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WL at first mention- delete duplications

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{{Short description|Branch of the Teutonic Order, 1237–1561}}
{{Distinguish|Livonian Brothers of the Sword}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= Livonian Order
|image= [[File:LivonianOrder.svg|100px]] [[File:Baltic coat of arms.svg|75px]]
|caption= Seal of the Livonian Order's master VTOIINLIVONIA MENDATORIS•DOM and the coat of arms of the [[Teutonic Knights]]{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}
|dates= 1237–1561
|country= {{plainlist|
*[[State of the Teutonic Order]] (1237–1561)}}
|allegiance=
|garrison= [[Cēsis|Wenden]] (Cēsis), [[Fellin]] (Viljandi)
|branch= [[Teutonic Order]]
}}
{{History of Latvia}}
The '''Livonian Order''' was an autonomous branch of the [[Teutonic Order]],<ref>{{cite book |title= The Teutonic Knights: A Military History |last= Urban |first= William |year= 2005 |isbn= 1-85367-667-5 |pages= 259–273 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=zzwXIQAACAAJ }}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
formed in 1237. From 1435 to 1561, it was a member of the "[[Livonian Confederation]]".
[[File:TeutonicOrder1422.png|thumb|Medieval Livonia in 1422]]

==History==
The Livonian branch of the [[Teutonic Order]] was formed from the remnants of the crusading order of the [[Livonian Brothers of the Sword]] (a.k.a. the Swordbrothers) after their defeat by [[Samogitians]] in 1236 at the [[Battle of Saule]]. In 1237, most of the former Swordbrothers became members of the Teutonic Order, thus forming its new regional branch in [[Livonia]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Eastern Europe: An Introduction to the People, Lands, and Culture |last=Frucht |first=Richard C. |year=2005 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=1-57607-800-0 |pages=69 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lVBB1a0rC70C&q=%22Livonian+order%22&pg=PA69 }}</ref> In the summer of that year, the Master of Prussia [[Hermann Balk]] rode into Riga to install his men as castle commanders and administrators of Livonia.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Turnbull|first=Stephen R.|title=Crusader castles of the Teutonic Knights. 2, The stone castles of Latvia and Estonia 1185–1560|publisher=Osprey|others=Dennis, Peter, 1950–|year=2004|isbn=1-84176-712-3|location=Oxford|pages=17–22|oclc=56426711}}</ref>

In 1238, the Teutonic Knights of Livonia signed the Treaty of Stensby with the [[Denmark|Kingdom of Denmark]]. Under this agreement, Denmark would support the expansion ambitions of the order in exchange for northern maritime [[Estonia]].<ref name=":0" />

In 1242, the Livonian Order tried to take the city of [[Veliky Novgorod|Novgorod]]. However, they were defeated by [[Alexander Nevsky]] in the [[Battle on the Ice]].<ref name=":0" />

Fortresses as Paide in land ceded by Denmark in the Treaty of Stensby allowed the order to contain the threat of Russian troops. For that reason, the order focused on its southern borders and [[Semigallia]].<ref name=":0" /> Semigallia was a strategic territory for the Livonian Order. Lithuanians passed through Semigallia to raid settlements in Livonia, and they took advantage of the winter ice pack in the Gulf of Riga to reach Oesel Island. Also, this territory kept the Livonian Branch of the Teutonic Order separated from the Prussian Branch.<ref name=":0" />

Between 1237 and 1290, the Livonian Order conquered all of [[Courland]], Livonia and Semigallia. In 1298, Lithuanians took Karkus Castle north of Riga, and defeated the order in the [[Battle of Turaida]], killing Livonian Land Master Bruno and 22 knights.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.ldkistorija.lt/index.php/istoriniai-faktai/vytenis-ir-ryga/504|title=Orbis Lituaniae – Lietuvos Didžiosios Kunigaikštystės istorijos|first=e-solution: Gaumina|last=www.gaumina.lt|website=m.ldkistorija.lt|access-date=5 April 2018|archive-date=13 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413183925/http://m.ldkistorija.lt/index.php/istoriniai-faktai/vytenis-ir-ryga/504|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1346, the order bought the [[Danish Estonia#Duchy of Estonia|Duchy of Estonia]] from King [[Valdemar IV of Denmark]]. Life within the order's territory is described in the ''[[Balthasar Russow|Chronicle of Balthasar Russow]]'' (''Chronica der Provinz Lyfflandt'').

