Wolter von Plettenberg Wolter ( or Walter ) von Plettenberg ( c . 1450 – February 28 , 1535 ) was the Master ( " Landmeister " ) of the Livonian Order from 1494 to 1535 and one of the greatest leaders of the Teutonic knights . He was an important early Baltic German . Biography . Plettenberg was born in Welver ( in Meyerich Castle ) , Westphalia . He went to the fort of Narva at the age of ten . He joined the Order when he was about fifteen . In 1489 he was elected to marshal of the Order ( " Landmarschall " ) , in 1491 he fought successfully against the city of Riga and was elected master in 1494 . That same year Moscow closed down the Hanseatic office in Novgorod and imprisoned Hanseatic merchants ( most of them were Livonians ) there . Livonia was drifting into war with Muscovite Russia . After negotiations in 1498 failed , Plettenberg chose to prepare for pre - emptive attack against Pskov , which was then still formally independent state , but under heavy influence of Moscow . In 1500 Plettenberg made an alliance with Grand Duke of Lithuania , Alexander Jagiellon ( the Treaty of Wenden ) , who was in war with Russia since 1499 . He also tried to convince Pope Alexander VI to issue a crusading bull against the Russians and get some indulgence money , but his efforts were in vain . In the war with Russia ( 1501 - 1503 ) , Plettenberg showed himself as a talented and skilled commander . His strength lay in his skillful use of heavy cavalry and artillery fire . With such tactics von Plettenberg won the Battle of the Siritsa River ( August 1501 ) , where an army of Livonian Confederation of 8 , 000 foot and 4 , 000 horse defeated about two times stronger army of Russians . But without the promised help of Lithuanians Plettenberg couldn ' t conquer Pskov and only burned the stronghold of Ostrov . During the winter of 1501 – 1502 , the Russians harshly ravaged Eastern Livonia and many Livonian dignitaries wanted to make peace with Muscovy . But Plettenberg decided to continue war and tried to conquer Pskov one more time . But due to Moscow ' s strong support for Pskov , he was forced to retreat southwest from the city . On 13 September 1502 he won the Battle of Smolin ( at Lake Smolin close to the village Palkino in Pskov Oblast ) with his 5 , 000 men against about 12 , 000 Russians . The next day , 14 September , became the Victory Day in Livonia . In 1503 peace between Ivan III and Livonia on the terms of " status quo ante bellum " was concluded . During the Protestant Reformation , Plettenberg supported the Lutherans , hoping thus to subjugate the Catholic Archbishopric of Riga to him . The province was in disarray and the master had serious difficulties in ruling the territory which remained divided between the Order , the bishoprics , and rich cities Riga , Tallinn and Tartu . In 1525 Plettenberg refused to convert himself to Lutheranism and to become a secular ruler of Livonia as the Grand Master Albert in Prussia had done . Instead he became vassal or Imperial Prince ( " Reichsfürst " ) of the Emperor Charles V , thus hoping to get direct support from the Holy Roman Empire . In the beginning of the year 1535 he died quite suddenly at the age of about 85 years .