Crusaders :
108-603: Baltic pagans : Allies of Prussians: Allies of Prussians: The Prussian Crusade was a series of 13th-century campaigns of Roman Catholic crusaders , primarily led by the Teutonic Knights , to Christianize under duress the pagan Old Prussians . Invited after earlier unsuccessful expeditions against the Prussians by Christian Polish princes, the Teutonic Knights began campaigning against
216-662: A military order . First granted the estate of Cedlitz in Kuyavia until the completion of a castle at Dobrzyń , the group became known as the Order of Dobrzyń (or Dobrin). The Knights of Dobrzyń initially had success driving the Prussians from Chełmno Land, but a Prussian counterattack against them and Conrad killed most of the Order. The survivors were granted asylum in Pomerania by Duke Swantopelk II . The Order of Calatrava , granted
324-746: A base near Gdańsk, was also ineffective. While in Rome, Christian of Oliva had made the acquaintance of Hermann von Salza , the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order from 1209 to 1239. With the permission of Duke Conrad of Masovia and the Masovian nobility, Christian requested aid from the Teutonic Order against the Prussians in 1226. Stability with the Prussians would then allow Conrad to pursue becoming High Duke of Poland . While Hermann
432-462: A campaign lasting less than a month. Near the native settlement of Tvangste , the Teutonic Knights founded Königsberg ("King's Mountain"), named in honor of the Bohemian king. Braunsberg (Braniewo) , possibly named in honor of Bruno of Olmütz or Bruno of Querfurt, was also founded nearby, likely in place of an existing native town. The Knights built the castle Wehlau (Znamensk) at the junction of
540-563: A contingent brought by Rudolph of Habsburg . The Sambians were crushed at the Battle of Rudau , and the fort's garrison surrendered quickly and underwent baptism. The crusaders then advanced against Quedenau , Waldau, Caimen , and Tapiau (Gvardeysk) ; the Sambians who accepted baptism were left alive, but those who resisted were exterminated en masse. Samland was conquered in January 1255 in
648-414: A defeat during the siege of Hradec and had to retreat to Poland. Soon after Pomerelia separated from his realm. A campaign by Piast duke Władysław I Herman to conquer Pomerelia in 1090–91 was unsuccessful, but resulted in the burning of many Pomerelian forts during the retreat. In 1116, direct control over Pomerelia was reestablished by Bolesław III Wrymouth of Poland, who by 1122 had also conquered
756-484: A large amount of treasure and goods. Theodoric led another crusading force, including Teutonic Knights, 150 sergeants, and Prussian infantry, against another Nadrovian fort. Although the natives attempted to surrender after siege ladders were placed, most of the warriors were slaughtered by the crusaders, with only a few natives surviving to be resettled. Conrad then led the Knights past the destroyed border forts to assault
864-719: A nobility revolt. These were captured by Wenceslaus who now, after gaining most of the Polish lands, was crowned in Gniezno as king of Poland by archbishop Jakub Świnka Upon the deaths of Wenceslaus and his successor Wenceslaus III and with them the extinction of the Přemyslid dynasty , Pomerelia was recaptured by Władysław I the Elbow-high in 1306. During Władysław's rule, the Margraviate of Brandenburg staked its claim on
972-440: A small force of seven Teutonic Knights and 70–100 squires and sergeants to Masovia as a vanguard. They took possession of Vogelsang ( German for "bird song"), a castle being built by Conrad opposite the future Thorn (Toruń) . Other sources indicate that two knights constructed Vogelsang in 1229, but were killed by Prussians soon after. Soon after arriving at Vogelsang, Conrad von Landsberg began ordering small raids against pagans on
1080-463: A territory of the nascent Polish state and continued as such (briefly interrupted by a Danish invasion) into the 12th century. In contrast to the gradual and mostly peaceful process of Ostsiedlung occurring at the time in some other regions such as Silesia or Farther Pomerania , Pomerelia was instead violently overrun by the State of the Teutonic Order including the principal city of the territory. In
1188-483: Is a historical sub-region of Pomerania on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea in northern Poland . Gdańsk Pomerania is largely coextensive with Pomerelia, but slightly narrower, as it does not include Chełmno Land or Michałów Land . Its largest and most important city is Gdańsk . Since 1999 the region has formed the core of Pomeranian Voivodeship . Pomerelia is located in northern Poland west of
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#17327648898791296-473: Is considered by Polish historiography a part of Kashubia (and thus Gdańsk Pomerania and Pomerelia), while German historiography tends to treat it as a part of Farther Pomerania . Pomerelia has been inhabited by ethnic Kashubians , Kociewians , Borowians and Chełminians , respectively. In the Polish language, the area has been called Pomorze ('Pomerania') since the Early Middle Ages . In
1404-569: The Dieva dēli (Latvian 'sons of god') and Dievo sūneliai (Lithuanian 'sons of god'). According to folklore, they are the children of Dievas (Lithuanian and Latvian - see Proto-Indo-European * Dyeus ). Associated with the brothers and their father are two goddesses; the personified Sun , Saule (Latvian 'sun') and Saules meita (Latvian 'Sun's daughter'). Pomerellia Pomerelia , also known as Eastern Pomerania , Vistula Pomerania , and also before World War II as Polish Pomerania ,
