SEMI-HISTORICAL TEUTONIC ORDER
By Fleur-de-Lis


Stronghold: Castle with a moat 

Hero General (Hochmeister) @4AP....................1
Hero (Landmeister or TannhŠuser) @4 AP.............0-1
Wizard (Doktor Faustus) @4AP.......................0-1
Cleric (archbishop) @3AP...........................0-1
Knights (brethren in Gothic plate) @2AP............3-6
Riders (Turkopolen) @2AP...........................0-2
Spears (foot sergeants) @2AP.......................1-4
Shooters (crossbowmen) @2AP........................1-4
Blades (halberdiers or dismounted knights) @2AP....0-2
Hordes (oppressed native foot) @1AP................1-8
Artillery (bombard) @3AP...........................0-2
Flyers (brethren on flying mounts) @2AP............0-2

This list consists of the popular image of the semi-historical Teutonic Order. The Order reigned in the Baltic lands for almost 400 years, and had its strongholds as greystone castles, which were invariably of the Wasserburg type because of the terrain. The Hochmeisters were chosen because of their qualities, battlefield prowess and military competence, instead of their pedigree, and are thusclassed as Heroes instead of Knights. Lesser heroes, such as the Landmeisters, could also be fielded. Brethren knights ought to be represented wearing white cassocks with black crosses, in blackened Gothic plate, riding black Gothic plate barded horses. Since the "Henriku Liivimaa Kroonika" describes the Order charge as "furious, even if the brethren flew into the enemy", some of the brethren are allowed to ride flying mounts. The legendary German wizard Doktor Faustus was, according to Goethe, reputed to visited the Ordenstaat as well, and can be introduced as a wizard. TannhŠuser, who did participate in the Baltic crusades, poved problematic. Historically he was a renowned MinnesŠnger, but too militant to be introduced as a wizard, and too worldly to be represented as a paladin. Since he fought on horseback, he could not be a cleric either, although he was known to have outwitted the Pope in the "Romance of TannhŠuser". He might be best suited as a Hero. Turkopolen were native light cavalry. Foot brethren ought to be represented in light grey cassocks with St. Anthony's cross (tau cross resembling capital "T"). They wore full mail outfit. Native infantry might be best represented as Hordes. Although Sienkiewicz refers Satan worshipping having been possible amongst some of the less squeaky clean brethren, I could find no evidence on either this or daemonology, and could thus not introduce daemons. Instead some of the Bishops, notably those of Kuressaare, Riga and Haapsalu, were notable lords and mighty fighters, and might be introduced as Clerics. Artillery was first mentioned in 1341 AD at the siege of Vilnius, where the bombards of the Order were reported having shot the head off the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas, killing him. Shooters in one rank may shoot behind one rank of Spears.

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