Contrasting masculinities in the Baltic crusades: Teutonic Knights and secular crusaders at war and peace in late medieval Prussia

This essay investigates the nature of masculinity embodied by the two constituent groups which fought the crusades against pagan Lithuania in the fourteenth century: the knight brethren of the Teutonic Order in Prussia, and noble and knightly crusaders from Western Europe. The lifestyle of the Teutonic Order was prescriptive and normative, involving celibacy along with poverty and obedience, but anecdotal evidence suggests that some knight brethren struggled to maintain their vows. The overall model of masculinity within the order was one of heroic virtue and suffering. By contrast, the ethos of the crusaders was primarily characterised by adherence to the precepts of secular chivalry: honour, largesse, and comradeship, along with a fairly conventional piety. The temporary celibacy imposed on the crusaders by the practicalities of campaigning was relieved by numerous opportunities for male bonding, and during their time in Prussia, crusaders spent as much time in recreational activities as they did in the field. The crusades against the Lithuanians can thus be regarded as the most masculine of any of the forms of crusading; the two groups which fought the crusades were characterised by radically different models of chivalry, neither of which had a place for women.