Bringing the light of God to Lithuania, Livonia, Kurland, and any other pagan states with the policy decision of Baltic Crusades encourages both piety and fighting prowess in Guelders and Denmark. The two civilizations each can research this, with similiar effects: a boost to knightly infantry (+2 attack), conversion abilities and related technologies are enabled, and conversion resistance is increased by 50%.
Technology Statistics[edit | edit source]
Name: Baltic Crusades
Available to: Denmark, Guelders
Researched at: Town Hall
Century: 14th
Cost: 50 Food, 100 Florins
Effect: Knightly infantry +2 attack, conversion resistance +50%, priests can convert, unlocks conversion technologies
Historical Background[edit | edit source]
The subsequent Scandinavian campaigns of the crusades laid the foundations of modern Baltic society by destroying pagan rural farming settlements, and establishing fortified Christian towns and major castles. As with the majority of crusades, the prospective acquisition of land and power was the one of the key driving forces behind these bloody military expeditions.
The era officially began in 1147, when the Saxons, Danes, and Poles, responding to Pope Eugene III's call, initiated a crusade against the Wends of the Southern Baltic. This was followed by crusades against the Livonians, Estonians, Finns, Prussians, and Lithuanians. By the 13th century much of the responsibility for sustaining these crusades fell to the Teutonic Knights, a military order formed in the Holy Land in 1190. They were aided by the constant support of the Roman pontiff and by a steady flow of mercenaries from throughout Christendom.
