Why did Conrad of Mazovia invite the Teutonic Knights into Prussia?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Historical map showing the unification of Germany by Prussia in the late 19th century. The map highlights in green the Kingdom of Prussia as of 1866, and in yellow the additional territories that formed the German Empire by 1871-1918, encompassing most of north-central Europe. Neighboring countries such as France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Russia, Austria-Hungary, and Switzerland are labeled, with major regions and states within the empire clearly marked. — Prussia The unification of Germany by Prussia, which brought most of north-central Europe into one kingdom.

Conrad of Mazovia invited the Teutonic Order into Prussia in 1226 to secure military assistance against the pagan Prussians, who were frequently harassing his lands in Mazovia.123

Conrad provided the knights with a territorial base, intending for them to act as his vassals following a successful joint conquest of the region. However, the Teutonic Knights took steps to ensure their independence by securing recognition from both the Holy Roman Empire and the papacy, effectively bypassing Conrad's authority. This move ultimately led to the conquest and Christianization of the Prussian population and the establishment of a powerful, independent state governed by the order.1342