Editing Teutonic Order (section)

===Livonia===
{{Main|Livonian Crusade}}
[[File:Paide ordulinnuse varemed 2013.JPG|thumb|Ruins of the Teutonic Order's castle in [[Paide]], Estonia]]

After suffering a devastating defeat in the [[Battle of Saule]], the [[Livonian Brothers of the Sword]] were absorbed by the Teutonic Knights in 1237. The Livonian branch subsequently became known as the [[Livonian Order]].<ref name="Plakans">{{cite book |last1=Plakans |first1=Andrejs |title=A Concise History of the Baltic States |year=2011 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |isbn=978-0521833721 |pages= 44–45 }}</ref>

Although the [[Northern Crusades]] were aimed at pagan [[Balts]] and [[Finns]], rather than Orthodox Russians, several unsuccessful attempts were made to persuade Novgorod to convert to Catholicism after the capture of [[Tartu]].{{sfn|Nicolle|1997|pages=11–15}} Livonian missionary and Crusade activity in Estonia caused conflicts with [[Novgorod Republic|Novgorod]], which had also attempted to subjugate, raid and convert the pagan Estonians.{{sfn|Martin|2007|pages=175–219}} Hoping to exploit Novgorod's weakness in the wake of the Mongol and Swedish invasions, the Teutonic Knights penetrated deep into Novgorodian territory;{{sfn|Martin|2007|pages=175–219}} however, in 1242, they were defeated in the [[Battle of the Ice]] at the hands of Prince [[Alexander Nevsky]]. The ''[[Livonian Rhymed Chronicle]]'' describes the events:{{sfn|Nicolle|1997|pages=60–61}}

{{Blockquote|text=
There is a city in Russia called Novgorod, and when its king [Alexandre] heard what had happened he marched towards Pskov with many troops. He arrived there with a mighty force of many Russians to free the Pskovians and these latter heartily rejoiced. When he saw the Germans he did not hesitate long. They drove away the two Brothers, removed them from their governorship and routed their troops. The Germans fled and allowed the land to revert to the Russians. Thus it went for the Teutonic Knights, but if Pskov had been protected it would have benefited Christianity until the end of the world. It is a mistake to take a fair land and fail to occupy it properly. It is deplorable, for the result is sure to be disastrous. The king of Novgorod then returned home.{{sfn|Nicolle|1997|pages=60–61}}
|source=''Livonian Rhymed Chronicle''
}}

Over the next decades the Order focused on the subjugation of the [[Curonians]] and [[Semigallians]]. In 1260 it suffered a disastrous defeat in the [[Battle of Durbe]] against [[Samogitians]], and this inspired rebellions throughout Prussia and Livonia. After the Knights won a crucial victory in the [[Siege of Königsberg]] from 1262 to 1265, the war had reached a turning point. The Curonians were finally subjugated in 1267 and the Semigallians in 1290.<ref name="Plakans"/> The Order suppressed a [[St. George's Night Uprising|major Estonian rebellion]] in 1343–1345, and in 1346 purchased the [[Danish Estonia#Duchy of Estonia|Duchy of Estonia]] from [[Denmark]].