Battle of Grunwald
Between villages of Grünfelde (Grunwald) and Ludwigsdorf (Łodwigowo), State of the
What happened
King Władysław II Jagiełło of Poland and his cousin Grand Duke Vytautas of Lithuania fought the Teutonic Order, led by Grand Master Ulrich von Jungingen. Poland, Lithuania and the Teutonic Order, a crusading order of knights ruling Prussia, were at war over land, including the region of Samogitia. Before the battle, the Grand Master sent the two rulers two swords as an insult. Vytautas attacked the Order's left flank, the Lithuanians pulled back, and the Order was then defeated. Most of its leadership, including the Grand Master, was lost.
Why it matters
Result: Polish–Lithuanian victory. Leaders: Władysław II Jagiełło / Vytautas the Great against Ulrich von Jungingen. Why it matters: It was one of the largest battles in medieval Europe, and it is viewed as one of the most important victories in Polish and Lithuanian history. The Order never recovered its former power.
What came next
In the Peace of Thorn in 1411 the Order suffered only small territorial losses, but the heavy cost of war payments caused it lasting trouble. Vytautas went on ruling Lithuania until 1430.
Did you know?
Archaeologists proved in 2014-2017 that the battle was fought south of the village of Grunwald, not where tradition had placed it.
Timeline
- 1409 CEAn uprising in Samogitia starts the war.
- 15 July 1410 CEPoland and Lithuania defeat the Teutonic Order at Grunwald.
- 1411 CEThe Peace of Thorn ends the war.
- 27 October 1430 CEVytautas dies.