1512-506: The Alle and Pregel Rivers to guard against and be able to continue the colonization of the native Sudovian , Nadrovian , and Scalovian . Thirsko, a Christian Sambian chief, and his son Maidelo were entrusted with Wehlau. With the assistance of Sambian levies, the Teutonic Order advanced further into Natangia, capturing the fortresses of Capostete and Ocktolite near Wohnsdorf . The Natangian leader Godecko and his two sons were killed resisting
1620-471: The Duchy of Pomerania . This event caused a long-lasting dispute between Poland and the Teutonic Order over the control of Gdańsk Pomerania . It resulted in a series of Polish–Teutonic Wars throughout the 14th and 15th centuries. In 1440, many cities of the region joined the newly formed anti-Teutonic Prussian Confederation . In 1454, the organization asked Polish King Casimir IV Jagiellon to reincorporate
1728-658: The Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship , while a small western fragment ( Gmina Biały Bór ) is in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship . During the Early Middle Ages Pomerelia (the name comes from Proto-Slavic "po more", which means "land at the sea") was inhabited by West Slavic , Lechitic tribes, with occasional presence of Scandinavians operating a few trading posts in the area. The region then became
1836-657: The Pagan reaction in Poland , actively supported Miecław who intended to detach Masovia from the power of the rulers of Poland, but after the defeat of Miecław in 1047 accepted the rule of duke Casimir I the Restorer and that the province remained a part of Poland till the 1060s, when Pomerelian troops took part in the expedition of the Polish king Bolesław II the Generous against Bohemia in 1061 or 1068. Duke Bolesław suffered
1944-603: The Partitions of Poland in 1772–1795, historical Pomerelia became part of the new province of West Prussia within the Kingdom of Prussia. Temporarily, during the Napoleonic Wars until 1815 , Gdańsk became a Free City , while southern portions of West Prussia with Toruń became parts of the Duchy of Warsaw . Perhaps the earliest census figures (from years 1817 and 1819) about the ethnic or national composition of
2052-554: The Prussians , Lithuanians and Samogitians in 1230. By the end of the century, having quelled several Prussian uprisings , the Knights had established control over Prussia and administered the conquered Prussians through their monastic state , eventually erasing the Prussian language , culture and pre-Christian religion by a combination of physical and ideological force. Some Prussians took refuge in neighboring Lithuania . In
2160-803: The Sudovians and Lithuanians to their east remained pagan and continued their border warfare with the Teutonic Knights. Led by Skalmantas during the Great Uprising, the Sudovians sacked Bartenstein (Bartoszyce) in Bartia, which was to be the focal point of their borders. Defenseless against the Sudovians, the Natangians and Bartians allied with the Teutonic Knights for protection, although little assistance could be provided initially. The Christian Natangians clans gathered in 1274 and killed 2,000 of
2268-596: The Teutonic Order , who had become his eastern neighbor in 1230, were settled in 1253 by exempting the order from the Vistula dues. With Swietopelk II's death in 1266, the rule of his realm passed to his sons Wartislaw and Mestwin II . These brothers initiated another civil war, with Mestwin II allying with and pledging allegiance to the Brandenburg margraves ( Treaty of Arnswalde / Choszczno 1269). The margraves, who in
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#17327648898792376-461: The Treaty of Christburg protected the rights of converts. The Prussian uprisings led to the crusaders only applying these rights to the most powerful converts, however, and the pace of conversion slowed. After the Prussians were militarily defeated in the second half of the 13th century, they were gradually subjected to Christianization and cultural assimilation during the following centuries as part of
2484-819: The Treaty of Versailles restored most of the region from Weimar Germany back to Poland, forming the Pomeranian Voivodeship (Greater Pomerania as of 1938) . Gdańsk with Żuławy became the Free City of Danzig . In the interbellum, German propaganda coined the term of Polish Corridor in reference to the region. The region was the site of the Battle of Westerplatte , the first battle of the German invasion of Poland which started World War II in September 1939, as well as several other important battles incl. at Hel , Gdynia and Kępa Oksywska . Afterwards it
2592-474: The Vistula river and east of the Łeba river, mostly within the Pomeranian Voivodeship , with southern part located in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship and small parts in West Pomeranian Voivodeship . It has traditionally been divided into Kashubia , Kociewie , Tuchola Forest and Chełmno Land (including the Michałów Land , sometimes with the addition of Lubawa Land). The Lauenburg and Bütow Land
2700-601: The monastic state of the Teutonic Knights . With the fall of Acre and Outremer and the securing of Prussia, the Order then turned its focus against Christian Pomerellia, which separated Prussia from imperial Pomerania , and against pagan Lithuania . Baltic mythology Baltic mythology is the body of mythology of the Baltic peoples stemming from Baltic paganism and continuing after Christianization and into Baltic folklore. Baltic mythology ultimately stems from Proto-Indo-European mythology . The Baltic region
