Malbork Castle

The Teutonic Order was created in 1143 when the Pope, Celestine II ordered the Knights Hospitaller to manage a German Hospital in Jerusalem which housed German pilgrims and crusaders. The Knights Hospitaller were commanded by the Pope that they should always be Germans themselves. This was done so as to develop a German religious institution in Palestine.

After Jerusalem was taken by the forces of Islam in 1187, the Order gained new members from the merchant classes of Lubeck and Bremen. This was followed by the establishment of a Field Hospital at the Siege of Acre in 1190. In 1192, the Pope recognized the efforts of the Order and granted the monks Augustinian Rule.

By 1198, the Knights Hospitaller based a new military order on the model of the Knights Templar. After this transformation, the Pope gave orders for them to liberate and defend the Holy City of Jerusalem from the 'barbarian' Saracens.

Though the Order was originally based in Acre, the Knights also controlled the Castle of Starkenberg (Montfort) from 1220 and it housed the seat of the Orders Grand Masters in 1229, as it lay on the important Jerusalem-Mediterranean route. It was around this time that the Order was granted gifts of land in the Holy Roman Empire, Greece and Palestine.

In 1225, Emperor Frederick II (of the Holy Roman Empire) gave Grandmaster Hermann Von Salza the title Reichsfurst, basically a Prince of the Empire. This allowed the Teutonic Order to become more established and the Grandmasters could now talk with senior Princes as equals. This was an important step in the development of the Teutonic Order.

Konrad I, Duke of Masovia appealed to Grandmaster von Salza in 1226, for his and his Knights help in subduing the native pagan Prussians. The fight between the Order and the Prussians was especially brutal and it was after the subjugation of the Native Prussians, that the Teutonic Order built its Ordensburg (Fortresses) to defend the land they now controlled.

Malbork Castle was founded in 1274AD by the Teutonic Knights as Marienburg, meaning Mary's Castle. It was named this in honour of the Virgin Mary who was the Patron Saint of the Teutonic Order.

By the Fourteenth Century, Marienburg became the head of the seat of the Teutonic Order, due to its favourable position on the River Nogat which allowed for the control of trading ships and barges. This gave the Order a monopoly on the trade of amber.

After the creation of the Hanseatic League (a trading monopoly on the Batlic Sea), Marienberg developed into a major seat of power. Many Hanseatic League meetings were held here.

During the Polish-Lithuanian-Teutonic War, Marienberg was besieged. This was after the defeat of Teutonic forces at the Battle of Grunwald in 1410. The siege was lifted when the Poles, decimated by disease realised that Teutonic reinforcements were on the way.

The Teutonic Order never recovered from this decisive defeat and its power waned as the years went by. The Castle at Marienberg was finally taken in 1460 during the Thirteen Years War. This war started as a rebellion by Prussian Cities to Teuton rule and eventually incorperated many other nations, most notably Poland who took the opportunity to finish the Teutonic Order once and for all.

After the defeat in the Thirteen Years War, the Teutons were given the right to rile Eastern Prussia, but only as Polish Vassals. The once mighty Order had finally succumbed.

The Castle was in the middle of a huge restoration project when World War Two broke out and over half of the Castle was destroyed in the fighting. At the end of the war, restoration continued, though the Cathedral in the centre of the castle still lies in its ruined state.

The Teutonic Knights were powerful and ferocious advocates of holy war. Their history is suffused with crusading, campaigning and struggle. Feared by their enemies but respected by medieval Christendom, the knights and their Order maintained a firm hold over the Baltic and northern Germany and established a formidable regime which flourished across Central Europe for 300 years. This major new book surveys the gripping history of the knights and their Order and relates their rise to power; their struggles against Prussian pagans; the series of wars against Poland and Lithuania; the clash with Alexander Nevsky's Russia; and the gradual stagnation of the order in the fourteenth century. The book is replete with dramatic episodes - such as the battle on frozen Lake Peipus in 1242, or the disaster of Tannenberg - but focuses primarily on the year-after-year struggle to maintain power, fend of incursions and raiding bands and to launch crusades against unbelieving foes. And it was the crusade - with knights demonstrating their valour, daring and knightly worth - which chiefly characterised and breathed life into this militant, conquering Holy Order. William Urban's narrative charts the rise and fall of the Order and, in an accessible and engaging style, throws light on a band of knights whose deeds and motives have long been misunderstood.
A look at the the Teutonic Knights from the Crusades through to the Thirteen Years War. From the weoponry and armour used, to the tactics deployed. This book is also a fantastic resource for learning about why the Teutonic Order fought the way it did. Like always Osprey have a winner!

The enormous Marienberg (Malbork) Castle is a joy to explore with nearly all of the rooms open to the public. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

The entrance to the castle is from the Northern Main Gate, once the only way to enter and exit the fortress. Through this entrance you will enter into the vast courtyard of the Middle Castle. To the right of here is the Grandmaster's Palace, which has some of the most beautiful rooms in the entire castle complex.

Nextdoor to the Grandmaster's Palace is the Knights Hall with its magnificent palm vaulting. this is the largest chamber in the complex, but this area was being restored when I visited so I didn't get to see too much.

The High Castle is behind and by following this you will come to the arcaded courtyard, which has a well in the centre. You can almost imagine daily life here as you walk through. The Castle Church is a splendid example of Teutonic architecture and has the Grandmaster's crypt beneath it.

You will also be allowed to climb the Castle Tower, which allows wonderful views over the huge complex and the surrounding area. I would also advise you to take the walk around the castle walls, as it gives you a feel for what the Teutonic Knights must of felt, as they defended their home from their enemies.

Malbork Castle is easily visited from a vacation in Warsaw or Gdansk. The Town lies on the main rail line between these two Cities and train tickets are cheap by western standards (certainly by British standards).

Flights to Warsaw and Gdansk from within Europe are regular from various locations across the Continent. The Uk especially since many Poles from the region have sinced moved to the UK for work.

From outside of Europe, flights to Warsaw can be found from Travelocity. A very good site with a reliable flight search engine.




If you are organising a vacation to Gdansk or Warsaw there are plenty of choices when it comes to accommodation. Hotels.com has a great search engine which finds the best prices on hotles that suit your needs.




There are hotels in Malbork if you do wish to spend some time here, though apart from the castle there is not much to see or do. You would be better off visiting on a day trip. In both Gdansk and Warsaw, local Tour companies will offer daytrips to Malbork Castle, but to be honest it will be just as easy and less costly to organise a trip yourself either by train or by hiring a private car.