State of the Teutonic Order

The State of the Teutonic Order (German: Staat des Deutschen Ordens, pronounced [ˈʃtaːt dɛs ˌdɔʏtʃn̩ ˈʔɔʁdn̩s] (listen); Latin: Civitas Ordinis Theutonici; Lithuanian: Vokiečių ordino valstybė; Polish: Państwo zakonu krzyżackiego), also called Deutschordensstaat (pronounced [ˈdɔʏtʃʔɔʁdn̩sˌʃtaːt] (listen)) or Ordensstaat (pronounced [ˈɔʁdn̩sˌʃtaːt] (listen)),[3] was a medieval Crusader state, located in Central Europe along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea. It was formed by the knights of the Teutonic Order during the 13th century Northern Crusades in the region of Prussia. The Livonian Brothers of the Sword merged in 1237 with the Teutonic Order of Prussia and became known as its branch, the Livonian Order, while their state (Terra Mariana) became a part of the Teutonic Order State. At its greatest territorial extent, in the early 15th century, it encompassed Chełmno Land, Courland, Gotland, Livonia, Neumark, Pomerelia (Gdańsk Pomerania), Prussia and Samogitia, i.e. territories nowadays located in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, Poland, Russia, and Sweden.

State of the Teutonic Order Staat des Deutschen Ordens (German) Civitas Ordinis Theutonici (Latin)
1226–1561
Flag Coat of arms
The State of the Teutonic Order in 1422
Status	Sovereign state (1230–1466) Fief and part (Prussia only) of Poland[1] (1226–1230, 1466–1525)
Capital	Marienburg (1308–1454) Königsberg (1454–1525)
Common languages	Old Prussian language (popular), Low German, Latin, Baltic languages, Estonian, Livonian, Polish
Religion	Roman Catholic
Demonym(s)	Teutons
Government	Theocratic elective monarchy
Grand Master (until 1308); Grand Master and Land Master of Prussia (until 1525); Land Master of Livonia (until 1561)
• 1226–1239	Hermann (first reigning Grand Master)
• 1510–1525	Albert (last reigning Grand Master and Land Master of Prussia)
• 1559–1561	Gotthard (last reigning Land Master of Livonia (Terra Mariana)
Legislature	Estates[2]
Historical era	Middle Ages
• Golden Bull of Rimini	March 1226
• Teutonic takeover (Slaughter) of Gdańsk	08 November 1308
• Battle of Grunwald	15 July 1410
• Thirteen Years' War	1454–1466
• Second Peace of Thorn	19 October 1466
• Polish–Teutonic War	1519–1521
• Prussian Homage (end of the Prussian branch)	10 April 1525
• Treaty of Vilnius (1561) (end of the Livonian branch)	28 November 1561
Currency	Mark
Preceded by Succeeded by Old Prussians Duchy of Estonia Yotvingians Duchy of Prussia Duchy of Courland and Semigallia Duchy of Livonia Swedish Estonia Royal Prussia

Following the battles of Grunwald in 1410 and Wilkomierz in 1435, the State fell into decline. After losing extensive territory in the imposed Peace of Thorn in 1466, the extant territory of its Prussian branch became known as Monastic Prussia (Polish: Prusy zakonne) or Teutonic Prussia (Polish: Prusy krzyżackie) and existed until 1525 as a part and fiefdom of the Kingdom of Poland.[1] The Livonian branch joined the Livonian Confederation and continued to exist as part of it until 1561.