2808-719: The territories recovered from Germany, following World War II . In its early history, the territory which later became known as Pomerelia was the site of the Pomeranian culture (also called the Pomerelian face urn culture, 650-150 BC), the Oksywie culture (150 BC-AD 1, associated with parts of the Rugii and Lemovii ), and the Wielbark Culture (AD 1–450, associated with Veneti , Goths , Rugii , Gepids ). In
2916-484: The "Field of the Dead". The building of a fortress at Rehden (Radzyń Chełmiński) stabilized the eastern Culmerland in 1234. The bishop of Prussia, Christian of Oliva, claimed two-thirds of conquered territory, granting one-third to the Teutonic Order. The papal legate William of Modena mediated between the two sides, granting the Knights two-thirds but reserving extra rights for the bishop. The Teutonic Knights also sought
3024-446: The 1269 treaty also gained the land of Białogarda, were also supposed to help Mestwin II securing the lands of Schlawe (Sławno) and Stolp (Słupsk), which after Swietopelk II's death were in part taken over by Barnim III. With the margraves' aid, Mestwin II succeeded in expelling Wartislaw from Gdansk in 1270/71. The lands of Schlawe/Slawno, however, were taken over by Mestwin II's nephew Wizlaw II, prince of Rügen in 1269/70, who founded
3132-553: The 17th century Pomerelia was attacked and destroyed by a Swedish army. Pomerelia was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia during the late 18th century Partitions of Poland , becoming part of the new Province of West Prussia , and part of Germany in 1871. The region was subjected to intense Germanisation policies. After World War I , in 1918, Poland regained its independence as the Second Polish Republic , and
3240-487: The 18th century to distinguish it from Hither and Farther Pomerania , territories long outside of Polish rule. In the late 19th century this term was used in order to underline Polish claims to that area that was then ruled by the German Kingdom of Prussia . The designation of Polish Pomerania became obsolete since Farther Pomerania and a small part of Hither Pomerania were also transferred to Poland as part of
3348-685: The Christianization of what was then known as Sarmatia Europea . The German princes of the Holy Roman Empire were distracted by the imperial succession, and few seasonal (summer) crusaders came to the assistance of the Prussian Brothers; the first reinforcements were defeated at Pokarwis in 1261. The Order had most of its Prussian castles destroyed during the early 1260s. Besides Prussia, the natives also raided Livonia, Poland, and Volhynia . The crusaders began to stem
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3456-661: The Dioceses of Culm , Pomesania , Ermeland , and Samland , although the territory of the last had not yet been conquered. The Teutonic Knights' further advance into Prussia was slowed by the outbreak of the First Prussian Uprising in 1242. Alarmed by the crusaders' rapid expansion into territory bordering his lands, the Christian Duke Swantopelk of Pomerellia allied with the conquered Prussians and supported an armed rebellion against
3564-525: The Holy Land (1095–1291) Later Crusades (1291–1717) Northern (1147–1410) Against Christians (1209–1588) Popular (1096–1320) Wulfstan of Hedeby , an agent of Alfred of Wessex , recorded the seafaring and cattle-herding Prussians as a strong and independent nation. Mieszko I of the Polans tried to extend his realm from land he had just conquered around
3672-474: The Knights led a crusading army of 10,000 and established a fortress at Marienwerder (Kwidzyn) in Pomesania . The Pomerellian dukes Swantopelk and Sambor supported a smaller army for an invasion of Pogesania during the winter of 1233–34. After a close battle, the pagan Pogesanians were routed on the frozen Sirgune River by the arrival of the ducal cavalry, and the battlefield was subsequently known as
3780-518: The Lithuanians and were resettled at Gardinas , while the ones who remained in Prussia were resettled by the crusaders, probably near Marienburg (Malbork) . This new brick castle, built to replace Zantir, guarded against further rebellions with Elbing and Christburg. The central Prussian tribes surrendered to the crusaders by 1277. The crusaders and Sudovians engaged in guerilla warfare , which
3888-460: The Lithuanians provided assistance to the pagan Scalovians , and the crusaders and pagans each engaged in border raids to distract enemy forces. Because the pagans were strongly defended in the wilderness, the Teutonic Knights focused on travelling up the Memel River toward the strong pagan fort Ragnit . Theodoric of Samland led 1,000 men in the assault. Artillery fire forced the defenders from
3996-599: The Nadrovians main redoubt of Kaminiswike, defended by 200 warriors. Most of the natives were killed after the Knights stormed the fortress, and the Nadrovian clans surrendered soon afterward to become auxiliaries of the crusaders. The Teutonic Knights then used Nadrovia and Memel as bases against Scalovia on the lower Memel River . Scalovia would then serve as a base against pagan Samogitia, which separated Teutonic Prussia from Teutonic Livonia. Because of this threat,
