!
This battle is fought in two different campaigns in Age of Empires 2.
Pronunciation of polish and lithuanian names must be very difficult. And You almost made it :) Thanks for the documentary, I like the style and aesthetics of Your clips very much.
dlatego głównie używają germańskich nazw tudzież łacińskich, jak Samogitia, Marienburg itd. bo łatwiej im wymówić Co niestety prowadzi do częstego przekonania że te ziemie oryginalnie były germańskie skoro mają germańskie nazwy. Podobnie z Konigsbergiem, Thorn, Karaunick itd.
Finally someone covered this battle, thank you!
Samogitia has access to Baltic sea.
Grand Duchy of Lithuania did not hold land on Black sea by 1400. Tatars pushed them back. Defeat at Vorskla river was one of reasons for Vytautas "selling" again Samogitia to crusaders around that time.
YEEEESSSS!! I love medieval lithuanian history les gooo
Lithuanian?
@@TheMcMiodzio yes
@@granddukethedan7029 that is not
@@TheMcMiodzio It is.
Dobra kurwa polska gurom a wy cos pierdolicie o litwie zyeby XD
HistoryMatche, I love you, that is all I want to say.
So keep posting for I learn A lot from you, Thank you!
I like the rain effect
These videos just make me want Medieval Total War 3 so bad. Keep up the outstanding work, this stuff is fantastic!
Try Crusader Kings III if you didn't.
There is a theory that King Jagiełło of Poland, who was a Lithuanian, deliberately delayed attacking the capital of the Teutonic Knights after the battle. In agreement with Lithuania, Jagiełło wanted the Teutonic Knights to survive, which would give meaning to the Polish-Lithuanian alliance.
One of my most favorite battles of history! The ruthless knights of the Teutonic Order, Conqueror knights building a nation for themselves!. Lithuania, fighting for survival with grim determination! Once allied to the teutonic now battered and regretful, Poland, which must face the demons it unleashed! 40000 vs 30000 one big battle to decide the fate and history of Eastern Europe. Back and forth battle progression. Number, quality, strategy all in one!
I see a fellow fan of medieval 2 total war teutonic campaign
@@awadmanoe2094 Awesome game it was.
When you say it like this, it makes for a great story. Most importantly true story.
@@awadmanoe2094 Polands Cav is arguably the best in the game
Vincent Gurbacki
Eh? I thought that title goes to the Russian general’s bodyguard unit. They body everyone with barely any casualties and the only ones that get even close are Middle East culture bodyguard units and Western culture Bodyguard units.
Teutonic Knights are one of my favorite things to learn about, even though I know the outcome of this battle, I still will watch every single one of these over and over again.
Them being a tad bit genocidal didn't turn you off?
@@kamilszadkowski8864 They are only genocidal in Polish nationalist historiography. But according to Polish nationalists all their opponents are genocidal.
@@ijh867zter6 Yeah, "Polish nationalist historiography" suuuure. Then you can easily prove this by citing them right?
Moreover, I am sure they are not at all genocidal in Lithuanian, Belarusian, Latvian or Russian historiography. Just Polish.
@Zebulon C Nothing. I was genuinely curious.
@@kamilszadkowski8864 Because some of us understand why, for instance Poland, used to portray them this way.
After all, Poland was partitioned and polish intellectuals used this medical order to criticise both the tsarist and royal Prussian rule during this period.
And because we actually look not the entire relationship between the holy orders, Poland and Lithuania and the locals.
The idea that the Teutonic order was somehow specifically evil for instance disregards that Poland itself ( a literal member of the actual Piast dynasty )had requested their services, knowing well that they were a militaristic order.
”In 1226, Konrad I, Duke of Masovia in north-eastern Poland, appealed to the Knights to defend his borders and subdue the pagan Baltic Old Prussians, allowing the Teutonic Knights use of Chełmno Land as a base for their campaign. This being a time of widespread crusading fervor throughout Western Europe, Hermann von Salza considered Prussia a good training ground for his knights for the wars against the Muslims in Outremer.[15] With the Golden Bull of Rimini, Emperor Frederick II bestowed on the Order a special imperial privilege for the conquest and possession of Prussia, including Chełmno Land, with nominal papal sovereignty. In 1235 the Teutonic Knights assimilated the smaller Order of Dobrzyń, which had been established earlier by Christian, the first Bishop of Prussia.”
This is medieval Europe, not some fairy tale land with monsters and saints.
Brilliant work, extremely satisfied to have stumbled upon the channel this way.
As a Lithuanian I was waiting for a video like this. It was the greatest time for Lithuania. And as well the greatest battle (Žalgirio mūšis) of our history. It was a peak of Lithuanians...