The Teutonic Order fell into decline following its defeat in the [[Battle of Grunwald]] in 1410 and the secularization of its Prussian territories by [[Albert, Duke of Prussia|Albert of Brandenburg]] in 1525, while the Livonian branch of the Teutonic Order managed to maintain an independent existence.

===Livonian "confederation" agreement (1435)===

The Teutonic Order's defeat in the [[Battle of Swienta|Battle of Święta]] (Wiłkomierz) on September 1, 1435, which claimed the lives of the master and several high-ranking knights, brought the order closer to its neighbors in [[Medieval Livonia]]. "A friendly (confederation) agreement" (''eiine fruntliche eyntracht'') was signed in [[Walk, Livonia|Walk]] on 4 December 1435, by the Archbishop of Riga, the [[Bishopric of Courland|bishops of Courland]], [[Bishopric of Dorpat|Dorpat]], [[Bishopric of Ösel–Wiek|Ösel-Wiek]] and [[Bishopric of Reval|Reval]]; the representatives of the Teutonic Order and vassals, and the deputies of Riga, Reval and Dorpat city municipal councils.<ref name="VLM">{{cite book |title=Vana-Liivimaa maapäev |last=Raudkivi |first=Priit |author1-link=Priit Raudkivi (historian) |year=2007 |publisher=Argo |isbn=978-9949-415-84-7 |pages=118–119 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4QxtGQAACAAJ }}</ref>

During the [[Livonian War]], however, the order suffered a decisive defeat by troops of [[Tsardom of Russia|Muscovite Russia]] in the [[Battle of Ergeme]] in 1560. The Livonian Order then sought protection from [[Sigismund II Augustus]], [[Kingdom of Poland (1385–1569)|King of Poland]] and [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania|Grand Duke of Lithuania]], who had intervened in a war between Bishop [[William of Brandenburg|William]] of Riga and the Brothers in 1557.

After coming to an [[Wilno Pact|agreement]] with Sigismund II, Augustus and his representatives (especially [[Mikołaj "the Black" Radziwiłł]]), the last Livonian Master, [[Gotthard Kettler]], secularized the order and converted to [[Lutheranism]]. In the southern part of the Brothers' lands he created the [[Duchy of Courland and Semigallia]] for his family. Most of the remaining lands were seized by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The north of Estonia was taken back by [[Denmark]] and [[Swedish Empire|Sweden]].

From the 14th to the 16th centuries, [[Middle Low German]] as spoken in the towns of the [[Hanseatic League]] was the established language, but was subsequently succeeded by [[High German]] as official language in the course of the 16th and 17th centuries.<ref name=Koch59>{{cite book|last=Koch|first=Kristine|title=Deutsch als Fremdsprache im Russland des 18. Jahrhunderts|publisher=Walter de Gruyter|location=Berlin/New York|year=2002|series=Die Geschichte des Deutschen als Fremdsprache|volume=1|isbn=3-11-017503-7|language=de|page=59}}</ref>

==Masters of the Livonian Order==
The Livonian Master, like the grandmaster of the Teutonic Order, was elected by his fellow knights for a life term. The grandmaster exercised supervisory powers and his advice was considered equal to a command. The grandmaster of Teutonic knights did not limit local autonomy, he rarely visited Livonia or sent ambassadors for oversight.<ref>{{cite book |title=Livonian Crusade |last=Urban |first=William L |year=2004 |publisher=Lithuanian Research and Studies Center |isbn=0-929700-45-7 |pages=12, 14 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h9BTAAAACAAJ }}</ref>

