a military and religious order of German knights, priests, and serving brothers founded about 1190 during the Third Crusade, later conquering large parts of the Baltic provinces and Russia
Also called: Teutonic Knights
Teutonic Order in American English
a military and religious order of German knights (Teutonic Knights) organized in 1191 for service in the Crusades and later active in the military conquests by Germany of Baltic and Slavic lands