Christmemel ( Latin : Christi Memela , Kyrsmemel , Kirsmomela ) was a frontier fortress ( Ordensburg ) of the Teutonic Knights on the banks of the Neman River . It was constructed of wood and earth between April 8 and 22, 1313, by Grand Master Karl von Trier . Christmemel, manned by some 400 men, was to serve as a base for further attacks during the Lithuanian Crusade against pagan Samogitia and Grand Duchy of Lithuania .
19-569: During the construction, the Knights used ships to build a bridge across the Neman River. After the construction, the Knights attacked a nearby Lithuanian fortress in Bisenė , but did not manage to take it. On September 15, 1315, Lithuanian grand duke Vytenis laid siege of Christmemel . He used siege machines and employed Slavic archers. However, the 17-day siege was unsuccessful and was lifted
38-532: A Lithuanian fortress in Junigėda instead and used captives to rebuild Christmemel. The siege was the last engagement of Vytenis, who probably died in 1316. In 1316, some 80 men from the Christmemel garrison attacked 80 Lithuanian men returning from Bisenė. All Lithuanians, except five, were killed. In July 1324, about 400 Lithuanians attempted to attack the fortress by surprise. However, a local resident alerted
57-425: A day before Teutonic reinforcements arrived. The Knights attacked a Lithuanian fortress in Junigėda instead and used captives to rebuild Christmemel. The siege was the last engagement of Vytenis, who probably died in 1316. In 1316, some 80 men from the Christmemel garrison attacked 80 Lithuanian men returning from Bisenė. All Lithuanians, except five, were killed. In July 1324, about 400 Lithuanians attempted to attack
76-732: The Kartupis and Neman in Jurbarkas District Municipality , Lithuania . After the burning down of Kolainiai in 1291 and Bisenė in 1316, Junigeda ( Veliuona ) became the westernmost Lithuanian fortress along the Neman. Chronicler Peter von Dusburg noted that the Teutonic Order finalized its conquest of Prussia and launched the Lithuanian Crusade in the winter of 1283. The first target of
95-447: The Knights used ships to build a bridge across the Neman River. After the construction, the Knights attacked a nearby Lithuanian fortress in Bisenė , but did not manage to take it. On September 15, 1315, Lithuanian grand duke Vytenis laid siege of Christmemel . He used siege machines and employed Slavic archers. However, the 17-day siege was unsuccessful and was lifted a day before Teutonic reinforcements arrived. The Knights attacked
114-541: The Neman River – the Lithuanian side of the natural front line. Remains of that hill fort were washed away in 1946 during spring floods. Later the town of Skirsnemunė developed near the location, allowing it to claim Teutonic heritage. Other suggested locations included Mastaičiai ( Šakiai district ) and Panemunė Castle . 55°05′07″N 22°54′10″E / 55.08528°N 22.90278°E / 55.08528; 22.90278 Bisen%C4%97 Bisenė or Bisena
133-400: The Neman and used boats to construct a bridge across the river. The invaders used " war machines " but the fortress withstood the assault. Landmeister Heinrich with men from Sambia and Natangia tried again in fall 1313. This time they burned the outer bailey but failed to take the main fortress. Bisenė was manned by a Lithuanian garrison in one-month shifts, a weakness in security which
152-554: The Teutons was Bisenė. Teutonic soldiers, commanded by the Prussian Landmeister Konrad von Thierberg, crossed the frozen Neman River and rigorously attacked the Lithuanian fortress in the morning. It fell in the afternoon and was burned to the ground. Surviving defenders were taken captive. A detachment of the Teutons raided the surrounding area, taking much loot. Dusburg noted that many Teutons were injured in
171-461: The attacks and four brothers drowned in the Neman when frozen ice collapsed under their feet. Lithuanians rebuilt the fortress. In early 1313, the Teutonic order completed the construction of Christmemel not far from Bisenė and used it as a base for further attacks. In the summer of 1313, Bisenė was attacked by Prussian Landmeister Heinrich von Plötzke and his men. Part of his force sailed via