4104-596: The Order in 1272. The crusaders gradually killed or forced the surrender of each Prussian tribes' war leader while exterminating the native population en masse if it refused to convert to Christianity. As a result of the uprising, many native Prussians lost some of the rights they had received in the Treaty of Christburg and were subsequently reduced to serfdom . Numerous Prussians fled to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania or to Sudovia , while others were forcibly resettled by
4212-571: The Prussian fort of Quercz or Gurske . The defecting captain then tricked Pipin into being captured by the Knights, ending Prussian resistance in the Culmerland. By 1232, the Knights had established or rebuilt fortresses at Culm (Chełmno) and Thorn. Pope Gregory IX called for reinforcements, which included 5,000 veterans under the leadership of the Burgrave of Magdeburg . In summer 1233,
4320-571: The Prussians in 1248, while most of the latter agreed to peace in the Treaty of Christburg in February 1249. The treaty granted civil liberties and considerable autonomy to native converts to Christianity. While the majority of tribes followed the terms of the treaty, intermittent fighting continued until 1253, with the Natangians even defeating the Order at Krücken in November 1249. After
4428-432: The Prussians of ravaged Culmerland could raise fewer troops than the other tribes. Galindia, a forested wilderness of lakes and rivers, also had a small population to raise troops from. Modern estimates indicate a total Prussian population of 170,000, smaller than that suggested by Peter von Dusburg. After receiving or forging the claim to Culmerland in 1230, Hermann von Salza dispatched Conrad von Landsberg as his envoy with
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4536-707: The Prussians, however. Honorius III called for a crusade under the leadership of Christian of Oliva and chose as papal legate the Archbishop of Gniezno , Wincenty I Niałek . German and Polish crusaders began gathering in Masovia in 1219, but serious planning only began in 1222 upon the arrival of nobles such as Duke Henry of Silesia , Archbishop Laurentius of Breslau (Wroclaw) , and Laurentius of Lebus . Numerous Polish nobles began endowing Christian's Bishopric of Prussia with estates and castles in Chełmno Land during
4644-473: The Scalovian warriors went in pursuit of the captured pagans, Conrad shattered the would-be rescuers in an ambush which killed the pagan leader, Steinegele. Most Scalovian nobles quickly surrendered to the Knights in the battle's aftermath. The Teutonic Knights planned to advance against Samogitia after conquering Scalovia, but the outbreak of a new rebellion engineered by Skalmantas of the Sudovians delayed
4752-822: The Sudovian raiders; Grand Master Anno von Sangershausen recruited Thuringians and Meisseners to complete the Teutonic recovery of Natangia. Anno's successor as Grand Master, Hartmann von Heldrungen , directed the Provincial Master of Prussia, Conrad von Thierberg the Elder , to attack eastward from Königsberg along the Pregel River to separate the Sudovians from the Nadrovians . Vogt Theodoric of Samland and his militia sacked two river forts and plundered
4860-490: The Sudovians were particularly adept at. However, they lacked the sheer numbers to deal with their German, Polish, and Volhynian adversaries, and the Sudovian nobility began gradually surrendering one by one. Marshal Conrad von Thierberg the Younger raided Pokima , capturing large amounts of cattle, horses, and prisoners. They then successfully ambushed the 3,000-strong force of pursuing Sudovians, losing only six Christians in
4968-529: The Teutonic Knights campaigned against the Bartians , Natangians , and Warmians . A small force of crusading knights were slaughtered besieging the Warmian fort of Honeida , leading Marshal Dietrich von Berheim to return with a larger army. When the Warmian commander Kodrune advised that the pagans should surrender and convert, Honeida's own garrison killed him, leading Dietrich to order a successful capture of
5076-464: The Vistula River. They campaigned annually whenever crusading knights from the west arrived. The early campaigns were primarily composed of Polish, German, and Pomeranian crusaders, as well as some Prussian militiamen auxiliaries. The Polish and Pomerellian dukes proved essential through their providing of troops and bases. Most of the secular crusaders would return to their homes after the end of
5184-399: The Younger was named Provincial Master of Prussia and led a large army into Sudovia, finding little resistance. The Knight Ludwig von Liebenzell , who had once been a captive of the Sudovians, negotiated the surrender of 1,600 Sudovians and their leader Katingerde, who were subsequently resettled in Samland. Most of the remaining Sudovians were redistributed to Pogesania and Samland; Skalmantas
5292-404: The advance. The Livonian Order had been invading and attempting to colonize Samogitia , which was northeast of the Prussians. The native Samogitians entered a two-year truce with the Order in 1259. In 1259 the Samogitians decided to retain the independence of their pre-Christian religion. They defeated the Livonian Order at the Battle of Skuodas in 1259, and then inflicted a crushing defeat on
