The Black Cross

A History of the Baltic Crusades

A wide-ranging new history of the Baltic Crusades and their legacy

Between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries, crusading armies unleashed a relentless holy war against the last pagan societies in northern Europe, particularly in the Baltic Sea region. Led by Catholic rulers, churchmen, and, most importantly of all, the warrior monks of the Teutonic Order, they sought to expand Christendom through conquest and conversion. In the process they forged a new world with a profound legacy that resonates into the present.
 
This book traces the broader story of the Baltic Crusades. It explores how the construction of castles and towns, and the introduction of new languages, technology, monetary economies, and religion transformed the conquered societies. Moving through the years, we see how the history of the crusades was reinvented in the twentieth century to serve nationalist aims, including those of the Third Reich. This book provides a fresh look at the impact of centuries of religious warfare across northern Europe and why its legacy still matters today.

Published by Yale University Press in 2026.

What have people said about this book?

“Pluskowski has written a lively, judicious history of the Baltic Crusades … navigating more than 1,200 years of complex, contested history in what will surely be the standard account for a generation.” — Dan Jones, The Times

“An arrestingly original and comprehensive account … lucid, wide-ranging, based on exemplary research … this will become a standard reference for scholars and students alike.” — Christopher Tyerman, author of God’s War

“Impressive in its range … Pluskowski’s mastery of research literature … unusually comprehensive and guaranteed to become a new standard work in the field.” — Kurt Villads Jensen, coauthor of Scandinavia in the Middle Ages

“Pluskowski delivers a fresh and absorbing story of one of crusading history’s most influential and powerful manifestations … fluent and confident writing illuminates a compelling array of characters.” — Jonathan Phillips, author of The Life and Legend of the Sultan Saladin