Battle of Grunwald (Mediaeval Military Scene) (War Playing Cards

This design features a painting by the Polish artist Jan Matejko (1838–1893). It shows a scene from the Battle of Grunwald (also known as the First Battle of Tannenberg or the Battle of Žalgiris), which was fought on 15 July 1410 during the Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War. The battle shifted the balance of power in Central and Eastern Europe, marking the rise of the Polish–Lithuanian union as the dominant political and military force in the region. The battle was one of the largest in mediaeval Europe, and it is viewed as one of the most important victories in the histories of Poland and Lithuania. It is also commemorated in Ukraine and Belarus. It has been used as a source of romantic legends and national pride, becoming a larger symbol of struggle against foreign invaders. The original artwork by Jan Matejko was painted in 1878.