5400-415: The agreement, retained de facto control over the province until his death in 1294, at which time Przemysł, who was already the de jure ruler of the territory, took it under his direct rule. The hereditary ruleta of the Duchy included as follows: After the death of Mestwin II of Pomerania in 1294, his co-ruler Przemysł II of Poland , according to the Treaty of Kępno , took control over Pomerelia. He
5508-433: The area was reintegrated with Poland in 1466, both names were in use: Pomerania was used when referring to the Pomeranian Voivodeship (Gdańsk Pomerania) and the Chełmno Voivodeship , while Royal Prussia was used as the name of the wider province, which, however, also included the Malbork Voivodeship and the Prince-Bishopric of Warmia , covering the Prussian historical areas of Pomesania , Pogesania and Warmia ,
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#17327648898795616-870: The authority of the Duke of Masovia. However, Hermann von Salza saw the document as granting the Order autonomy in all territorial acquisitions, aside from allegiance to the Holy See and the Holy Roman Emperor . The Golden Bull of Rieti issued by Pope Gregory IX in 1234 reaffirmed the Order's control of conquered lands, placing them only under the authority of the Holy See . The 14th century chronicler Peter von Dusburg mentioned eleven districts in Prussia: Bartia, Culmerland (formerly under Polish control), Galindia , Nadrovia , Natangia , Pogesania , Pomesania , Samland , Scalovia , Sudovia , and Ermland . Peter estimated that while most tribes could muster about 2,000 cavalry, Samland could raise 4,000 cavalry and 40,000 infantry, while Sudovia had 6,000 cavalry and "an almost innumerable multitude of other warriors". In contrast,
5724-438: The campaign. In 1276–77 the Sudovians and Lithuanians raided Culmerland and burned settlements near the castles of Rehden, Marienwerder, Zantir , and Christburg. Theodoric of Samland was able to convince the Sambians not to rebel, and the Natangians and Warmians followed suit. Conrad von Thierberg the Elder led 1,500 men into Kimenau in summer 1277, and crushed a Sudovian army of 3,000 near the Winse forest. Many Pogesanians fled to
5832-411: The campaigns, leaving the monastic Teutonic Knights the task of consolidating the gains and garrisoning the newly built forts, most of which were small and made of timber. Some secular Polish knights were granted vacant territories, especially in Culmerland, although most of the conquered territory was retained by the Teutonic Order. Colonists from the Holy Roman Empire began to immigrate eastward, allowing
5940-566: The central and western parts of Pomerania. While the latter regions (forming the Duchy of Pomerania ) regained independence quickly, Pomerelia remained within the Polish realm. It was administered by governors of a local dynasty, the Samborides , and subordinated to the bishopric of Włocławek . In 1138, following the death of Bolesław III, Poland was fragmented into several provincial principalities. The principes in Pomerelia gradually gained more local power, evolving into semi-independent entities, much like other fragmented Polish territories, with
6048-497: The chronicles attest, the "founding" was accomplished by burning an existing native city to the ground and exterminating the entire population that seems to have lived there, according to contiguous archeological finds, for several millennia. The 60,000-strong crusading army which gathered for the campaign included Bohemians and Austrians under the command of King Ottokar II of Bohemia , Moravians under Bishop Bruno of Olmütz , Saxons under Margrave Otto III of Brandenburg , and
6156-440: The crusaders in the Battle of Durbe in 1260. The native victory inspired the Prussians to rebel again, starting the Great Prussian uprising the same year. In the minds of the indigenous peoples, their victories reinforced the validity of their pre-Christian beliefs. Despite their territorial gains in Prussia, the primary emphasis of the Teutonic Knights was still the Holy Land , and few reinforcements could be spared to complete
6264-405: The crusaders. The Teutonic Order's capacity to resist was weakened, as there were fewer German crusaders arriving and the Polish princes were feuding amongst themselves. The crusaders' cavalry and crossbow artillery proved overwhelming in level terrain, but the Prussians were more experienced and maneuverable in smaller skirmishes in wooded terrain. While the Prussian and Pomerellian troops captured
6372-481: The crusaders. The tribal chiefs who remained in Prussia became vassals of the Teutonic Knights, who began rebuilding their castles in stone or brick to provide greater protection against the restive colonized population. Although the Teutonic Knights' offensive capability was greatly weakened during the Great Pagan Uprising, they did engage in some campaigns against the pagan on their eastern flank. The Bartians, Natangians, and Warmians had converted to Christianity , but
6480-646: The difference that the other parts of the realm were governed by Piast descendants of Bolesław III. The Christian centre became Oliwa Abbey near Gdańsk. Two Samborides administering Pomerelia in the 12th century are known by name: Sobieslaw I and his son, Sambor I . In 1210, king Valdemar II of Denmark invaded Pomerelia, whose princeps Mestwin I became his vassal. The Danish suzerainty did not last long, however. Mestwin had already gained more independence from Poland and expanded southward, and his son Swietopelk II , who succeeded him in 1217, gained full independence in 1227. After Mestwin I's death, Pomerelia
