Why was the Order of the Brothers of the Sword established?

The Order of the Brothers of the Sword was established in 1202 by Albert von Buxhoevden, the third bishop of Livonia, with the permission of the pope.1

The organization was created as a permanent military body to serve two primary purposes:
* To protect the church’s territorial conquests in the region.1
* To forcibly convert native pagan tribes to Christianity.1

By functioning as a dedicated crusading force, the order provided the military strength necessary for the German conquest of lands that include modern-day Estonia and Latvia.12