{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Hermann Balk]] 1237–1238{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Dietrich von Grüningen]] 1238–1241{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Andreas von Velven]] 1241-1242{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Dietrich von Grüningen]] 1242–1246{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Heinrich von Heimburg]] 1246–1248{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Andreas von Velven]] 1248-1253{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Anno von Sangershausen]] 1254–1256{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Burkhard von Hornhausen]] 1256–1260{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Werner von Breithausen]] 1261–1263{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Konrad von Mandern]] 1263–1266{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Otto von Lutterberg]] 1266–1270{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#3366BB|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Walther von Nortecken]] 1270–1273{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Ernst von Ratzeburg|Ernst von Rassburg]] 1273–1279{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Konrad von Feuchtwangen]] 1279–1281{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Wilken von Endorp]] 1281–1287{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Konrad von Herzogenstein]] 1288–1290{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Halt von Hohembach]] –1293{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Heinrich von Dinkelaghe]] 1295–1296{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}Bruno 1296–1298{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Gottfried von Rogga]] 1298–1307{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Gerhard van Joeck]] 1309–1322{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Johannes Ungenade]] 1322–1324{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Reimar Hane]] 1324–1328{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Everhard von Monheim]] 1328–1340{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Burchard von Dreileben]] 1340–1345{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Goswin von Hercke]] 1345–1359{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Arnold von Vietinghof]] 1359–1364{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Wilhelm von Vrymersheim]] 1364–1385{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Robin von Eltz]] 1385–1389{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Wennemar Hasenkamp von Brüggeneye]] 1389–1401{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Konrad von Vietinghof]] 1401–1413{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Diderick Tork]] 1413–1415{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Siegfried Lander von Spanheim]] 1415–1424{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Zisse von Rutenberg]] 1424–1433{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#3366BB|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Franco Kerskorff]] 1433–1435{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Heinrich von Bockenvorde]] 1435–1437{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Heinrich Vinke von Overbergen]] 1438–1450{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Johann Osthoff von Mengede]] 1450–1469{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Johann Wolthuss von Herse]] 1470–1471{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Bernd von der Borch]] 1471–1483{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#3366BB|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Johann Freytag von Loringhoven]] 1483–1494{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Wolter von Plettenberg]] 1494–1535{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Hermann Hasenkamp von Brüggeneye]] 1535–1549{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Johann von der Recke]] 1549–1551{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Heinrich von Galen]] 1551–1557{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Johann Wilhelm von Fürstenberg]] 1557–1559{{nowrap end}} 
{{spaces|2}}{{nowrap begin}}{{color|#2D5DA1|●}}{{spaces|2}}[[Gotthard Kettler|Godert (Gotthard) Kettler]] 1559–1561{{nowrap end}}

==Commanderies of the Livonian Order==
Across modern territory of [[Estonia]] and [[Latvia]]

===Estonia===
*[[Komtur]]ei [[Reval]]
*Komturei [[Pernau]]
*Komturei [[Jerwen]]
*Komturei [[Fellin]]
*Komturei [[Puurmani|Talkhof]]

===Latvia===
*Komturei [[Alūksne|Marienburg]]
*Landmarschall [[Segewold]]
*Ordensmeister (Komturei) [[Dünamünde]]
*Komturei [[Ascheraden]]
*Komturei [[Dünaburg]]
*Komturei [[Bauske]]
*Komturei [[Mitau]]
*Komturei [[Doblen]]
*Komturei [[Kuldīga|Goldingen]]
*Komturei [[Ventspils|Windau]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Crusader States}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Livonian Order| ]]
[[Category:Livonian Confederation]]
[[Category:Livonian Crusade]]
[[Category:State of the Teutonic Order]]
[[Category:Northern Crusades]]
[[Category:1237 establishments in Europe]]
[[Category:Establishments in the State of the Teutonic Order]]
[[Category:13th-century establishments in Europe]]
[[Category:1561 disestablishments in Europe]]
[[Category:1560s disestablishments in the Holy Roman Empire]]

Livonian Order - Revision history

imported>Wuerzele: WL at first mention- delete duplications