6588-407: The displeased Conrad of Masovia had the castle of Dobrzyń returned to him. In 1237 the Teutonic Knights assimilated the Sword-Brothers or Livonian Order, a military order active in Livonia , after they were nearly wiped out by Lithuanians in the Battle of Saule . With the support of Henry III, Margrave of Meissen , in 1236, the crusaders advanced north along both banks of the Vistula and forced
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#17327648898796696-420: The early 14th century, the Teutonic Knights invaded and annexed the region from Poland into their monastic state , which already included historical Prussia , located east of the region. As a result of Teutonic rule, in German terminology, the name of Prussia was extended to annexed Polish lands like Vistula/Eastern Pomerania, although it was never inhabited by Baltic Prussians but by Slavic Poles. After
6804-482: The early chronicles (14th and 15th century) were largely the product of missionaries who sought to eradicate the native paganism of the Baltic peoples, rich material survives into Baltic folklore. This material has been of particular value in Indo-European studies as, like the Baltic languages , it is considered by scholars to be notably conservative, reflecting elements of Proto-Indo-European religion . The Indo-European Divine Twins are particularly well represented as
6912-448: The enterprise in the Golden Bull of Rimini of 1226, granting them Chełmno Land, or Culmerland, and any future conquests. The mission to convert the Prussians remained under the command of Bishop Christian of Oliva. Before beginning the campaign against the Prussians, the Teutonic Order allegedly signed the Treaty of Kruszwica with the Poles on 16 June 1230, by which the Order was to receive Culmerland and any future conquests, similar to
7020-408: The fallen soldiers, the pope and Poppo von Osterna , the new Grand Master, began preaching a crusade against the Sambians. In 1253 Poppo and the Provincial Master, Dietrich von Grüningen , as well as the Margrave of Meissen, reduced the resisting Galindians but spared too much further violence; the Order was concerned that the Prussians would seek to join Poland if they were pressed too greatly. With
7128-451: The fort. The fort on the Vistula Lagoon was renamed Balga and rebuilt in 1239 to protect the Order's territory in Ermeland . A Prussian counterattack to reclaim the fort failed, and the local Prussian leader Piopso was killed. Seasonal reinforcements led by Otto I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg consolidated Teutonic control over Natangia and Bartia. In a bull of 1 October 1243, Pope Innocent IV and William of Modena divided Prussia into
7236-431: The foundation of a new town each year, many of which were granted Kulm law . The crusaders began campaigning against the neighboring Pomesanians and their leader Pepin. Advancing from Nessau (Nieszawa) with the aid of Conrad of Masovia, Balk took control of ruins at modern Toruń and advanced toward the pagan-occupied Rogów . A local Prussian captain defected and handed that castle to the crusaders, who then destroyed
7344-434: The growing intensity of reciprocal attacks, Pope Honorius III sent a papal bull to Christian in March 1217 allowing him to begin preaching a crusade against the resisting Prussians. The following year the Prussians counter-attacked Chełmno Land and Masovia again, plundering 300 cathedrals and churches in revenge. Duke Conrad of Masovia succeeded in making the Prussians leave by paying a huge tribute, which only encouraged
7452-421: The incorporation of the small Order of Dobrzyń into the larger Teutonic Order. Conrad of Masovia was furious with this proposal and demanded the return of the Dobrzyń Land , which the Knights were reluctant to do; Duke Conrad subsequently refused to aid the crusaders any further. With the approval of the pope and the bishop of Płock, the Teutonic Knights assimilated the Order of Dobrzyń in a bull on 19 April 1235;
7560-474: The land in amelioration projects, dyking of the founding of German-settled Estates and villages. As the result of the Thirteen Years' War of 1454-1466 , Pomerelia became part of the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland again, within the province of Royal Prussia (which along Pomerelia also included the western rim of the actual region of Prussia , namely Warmia as well as Malbork Land , the latter comprising northern parts of Pomesania and Pogesania ). After
7668-473: The lands of Schlawe (Sławno) and Stolp (Słupsk). On February 15, 1282, High Duke of Poland and Wielkopolska Przemysł II and the Duke of Pomerelia Mestwin II , signed the Treaty of Kępno which transferred the suzerainty over Pomerelia to Przemysł. As a result of the treaty the period of Pomerelian independence ended and the region was again part of Poland. Przemysł adopted the title dux Polonie et Pomeranie (Duke of Poland and Pomerania). Mestwin, per
7776-525: The last Ratiboride duke Ratibor II had died after 1223, was challenged by the Griffin dukes of Pomerania , Barnim I and Wartislaw III . In this conflict, Swietopelk II initially won the upper hand, but could not force a final decision. Swietopelk II, who styled himself dux. since 1227, chartered the town of Gdańsk with Lübeck law and invited the Dominican Order . His conflicts with
