Page "Northern Crusades" Paragraph 31

The Northern Crusades provided a rationale for the growth and expansion of the Teutonic Order of German crusading knights which had been founded in Palestine at the end of the 12th century.

Due to Muslim successes in the Holy Land, the Order sought new missions in Europe.

Duke Konrad I of Masovia in west-central Poland appealed to the Knights to defend his borders and subdue the pagan Baltic Prussians in 1226.

After the subjugation of the Prussians, the Teutonic Knights fought against the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.