Teutonic Order

Primary culture

Prussian (Germanic)

Capital province

Marienburg (1841)

Government

Monastic Order

State religion

Catholic

Technology group

Western

Teutonic ideas

Please help with verifying or updating this infobox. It was last verified for version 1.33.

Traditions:

+10% Cavalry combat ability

+5% Discipline

Reform the Army

−10% Infantry cost

−10% Cavalry cost

Recruit Peasants

+15% Manpower recovery speed

Adjust our Infantry Tactics

+10% Infantry combat ability

Assume Religious Authority

+2% Missionary strength

+1 Yearly papal influence

+5% Church power

Expand the Marches

+15% Fort defense

Promote Prussian Bishops

+1 Missionary

One State, One Religion

+1 Tolerance of the true faith

Ambition:

+10% Institution spread

The Teutonic Order is a theocracy situated on the coast of the Baltic Sea. Formed during the Third Crusade, the Teutonic Knights were at times based in Acre and, after the expulsion of the Crusaders from the Holy Land, in Hungarian-Transylvania, before finding renewed purpose in the Polish-backed Prussian Crusade of 1230. By 1444, with their mission of Christianizing the region complete, they are beginning to look obsolete and are drawing the attention of their neighbours, especially Poland and Lithuania. Historically, the order converted to Protestantism and formed Prussia in 1525.

Missions[edit | edit source]

Main article: Teutonic missions

Events[edit | edit source]

Main article: Teutonic events

Decisions[edit | edit source]

id

Reform into Prussia

The age of crusading knights is fading fast. There will come a time when we no longer stand to gain by holding on to the trappings of a monastic order. Besides, the Grandmaster would much rather be a Duke... or King. By reforming into a secular state, we can revitalize our administration and gain the respect of our neighbors.

Potential requirements

The country:

was never an end-game nation.
is Teutonic Order
has not formed Prussia before
does not have the 'Celestial Empire' government reform
is not a colonial nation

If the country is AI-controlled then it:

is not a custom nation
is not a former colonial nation.
Prussia does not exist
Either the Protestant, Reformed or Anglican religion is enabled

Playing with normal or historical nations

Allow

Prussia does not exist
The country:

has an administrative technology of at least 10.
is not at war
is Protestant, Reformed, Anglican or Hussite
owns its core province Königsberg (41)

Königsberg (41) is part of a state

Effects

The country:

becomes Prussia
gains 25 prestige
gets new missions.
gets the event ‘New Traditions & Ambitions’, unless it has custom or Prussian ideas.
gains a permanent claim on:
- West Prussia area
- East Prussia area
if it is not revolutionary:
- if is not a republic, becomes a monarchy and enacts 'Prussian Monarchy' government reforms
- if is a republic, enacts 'Stratocratic Administration' government reform
if 'States General' government reform is enacted, reform is removed
gets “Increased Centralization” for 10 years, giving:
- −0.05 monthly autonomy change,
- +1 national unrest.

Every neighbouring monarchies:

Gain opinion modifier “Secularized Monastic Order” ( +25 opinion / −2.5 yearly decay / +25 max) towards Prussia

If Königsberg (41) is part of the HRE, but its owner is not a member then:

the province is removed from the HRE.
the Holy Roman Emperor:
- gets the opinion modifier “Removed provinces from the Empire” towards the owner, worth −50 opinion with a yearly decay of 1.
- loses 1 imperial authority.

Königsberg (41):

becomes the new capital of the owner country.

id

Elevate Bishopric to an Archbishopric

As a Prince-Elector of the Holy Roman Empire we have a much greater political power than the title Bishop would normally imply. Let us make use of this influence to convince the Holy See to elevate our Bishopric to an Archbishopric.

Potential requirements

The country:

is a theocracy.
is part of the Holy Roman Empire
is a Duchy.
has not enacted ‘Monastic Order’ government reform.

Allow

The country:

is not a subject nation.
is an elector of the Holy Roman Empire.

If the country is Catholic:

has at least 25 papal influence.

Effects

The country:

becomes a kingdom.
loses 25 papal influence.

AI will always take this decision

Strategy[edit | edit source]

The below is one of many player suggested strategies for Teutonic Order. Bear in mind, due to the dynamic nature of the game, it may unfold differently for other players.

The Teutonic Order starts without any alliances, and being a Theocracy is unable to form royal marriages with its neighbors. Aside from the Neumark territory, the Teutonic Order are not as a whole within the Holy Roman Empire, thus will stand alone from Polish or Lithuanian aggression if the player does not act immediately. Alongside the threat posed from your southern rivals, the potential aggression of an expansionist Denmark if interested will begin making claims on your Baltic territories. The below guide details the initial challenges the Teutons will face, and how to best deal with them.

