Prussian Crusade

The Prussian Crusade was a series of battles and efforts in the 13th century by Christian groups, mainly led by the Teutonic Knights, to bring the Old Prussians to the Christian faith. These efforts began after earlier tries by Polish leaders were not successful. The Teutonic Knights started their campaigns in 1230 against the Prussians, as well as the Lithuanians and Samogitians.

Over time, the Knights faced many uprisings from the Prussians but eventually took control of the land. They ruled the area through their own organization and made big changes to the way of life for the Prussians. By the end of the century, much of the Prussian language, culture, and old beliefs had disappeared because of these changes. Some Prussians found safety by moving to nearby Lithuania.

Early missions and conflicts

Wulfstan of Hedeby, an agent of Alfred of Wessex, described the Prussians as a strong and independent people who lived by the sea and raised cattle. Later, leaders from nearby areas, like Mieszko I of the Polans, tried to expand their lands into Prussian territory.

Over the next few hundred years, there were many conflicts between the Prussians and their neighbors, including the Poles, Sudovians, and Wends. These groups fought over land and control. Some Prussians were pressured to change their beliefs, but many returned to their old ways after the fighting stopped. Several leaders were killed in these battles, and both sides attacked each other repeatedly.

Crusade of 1222/23

In the early 1200s, a church leader named Honorius III asked people to join a special mission to help bring more people into the Christian faith. He chose a church leader from Gniezno, Wincenty I Niałek, to lead this mission. Many people from Germany and Poland gathered in a place called Masovia to get ready. Important leaders like Duke Henry of Silesia and bishops from Breslau (Wroclaw) and Lebus joined in.

The goal was to build strong forts in an area called Chełmno Land, especially one in the town of Chełmno. By 1223, many of the people who came to help had left, and the Prussians attacked again, damaging Chełmno Land and Masovia. This forced Duke Conrad to hide in a castle in Płock. The attacks even reached as far as Gdańsk.

Later, about fourteen knights from northern Germany were asked to help. They were called the Order of Dobrzyń and were given land near Dobrzyń to build a castle. At first, they succeeded in pushing the Prussians out, but a counterattack by the Prussians defeated most of them. The remaining knights found safety in a place ruled by Duke Swantopelk II. Another group, the Order of Calatrava, tried to help but did not succeed either.

Invitation of the Teutonic Order

A man named Christian of Oliva met a leader called Hermann von Salza, who was in charge of the Teutonic Order. Duke Conrad of Masovia asked the Teutonic Order for help to deal with the Prussians. This would let Conrad become High Duke of Poland. Hermann was busy helping Emperor Frederick II but wanted more freedom for his group.

Hermann talked to the emperor, who agreed that taking control of the Prussians would help protect the borders of the Holy Roman Empire. The emperor gave the Teutonic Order land called Chełmno Land and any lands they could conquer. The mission to change the Prussians' beliefs was led by Bishop Christian of Oliva.

Before starting their campaign, the Teutonic Order signed a treaty with the Poles, agreeing to receive Chełmno Land and any lands they conquered. Some historians question this treaty, but recent studies say it was real. Duke Conrad thought Chełmno Land was just a base, while Hermann saw it as giving the Order full control, except for loyalty to the Holy See and the Holy Roman Emperor. A later document from Pope Gregory IX confirmed the Order's control over the lands they took.

A writer from the 1300s named Peter von Dusburg described eleven areas in Prussia and estimated their populations and armies. Modern estimates suggest there were about 170,000 Prussians in total.

Initial Teutonic campaigns

In 1230, a group of knights known as the Teutonic Knights began their efforts to bring new lands under their control. They started by building a castle called Vogelsang and used it as a base for small raids into nearby areas. More knights and soldiers arrived to help strengthen their position.

The knights focused on building strong forts along the Vistula River. Each year, they gathered more knights from faraway places to join their campaigns. These early efforts included soldiers from Poland, Germany, and other nearby regions. After each campaign, the Teutonic Knights stayed behind to guard the new forts and settle the land. Over time, they built many towns and brought in new people to live there. They continued to expand their control, facing resistance from local tribes but gradually establishing their rule over the region.

First Prussian Uprising

In 1242, the people of Prussia rose up against the Teutonic Knights, who were trying to take over their land. The Duke of Pomerelia joined the Prussians in this fight. Although the Prussians were good at quick battles in the woods, they could not capture all the Knights' strongholds. Over time, some leaders changed their minds about helping the Prussians. By 1249, most Prussians agreed to peace in what is called the Treaty of Christburg. This treaty gave more rights to those who chose Christianity, though some fighting continued for a few more years.

Samland

After the Prussian people in the west were settled by new people, the Teutonic Knights moved north and east to face the Sambians in a place called Samland. In 1252, a leader named Heinrich Stango tried to attack a place called Romuve but was defeated and killed by the Sambians.

The pope and a new leader called Poppo von Osterna called for more people to join the fight against the Sambians. In 1253, Poppo and others reduced resistance from another group called the Galindians but were careful not to use too much force, as they worried the Prussians might seek help from Poland.

A large army of 60,000 people gathered, including groups from Bohemia, Austria, Moravia, Saxony, and others. They defeated the Sambians at the Battle of Rudau. Those who agreed to join the new beliefs were allowed to live, but those who fought back were removed. Samland was taken over in just under a month in January 1255. The Teutonic Knights built new towns, including Königsberg and Braunsberg, and a castle called Wehlau to protect their new settlements.

Great Prussian Uprising (1260–1274)

The Samogitians, a group living near the Prussians, had made a peace agreement in 1259 but later defeated groups trying to take over their land. Their success encouraged the Prussians to rise up against the crusaders in 1260.

Even though the Teutonic Knights had taken land from the Prussians, they were more focused on other places and had few extra soldiers to help. Many of their castles were damaged in the early 1260s. The crusaders received help from leaders such as Albert I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, and Henry III, Landgrave of Thuringia, and later from others like Otto III and John I of Brandenburg. Over time, the crusaders defeated the Prussian leaders and took control, changing the lives of many Prussians who either had to obey the new rulers or leave their homes.

Later campaigns

After a big uprising by people who did not follow the Christian religion, the Teutonic Knights still fought against some groups on their eastern side. Some groups, like the Bartians and Natangians, had already started following Christianity, but others, like the Sudovians and Lithuanians, still did not.

The Teutonic Knights worked with some groups who had become Christian to protect themselves. They fought hard to control more land and to bring more people into the Christian faith. They built strong forts and castles to keep control and protect their new lands. Over time, most of the groups in the area either joined the Christian side or were moved to new places. By the end of the 1200s, the Teutonic Knights had control over most of the land, though some traditions of the original people stayed for a while.