It's great time for Poland and I'm pround of that alliance as Polish. It's was big mistake when Konrad Mazowiecki invite teutonų riteriai to our land. They should distroy them when they were weaknes.
Yep. Before all the shit that happened to us later in history
Certainly a peak is right now.
what about Kircholm 1605 and Prostki 1656
this channel is better than kings and generals
It was totally a feint. How else would a large Lithuanian army reassemble.
A good commander. We always imagine these big schemes but it’s just as possible that they were beaten, fled and were then rallied because the nobles leading them understood what was at stake and were very good at conveying the importance to stay and fight. The main reason why I doubt the feint retreat idea is that the Poles held the line, risking an encirclement. That seemed more like desperation on their end, not like a coordinated plan.
Rts but real life history. Best channel ever. Never had so much fun while learning about history before
Nice to catch this live for a change.
Always liked this battle.
I'm gonna play EU4 when I get home for sure!
I dare not start EU4... that will turn into a one-week binge. It's a problem 😆
@@HistoryMarche you start playing at 6 PM after work and then suddenly you hear birds chirping and see the sunrise...
Goosebumps! I didn't knew about this battle, nor how it ended. Very dramatic, I wonder if this event has spawned a movie, and it probably did.
Movie "Krzyzacy" from 1960
A very nice video on a subject we seldom read about in Western/Northen Europe.
Thanks curiosity stream pages...also allot respect and love for history Marche....most informative history interests especially first times I heard a statement ( toutonic order)...thanks for sharing
Amazing, this was amazing, a excellent history. I like so much of Polish and Lithuania, they are amazing.
I heard it was "one of the biggest" But i never thought it was the biggest battle in the medival era
As a Citizen of Koronowo it was really interesting to watch this video, because I knew many of The facts but still got to know something more. Great video 😉
Excellent presentation. It helpped me understand.
You should make more documentaries on the northern crusades. Plenty of interesting battles that are rarely if ever talked about.
Np. Obrona Głogowa, albo bitwa na Psim Polu. Toteż były krucjaty...
Gracias por añadir subtítulos al español, genial video.
Thank you for providing the context to the war. This was definitely missing from many history books, which mostly focused on the battle itself and the subsequent aborted siege.
Extremely interesting 🧐!! Thank You 😊 for sharing this information with Me.
There is one big error 0:15 Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (Rzeczposplity Obojga Narodów) was created by Union of Lublin in 1569. At the time of 1400 Poland and Lithuania were ally and king of Poland Władysław II Jagiełło and grand duke of Lithuania Witold Kiejstutowicz were cousins.
More correct- it was a Personal Union (a situation when two countries have the same king), refreshed all the way to 1569. During the Vytautas-Jogaila period, this relationship was contested by Vytautas, but, in the end, he did not manage to make Lithuania fully sovereign again, and it stayed the junior partner in personal union, even if just nominally, during his rule.
An interesting battle that lead to the end of an era. Top quality as usual
Another amazing video! Thank you so much for all the hard work! Pity I’ve missed the Premiere.
Cheers Priscila. Thanks for all the help with setting up the Premiere!
One correction for the Polish language subtitles: Peace of Thorn in 1411 was mentioned literally as "thorned peace" - "Pokój Cierniowy" which is an error. It should be just "pokój toruński" or "pierwszy pokój toruński" - "1st peace of Thorn".
What happened at 15:51 is probably the most fitting historical event to describe "Here comes the calvary" phrase.
What strange alternate history being shown here. Where's the Grand Principality of Reikland? Kislev is also worryingly missing! Some Tzeentchian sorcery is afoot, I say!
Kidding aside, it's nice to learn about ACTUAL history with these videos, so thank you for that. The animations and overview maps are very helpful, and I greatly appreciate also the inclusion of events leading up to a particular battle as it gives great context and better understanding of a given situation. Good stuff HistoryMarche, in my unlearned eyes :)
Most of the Historians this days agree that Lithuanian retreat was a ruse calculated on luring majority of TK forces to fully commit to the battle.
Provide a reference, please. There are records of SOME Lithuanians retreating ALL THE WAY HOME. If this was a "planned" feigned retreat...why didn't EVERYONE turn around???
In fact, the Polish-Lithuanian Union existed between 1385 to 1568, only in 1569 did it become the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Not at all.
@@tadasklimas9188 If I remember correctly the very union almost ended on three occasions and there was aborted by the middle and low money nobility attempt at secession during the Deluge, war with the Swedish Empire
Retreat during the battle were used by Mongol army and Vytautas used it in Žalgirio battle
Zalgiris!! Dope video, cheers man.