The Knights of the Cross, Volume IV

by Henryk Sienkiewicz Book 4 in the The Knights of the Cross — Four-Volume Edition series.

First published 1900

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3.6(7)

Open war begins between the Teutonic Order and the allied forces of Władysław II Jagiełło and Vytautas. Zbyszko and Maćko join the campaign as the armies manoeuvre through Prussia towards a decisive confrontation. The personal grievances accumulated across the earlier volumes are absorbed into a conflict involving royal strategy, knightly reputation and the future balance of power in the Baltic region.

At the Battle of Grunwald in July 1410, the Polish–Lithuanian army defeats the Order and Grand Master Ulrich von Jungingen is killed. Sienkiewicz combines the battle’s historical commanders with the fictional fulfilment of Zbyszko’s vows and his eventual acceptance of a future with Jagienka. The conclusion transforms individual loss into a national victory while presenting Grunwald as the answer to years of political and personal violence.