7884-436: The latter case, the troops of the German monastic state exterminated the original Polish inhabitants of the city and initiated a massive colonisation campaign to hastily repopulate the area with numerous German-speaking settlers , especially in major urban areas, while in smaller towns and in rural areas, speakers of Kashubian and Greater Polish (i.e. Kociewiacy , and Borowiacy ) predominated. The Teutonic Order developed
7992-475: The latter's share. The revolt of the Old Prussians against the Teutonic Order in 1242 took place in the context of these alliances. Peace was restored only in the Treaty of Christburg ( Dzierzgoń ) in 1249, mediated by the later pope Urban IV , then papal legate and archidiacone of Lüttich ( Liege ). In the west, the Pomerelian dukes' claim to the lands of Schlawe (Sławno) and Stolp (Słupsk) , where
8100-637: The majority of the Order's castles and defeated the Knights at Rensen in 1244, they lacked the siege capabilities to finish the Knights off. The Germans used their politics and diplomacy to divide Swantopelk from the Prussians. The Poles sought the Pomerellian prince's territory along the Vistula, while the papal legate, the future Pope Urban IV , wanted the Christians to direct their energies against pagans instead of each other. Swantopelk ceased aiding
8208-615: The meantime. The lords agreed that the primary focus was to rebuild the colonizing fortresses of Chełmno Land, especially Chełmno itself, whose fortress was almost completely rebuilt. By 1223, however, most of the crusaders had left the region, and the Prussians devastated Chełmno Land and Masovia yet again, forcing Duke Conrad to seek refuge in the castle of Płock . The Sarmatians (as they were then known) even reached Gdańsk (Danzig) in Pomerellia. In 1225 or 1228, fourteen north German knights were recruited by Conrad and Christian to form
8316-467: The mid-6th century Jordanes mentioned the Vistula estuary as the home of the Vidivarii . Pomerelia was settled by West Slavic and Lechitic tribes in the 7th and 8th centuries. In the tenth century, Pomerelia was already settled by West-Slavic Pomeranians . The area was conquered and incorporated into early medieval Poland either by Duke Mieszko I – the first historical Polish ruler - in
8424-493: The mouth of the Oder as far as Prussia. Bolesław I of Poland , son of Mieszko I, greatly expanded his land conquests and used Adalbert of Prague for his aim of conquering the Prussians in 997, but the missionary was killed by the natives. After some initial success among the Prussians, Adalbert's successor, Bruno of Querfurt , was also killed in 1009. Bolesław I continued his conquests of surrounding lands and in 1015 he devastated
8532-615: The native populations of large parts of Prussia. The Poles waged war with the neighboring Prussians, Sudovians , and Wends over the following two centuries. While the Poles sought control over the Prussians under the aegis of facilitating the conversion of the Prussians to Christianity, the Prussians engaged in reciprocal raids, capturing slaves in the bordering territories of Chełmno Land and Masovia . Many Prussians nominally accepted baptism under duress only to revert to native religious beliefs after hostilities ended. Henry of Sandomierz
8640-441: The only actual Prussian territories of the province. After the Partitions of Poland , the area was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia and formed part of the newly established province of West Prussia , and the name Pomerania was avoided by Prussian or German authorities in relation to this region. Outside of the Kingdom of Prussia and later Germany, the area was termed Polish Pomerania ( Pomorze Polskie ) since at least
8748-570: The process. In 1280 the Sudovians and Lithuanian invaded Samland, but the alerted Order had fortified their castles and deprived the raiders of provisions. While the pagans were in Samland, Komtur Ulrich Bayer of Tapiau led a devastating counter-raid into Sudovia. The Polish prince Leszek the Black achieved two significant victories over the pagans, securing the Polish border, and Skalmantas fled Sudovia to Lithuania. In summer 1283, Conrad von Thierberg
8856-465: The ramparts, allowing the crusaders to storm the walls with ladders and slaughter most of the pagans. Theodoric also captured Romige on the other bank of the Memel. The Scalovians retaliated by sacking Labiau near Königsberg. Conrad von Thierberg escalated the conflict by sending a large raid against Scalovia. Nicholas von Jeroschin documented the crusaders as killing and capturing numerous pagans. When
8964-525: The region come from Prussian data published in 1823. At that time, entire West Prussia (of which historical Pomerelia was part) had 630,077 inhabitants – 327,300 ethnic Poles (52%), 290,000 Germans (46%) and 12,700 Jews (2%). In this data Kashubians are included with Poles, while Mennonites (numbering 2% of West Prussia's population) are included with Germans. Another German author, Karl Andree , in his book " Polen: in geographischer, geschichtlicher und culturhistorischer Hinsicht " (Leipzig 1831), gives
9072-680: The region into the Kingdom of Poland , to which the King agreed and signed an act of re-incorporation in Kraków . After the subsequent Thirteen Years' War (1454–1466) , the longest of all Polish–Teutonic wars, the Teutonic Knights renounced any claims to the region and recognized it as part of Poland. Pomerelia was organized into the Pomeranian Voivodeship , part of the larger Polish provinces of Royal Prussia within Greater Poland Province . Lauenburg and Bütow Land (Lębork and Bytów)
