The Jagiellonian Trail: The Organization of the Units of the Kingdom of Poland during the Prussian War (1519–1521)

This paper discusses the transformation of the Polish medieval army into a modern one based on the war with the Teutonic Order from 1519–1521. The Kingdom of Poland was ill-prepared for this conflict, and achieved no spectacular victories in battle. Comparing data from treasury materials with documents calling the units to service, we argue that the Teutonic Order was defeated thanks to Poland’s much more efficient system of rebuilding military potential; the Order did not have such a system. The Polish could also recruit men from the monarchies ruled by the Jagiellons at the time—Poland, Lithuania, Czechia, and Hungary. The waterway on and along the Vistula River enabled efficient replenishment of military manpower and supplies. We call this internal transportation route of the Jagiellonian states the “Jagiellonian Trail.”