190-457: The body. In 1328, Christmemel was abandoned and the garrison was transferred to the Klaipėda Castle . Peter von Dusburg claimed that the fortress was damaged by "shaking earth", which could be erosion or mudslide. The exact location of Christmemel is unknown. Most historians identify the fortress with a former hill fort near Skirsnemunė . This would place the fortress on the right bank of
209-503: The end of the one-month shift. They killed six Lithuanians while the other six escaped. As they approached Bisenė they saw that the fortress was left unattended. Using the opportunity, the Teutons burned it down. This time the fortress was not rebuilt. Historical sources did not provide a description of the fortress and no archaeological excavations were carried out on the Kartupėnai Hill Fort. Therefore, available information about
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#1732772317547228-487: The fortress by surprise. However, a local resident alerted the garrison. The Lithuanians were trapped and defeated, their leader was killed, and they hastily retreated. German chronicler Peter von Dusburg recorded an act of pagan loyalty: when the Lithuanians returned to the castle to claim the corpse of their leader, they were met with volleys of Teutonic arrows. Despite heavy casualties, the pagans managed to take away
247-402: The fortress is very rudimentary. The northern and western edges of the hill collapsed into the Kartupis due to erosion making analysis more challenging. Based on preliminary observations, the fortress was 50 m × 30 m (164 ft × 98 ft) in size along the east–west axis. It was surrounded by wooden walls and steep slopes 20 m (66 ft) in height. Eastern side of
266-399: The garrison. The Lithuanians were trapped and defeated, their leader was killed, and they hastily retreated. German chronicler Peter von Dusburg recorded an act of pagan loyalty: when the Lithuanians returned to the castle to claim the corpse of their leader, they were met with volleys of Teutonic arrows. Despite heavy casualties, the pagans managed to take away the body. In 1328, Christmemel
285-450: The hill fort had a rampart , 7 m (23 ft) in height and 21 m (69 ft) in width, which transitions into a ditch , 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) in depth and 25 m (82 ft) in width. To the east of the hill fort, there is a settlement covering an area of 1.3 ha (3.2 acres) but it has not been archaeologically excavated. Christmemel Christmemel ( Latin : Christi Memela , Kyrsmemel , Kirsmomela )
304-526: Was a frontier fortress ( Ordensburg ) of the Teutonic Knights on the banks of the Neman River . It was constructed of wood and earth between April 8 and 22, 1313, by Grand Master Karl von Trier . Christmemel, manned by some 400 men, was to serve as a base for further attacks during the Lithuanian Crusade against pagan Samogitia and Grand Duchy of Lithuania . During the construction,
323-470: Was a wooden fortress of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania during the Lithuanian Crusade . It was one of the Lithuanian defensive outposts along the Neman River and was burned down by the Teutonic Order in 1283 and 1316. Its location was long debated and often confused with Pieštvė , but after 1985 research of Romas Batūra it has been generally accepted to be Kartupėnai Hillfort near the confluence of
342-412: Was abandoned and the garrison was transferred to the Klaipėda Castle . Peter von Dusburg claimed that the fortress was damaged by "shaking earth", which could be erosion or mudslide. The exact location of Christmemel is unknown. Most historians identify the fortress with a former hill fort near Skirsnemunė . This would place the fortress on the right bank of the Neman River – the Lithuanian side of
361-498: Was exploited by the Teutons. Sometime between 1307 and 1315, 22 brothers and 60 soldiers attacked 85 Lithuanians returning home after their shift. All Lithuanians were killed except for three wounded men who managed to escape. The same type of attack was repeated twice in 1316. The first attack, commanded by the vicekomtur of Christmemel, saw 75 Lithuanians killed and five survivors who managed to escape. On 4 April 1316, three brothers with three squires departed Ragnit towards Bisenė at
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