jjares reviewed The Livonian Brothers of the Sword: The History of the Medieval Catholic Military Order that Fought Pagans in Eastern Europe on + 3270 more book reviews
The Livonian Brothers of the Sword was a Catholic military order established by Albert, the third bishop of Riga, in 1202. Pope Innocent III sanctioned the establishment in 1204 for the second time. The membership of the order comprised German "warrior monks" who fought Baltic and Finnic pagans in the area of modern-day Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
Initially, the Livonian Brothers were separate from the Teutonic knights. Later in their history, the groups would merge. Although the men took vows of poverty and chastity, what they were really after was lands and power. They believed in Christianizing others at the point of a sword. Of course, the pope did not know what they were doing. The men outlined in this book were shockingly violent and dishonorable.
Initially, the Livonian Brothers were separate from the Teutonic knights. Later in their history, the groups would merge. Although the men took vows of poverty and chastity, what they were really after was lands and power. They believed in Christianizing others at the point of a sword. Of course, the pope did not know what they were doing. The men outlined in this book were shockingly violent and dishonorable.
