The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1997/The_Epic_Interactive_Encyclopedia_97.iso/t/teutonic_knight/infotext

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Member of a German Christian military order,
the Knights of the Teutonic Order, founded
1190 by Hermann of Salza in Palestine. They
crusaded against the pagan Prussians and
Lithuanians from 1228 and controlled Prussia
until the 16th century. Their capital was
Marienburg (now Malbork, Poland). The
Teutonic Knights were originally members of
the German aristocracy who founded an order
of hospitallers in Acre 1190 and became a
military order 1198. They wore white robes
with black crosses. They were based in
Palestine until 1268 when they were expelled
by the Mamelukes (rulers of Egupt), after
which they concentrated on taking Roman
Catholicism into E Europe under the control
of the pope. They were prevented from
expanding into Russia by Alexander Nevsky at
the battle of Lake Peipus 1243, but they
ruthlessly colonized Prussia 1226-1283. By
the 15th century, pressure from neighbouring
powers and the decline of the crusader ideal
led to their containment within East Prussia.
Their influence ended 1525 when their grand
master Albert of Brandenburg was converted to
Lutheranism and declared Prussia to be a
secular duchy.