The Study Of Livonian Order

Livonian Order was an active knights crusader in Baltic region,their official name is Militia Christi.The military activities of Livonian Order in this region pushed the Catholicization in the regions of Livonia and Estonia,and had benefited in the recantation of Lithuania and the complete victory of Baltic Crusade as well,which consolidated the distinction between Roman Catholicism and the Orthodox Eastern Church.The order laid foundation for the operation in Livonia and the long-term advantages of German.Study about the history of Livonian Order are closely related to the medieval history of Livonia,the Drang nach Osten and the activities of Baltic crusades.After the establishment of Militia Christi,Knights conquered Livonia during the process of defending the attack from Lithuanians and expelling the influence of Rus'.Till 1230s,the Livonian order together with Danes defeated Estonians.In 1236,the Militia Christi answered the call of the Pope,then attacked Lithuania,but was severely damaged.The weary Knights were then incorporated by Teutonic Order and became a branch of It in Livonia,known as Livonian Order.The reformed Livonian Order became an important part of Teutonic Order.While supporting the policies of Teutonic Order,Livonian Order also had its own benefits.Besides attacking Rusland continually,it also gave pressure on Lithuania and eventually forced Lithuania to make proselytism.With the disband of the decadent Teutonic Order in 1525 in the Protestant Reformation and secularization,Livonian Order restored its independence.The independent Livonian Order continued its activities within the range of Livonian Federation,which established in 1418.Under the pressure of Russia and the Rzeczpospolita Obojga Narodow with the convetous attitude of Sweden on its territory,it still defended the attack of Ivan III in the early 16th century.But when Ivan the Terrible started a new Livonian war in 1558,this decadent Order was finally forced to be disband and its heritages were partitioned by the emerging powers around it.