Mihai Dragnea completed his doctoral research at the Romanian Academy ('Nicolae Iorga' Institute of History). The thesis entitled Mission and Crusade in the Wendish Territory, 12th Century was published in Romanian in 2019. His research interests include the relations between Germans and Wends during the High Middle Ages, with a focus on crusading and conversion. He is the current President of the Balkan History Association.

• ForewordList of abbreviations1 Introduction2 Crusade ideology in northern Europe and Bernard of Clairvaux3 Forced conversion and the new canon law (ius novum)4 The conquest of a pagan territory blessed by the church5 Expanding the crusading ideal on the eastern shore of the BalticConclusionIndex

Mihai Dragnea completed his doctoral research at the Romanian Academy ('Nicolae Iorga' Institute of History). The thesis entitled Mission and Crusade in the Wendish Territory, 12th Century was published in Romanian in 2019. His research interests include the relations between Germans and Wends during the High Middle Ages, with a focus on crusading and conversion. He is the current President of the Balkan History Association.

• ForewordList of abbreviations1 Introduction2 Crusade ideology in northern Europe and Bernard of Clairvaux3 Forced conversion and the new canon law (ius novum)4 The conquest of a pagan territory blessed by the church5 Expanding the crusading ideal on the eastern shore of the BalticConclusionIndex

Mihai Dragnea completed his doctoral research at the Romanian Academy ('Nicolae Iorga' Institute of History). The thesis entitled Mission and Crusade in the Wendish Territory, 12th Century was published in Romanian in 2019. His research interests include the relations between Germans and Wends during the High Middle Ages, with a focus on crusading and conversion. He is the current President of the Balkan History Association.

• ForewordList of abbreviations1 Introduction2 Crusade ideology in northern Europe and Bernard of Clairvaux3 Forced conversion and the new canon law (ius novum)4 The conquest of a pagan territory blessed by the church5 Expanding the crusading ideal on the eastern shore of the BalticConclusionIndex