Myth: Jagiełło’s Forces Had an Overwhelming Numerical Advantage
In recent years, researchers have increasingly supported the view that the Teutonic Order’s army numbered around 15,000 men-at-arms. It should be emphasises that among them there were only about 250 Teutonic brothers, namely those wearing the characteristic white surcoats bearing a black cross. Meanwhile, the latest studies estimate the Polish army at 19,000–20,000 troops, while the Lithuanian forces are believed to have numbered around 10,000.
Despite these differences in estimates, there is a general consensus among scholars that the numerical advantage lay with the Jagiellonian forces. The outcome of the battle was therefore determined not only by numbers, but also by strategy, leadership and the course of the fighting.
Myth: It Was the Largest Battle of Medieval Europe
If we compare historians’ findings and assume that approximately 45,000 men fought at Grunwald, the engagement can certainly be counted among the largest battles of Europe at the time. However, was it the largest?
When considering battles fought exclusively between Christian states, the Battle of Grunwald undoubtedly belongs among the greatest. It should be remembered, however, that estimates of troop numbers in many such engagements are based largely on historians’ calculations rather than reliable source material. Consequently, it is impossible to determine with certainty which battle was truly the largest of the Middle Ages or exactly how Grunwald compares with other medieval conflicts.
Fact: Grunwald Was an International Battlefield
The Battle of Grunwald was a clash involving representatives of many ethnic groups. Fighting alongside the Polish knighthood were warriors from Masovia, particularly from the Duchy of Płock, as well as mercenaries from Silesia, Bohemia and Moravia. On the Polish-Lithuanian side, besides Poles and Lithuanians, there were also Ruthenians, Tatars from the Golden Horde and a contingent from the vassal Principality of Moldavia.
Under the command of the Grand Master also served knights who had arrived from various parts of Western Europe, including France and England, and possibly Switzerland as well. It is often forgotten that among the Order’s ranks were knights who, in ethnic terms, could be considered Poles.
Grunwald was therefore a European conflict rather than simply a war between three nations.
Myth: Jagiełło Delayed Because He Was Afraid to Begin the Battle
The delay in launching the battle was not the result of fear or indecision on Jagiełło’s part. The encounter between the two armies at Grunwald came as a surprise to the Polish-Lithuanian side. When news reached the king that the Teutonic forces were nearby, the royal army was divided and stretched out along the march route.
It was necessary to inform individual units of the enemy’s presence and give the knights time to prepare for combat. The scattered forces also had to be assembled and deployed into battle formations on the field. All of this required time.
Jagiełło’s decision to postpone the start of the battle was therefore dictated by circumstances.
Myth: The Two Swords Were an Insulting Gesture
The mere appearance of the heralds carrying two swords and presenting them to King Władysław Jagiełło and Grand Duke Vytautas was not in itself an offensive gesture. Rather, it formed part of a chivalric custom practised throughout medieval Europe.
The speech delivered by the heralds during their audience with the king was another matter. They claimed that the swords were intended as support and encouragement for Jagiełło to engage in battle. At the same time, they did not hesitate to accuse him of cowardly hiding his troops among the forests and urged him to come out into the open field. These words had little to do with the ideals of chivalry and were rightly perceived as an expression of the Teutonic Order’s arrogance.
Myth: Ulrich von Jungingen Died in a Duel
There is no evidence that Grand Master Ulrich von Jungingen was killed in single combat with a Polish knight. None of the historical sources mention such an event.
What is known is that von Jungingen fell during the final phase of the battle while courageously leading the last reserves into action. He was therefore most likely killed by one of the Polish knights who halted the attack of the Teutonic reserve force.
The Grand Master most probably died amid the chaos of battle, and his death was not noticed immediately.
Myth: Malbork Could Have Been Easily Captured After the Victory
The capital of the Teutonic Order was one of the largest and most advanced fortresses in Europe, designed from the outset to withstand a prolonged siege. Jagiełło’s army consisted primarily of cavalry and was adapted chiefly for fighting in open terrain.
Siege warfare required powerful artillery, siege engines and large numbers of infantry, all of which were in short supply in the Polish-Lithuanian army.
Victory in battle did not necessarily have to result in the collapse of a state.
History Still Holds Secrets
Grunwald remains a symbol of one of Poland’s greatest victories, yet the actual course of the battle was far more complex than its textbook image suggests. It was not a simple struggle between Poles and Teutonic Knights, nor was success determined solely by numerical superiority. Despite numerous chronicles and hundreds of scholarly studies, historians are still unable to answer all the questions surrounding this famous encounter.
Source: Prof. Tadeusz Grabarczyk
Edit: Kacper Szczepaniak, Centrum Komunikacji Marki
