Over 1500 ‘knights’ from all  over Europe gathered, Saturday, in the fields of Grunwald in the north east of Poland to re-enact the Battle of Grunwald 1410.

This year celebrates the 599 th anniversary of the legendary defeat of the Knights of the Teutonic Order by forces of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, led by King Wladyslaw Jagiello.

The re-enactment is staged every year and attracts a vast number of participants, ready to adorn medieval battle armour, as well as thousands of viewers. The knights come prepared and equipped with swords and medieval artillery.

The Battle of Grunwald took place on July 15, 1410: the knights of the Teutonic Order were led by the Grand Master Ulrich von Jungingen. It was one of the most important battles in Medieval Europe and the largest battle to involve knights.

Poles call this the Battle of Grunwald, the Lithuanians the Battle of Zalgiris, and the Germans and other western allies, the Battle of Tannenberg.

It was a complete defeat for the Teutonic Knights, who never recovered after that important battle. (ab/pg)