About the book: 2008 / The Order of the Teutonic Knights, warrior monks, arose in the Holy Land in the 12th century, but it gained true fame and fame in northern Europe, in border with the eastern lands. At the beginning of the 13th century, the order was called upon to fight the Slavic tribes in the east. The Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen granted the order all the privileges of the princes of the empire and entrusted its knights with a dual mission: the Christianization of the population of the Baltic territories and their colonization. With fire and sword, the Teutonic knights created a powerful monastic state headed by a grand master. But the expansion of the order led to an inevitable clash with Poland and Lithuania, united under the rule of King Jagiello. In 1410, Jogaila defeated the Teutonic knights at the Battle of Grunwald, marking the beginning of the decline of the order..