The Prussian Confederation[edit | edit source]

The Prussian Confederation is a Disaster that fires shortly after the start. The Disaster details disloyal estates that have secured Polish support for their cause against the Teutonic Order who will revolt as Danzig and, if the player elects to go to war against them invite Poland as a supporter of their Independence who will always accept. If you have alliances at this point, you will not be able to call them to arms as you will be labelled as the attacker.

It is therefore, not wise or suggested to allow the situation to spiral down to this. The only other way to resolve this is by being at peace, having at least +1 Stability, no spawned Particularist Rebel armies who must not occupy any of your territories, as well as having 40% Crownland, to complete the decision Curtail the Prussian Confederation.

To do this, the player will need to Seize and Develop more than 40% Crownland. In the Estates screen, the player can seize 5% Crownland every 5 years though this will result in rebel armies being spawned as well as lowered loyalty among the estates. Though it is suggested to Seize Land, the player will only be able to do this 4 times before 1460, as this is the average time when the revolt fires, and Danzig will be given 1/2/3/4/5 territory equal to 40/50/60/70/80 influence should the player fail to satisfy the conditions above.

As the event will also deduct 10% Crownland initially, the player will only be able to attain 30% Crownland with this method - the rest will need to be made up through Development if of course the player does not receive any events in the meantime that improves Crownland possession.

Alliances & the Holy Roman Empire[edit | edit source]

Whilst improving your Crownland, look to your neighbors in the Holy Roman Empire (HRE) for suitable allies. Your leader Konrad von Erlichshausen is beneficial here with his Silver Tongue trait, which provides +20% Improved Relations. Brandenburg and Bohemia often start on neutral relations, but if you're really lucky will begin with a friendly attitude and ask for an alliance within the first few months. The Livonian Order almost always starts as a Historical Friend and will offer an alliance immediately, however it is recommended you do not ally with them as their lands are always the target of Denmark's initial conquests. Avoid getting involved in any wars with your allies, as you will not be able to Seize Land or Curtail the Prussian Confederation in the meantime, which can prove to be a fatal setback. It is therefore ultimately recommended to hold off on accepting or beginning any alliances until you are within the HRE.

The Fate of Neumark event should also fire early on, and you should always sell the province back to Brandenburg for the +100 ducats and +50 relations bonus. It is wise to improve your relations with Austria from the start. Whilst improving your relations won't ever guarantee an alliance with Austria, it will give you +100 towards joining the HRE. With the +100 ducats from selling Neumark to Brandenburg, and money raised through your income in the meantime, aim to send 200 ducats toward Austria which should secure +150 Relations with Austria to join.

If rivaling you, Denmark will pose your only real threat aside from The Prussian Confederation, as Poland and Lithuania will start with a truce that doesn't expire until 1449. With a Navy stronger than yours, and both Sweden and Norway under their Personal Union plus any alliances they may have secured will easily overrun your borders. It is therefore absolutely vital that you join the HRE as soon as possible; a large factor of joining relies on The Fate of Neumark firing, if this does not happen at least before 1450, consider selling either Kulm to Poland or Memel to Lithuania, as both territories do not have Prussian Culture. Bare in mind though selling these territories will result in a loss of -10 Prestige.

If you are unable to sell any of the aforementioned provinces, and if Brandenburg or Bohemia have you set as a rival then you should consider restarting.

Joining the HRE and forming into Prussia[edit | edit source]

By 1450 the Neumark event should have fired and you should have more than enough ducats to secure HRE membership. Congratulations, you have now warded off the threat of Poland! Now, you will face your next greatest challenge; getting to Admin level 10 and forming Prussia before Brandenburg conquers Pomerania - Wolgast and Stettin.

By 1450, Denmark would have conquered or will be in the process of conquering Livonian Order's northern territories, and the Polish and Lithuanians will have united under the Jagiellon dynasty, thereby securing the future formation of the Commonwealth. If you must expand, Poland will be your best bet but make sure you have strong allies, like Muscovy before going to war. Expansion into the HRE through Wolgast is always an option, however the risk of Unlawful Territory from Austria often makes the investment to forge a claim and then going to war redundant.

Whatever you do, bear in mind that once Brandenburg conquer Wolgast and Stettin, they will then gain claims on your territories and subsequently break their alliance with and rival you.