The Livonian Crusade was part of a broader initiative by the Catholic Church to convert the pagan peoples of the eastern Baltic to Christianity during the early 13th century. On August 15, 1224, the Livonian Brothers of the Sword accomplished a significant military objective by occupying Tarbatu, known today as Tartu, which was an important stronghold in Estonia. The city was a key site for the local Estonian tribes and a crucial point for trade and communication within the region.

The Brothers, a military order established in 1202, were tasked with both the evangelization of local populations and the protection of Christian settlements in the area. Their military successes were interconnected with the political ambitions of the Catholic Church, which sought to expand its influence into Northern Europe. The capture of Tarbatu not only demonstrated the military capabilities of the order but also marked an essential step in the establishment of a Christian presence that would dominate the region for centuries.

Following the occupation, the Brothers fortified their position and began to establish churches and other Christian institutions, further embedding Catholicism in the local culture. The conflicts with indigenous tribes resulted in the integration of various local customs into the burgeoning Christian community, which would shape the cultural landscape of Estonia. This occupation laid the groundwork for future territorial conflicts and dynamics between Christians and local pagan tribes, influencing the political and religious landscape in the centuries that followed.