The Livonian Order is a German spiritual and knightly organization that existed during the 13th-16th centuries in Livonia (modern territory of Latvia and Estonia). It was organized in 1237 from the Order of the Sword, defeated by the Semigallians and Lithuanians in the battle of Saule. The Livonian Order was considered the Livonian branch of the Teutonic Order. It collapsed in 1561, when it was defeated by Lithuanian and Russian troops in the Livonian War.
Structure and management
The head of the Order was the master. True, he was also forced to obey the Supreme Master of the Teutonic Order. Herman Balk became the first head. After the master, the landmarshal followed - the commander of the army. The lands of the Order consisted of komturstvos (castle districts), which had fortified castles that served as the residence of the komtur (manager). Komtur took care of provisions, clothing and weapons. He was also in charge of warehousing and finance. It was the commander who commanded the army of the castle district during the war. However, most of the important issues were discussed at the order meeting (convention).
The supreme body of the Order was the general meeting of commanders - chapter, which was held 2 times a year. Only with the permission of the Chapter Mastercould give land to fief, conclude contracts, establish laws for local residents and divide the income of commanders. The chapter elected an order council, which consisted of a master, a land marshal and 5 advisers. This advice had a huge impact on the decisions of the master.
Members of the Order were divided into clergymen and knights. A distinctive feature of the knights was a white cape with a black cross. There were also half-brothers, who were distinguished by a gray cape. The main combat backbone of the Order was considered to be heavily armed cavalry. The army also included hired soldiers. In addition to the permanent members, the army of the Order was replenished by various knights who were looking for adventure.
Daily life
Only Germans who were members of the old noble families could join the Livonian Order. Each new member vowed to dedicate his life to spreading Christianity.
When joining the Livonian Order, the knights stopped wearing the family coat of arms. It was replaced by a common sword and a red cross on the cloak.
Besides, Livonian knights could not marry and own property. According to the charter, the knights had to live together, sleep on hard beds, eat meager food, and could not go anywhere, receive or write letters without higher permission.
Also, the brothers had no right to keep anything under lock and key and could not talk to women.
The whole life of the members of the Order was regulated by the charter. Each castle had a book of knightly charter, which was read at least 3 times a year. Every day a memberThe order began with a liturgy.
We fasted for almost a year. They mostly ate porridge, bread and vegetables. Weapons and clothing were the same.
The property of the Livonian knight was limited to a pair of shirts, a pair of breeches, 2 pairs of shoes, one cloak, a sheet, a prayer book and a knife. Members of the Order were forbidden any entertainment other than hunting.
But there was an indulgence in the charter, which led to the secularization of the organization created by the Livonian Order: the knights could trade for the benefit of their relatives. First, the knights changed their feats of arms to commercial and political activities, and soon they completely switched to Protestantism, turning into secular persons.