9180-542: The region. Major sites of massacres of Poles in the region included Piaśnica , Szpęgawsk , Mniszek , Igielska Valley , Luszkówko , Skarszewy , Rudzki Most and Grupa . After the defeat of Germany in the war in 1945, almost the entire region, including the former Free City of Danzig , was reclaimed by Poland according to the Potsdam Agreement , except for a small portion of the Vistula Spit around
9288-591: The reign of king Bolesław I of Poland and his son Mieszko II Lambert . However, there are also different opinions e.g. Peter Oliver Loew suggests the Slavs in Pomerelia severed their ties with the Piasts and reverted the Piasts' introduction of Christianity already in the first years of the 11th century. The exact date of separation is unknown, however. It was suggested that the inhabitants of Pomerelia participated in
9396-481: The resistance with the assistance of Albert I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg , and Henry III, Landgrave of Thuringia, in 1265. In the following year German crusading reinforcements were provided by Margraves Otto III and John I of Brandenburg, and the castle of Brandenburg (Ushakovo) was founded in their honor. King Ottokar II of Bohemia briefly returned to Prussia in 1267–68, but was deterred by poor weather, while Margrave Dietrich II of Meissen also campaigned with
9504-709: The resisting tribes decimated, Pope Innocent IV directed Dominican friars to preach the crusade, and the Order sent embassies to the Kings of Hungary , Bohemia , and the princes of the Holy Roman Empire . While the Order waited for the crusaders to arrive in Prussia, the Livonian branch "founded" Memel (Klaipėda) along the Curonian Lagoon to prevent the Samogitians from assisting the Sambians. As
9612-417: The second half of the tenth century or even earlier, by his father , in the 940s or 950s – the date of incorporation is unknown. Mieszko founded Gdańsk to control the mouth of the Vistula between 970 and 980,. According to Józef Spors , despite some cultural differences, the inhabitants of the whole of Pomerania had very close ties with residents of other Piast provinces, from which Pomerelia
9720-511: The second important area besides Gdańsk. Wartislaw died before 27 December 1229, his share was to be given to Oliwa Abbey by his brothers. The remaining brothers engaged in a civil war: Sambor II and Ratibor allied with the Teutonic Order and the Duke of Kuyavia against Swietopelk, who in turn allied with the Old Prussians , took Ratibor prisoner and temporarily assumed control over
9828-434: The south side of the Vistula , a region that was relatively safe with a mixed Christian and pagan population. Reinforcements began arriving at Vogelsang after the castle's completion. Led by Hermann Balk , a force numbering twenty knights and 200 sergeants arrived in 1230. While the earlier Polish expeditions had usually marched eastward into the Prussian wilderness, the Order focused in the west to establish fortresses along
9936-494: The submission of most Pomesanians . Although Henry did not participate in the 1237 campaign against the Pogesanians , the margrave supplied the Order with two large river-boats which defeated the smaller craft used by the Prussian tribes. Near the Prussian settlement of Truso , Elbing (Elbląg) was founded with colonists from Lübeck , while Christburg (Dzierzgoń) protected the land east of Marienwerder. From 1238 to 1240,
10044-719: The support of the King of Denmark and Polish dukes, found colonization of the natives in a better state than expected upon his arrival in the war-torn Chełmno Land. Inspired, he travelled to Rome to prepare for a larger mission. When he returned to Chełmno in 1215, however, Christian found the Prussians hostile out of outrage at the actions of the Sword-Brothers in Livonia or fear of Christian Polish expansion. The Prussians invaded Chełmno Land, and Pomerellia , besieged Chełmno and Lubawa , and enabled Christian converts to return to their native, pre-Christian beliefs. Because of
10152-505: The terms of the Golden Bull of Rimini. The agreement has been disputed by historians; the document has been lost and many Polish historians have doubted its authenticity and the Teutonic Order's territorial claims. However, recent studies by Polish historians have established the treaty's legitimacy. From the viewpoint of Duke Conrad, Chełmno was only to be used as a temporary base against the Prussians and future conquests were to be under
10260-473: The territory in 1308, leading the local governor appointed by Władysław I the Elbow-high to request assistance from the Teutonic Knights , who evicted the Brandenburgers but took the area for themselves, annexing and incorporating it into the Teutonic Order state in 1309 ( Teutonic takeover of Danzig (Gdańsk) and Treaty of Soldin / Myślibórz ). At the same time, Słupsk and Sławno became part of
10368-525: The town of Rügenwalde (now Darlowo) near the fort of Dirlow. In 1273, Mestwin found himself in open conflict against the margraves who refused to remove their troops from Gdańsk, Mestwin's possession, which he had been forced to temporarily lease to them during his struggles against Wartisław and Sambor. Since the lease had now expired, through this action, the Margrave Conrad broke the Treaty of Arnswalde/Choszczno and subsequent agreements. His aim
10476-608: The village of Narmeln (Polski) which was annexed by the Soviet Union . The local German minority population which included numerous members of the Volksdeutscher Selbstschutz complicit in its atrocities, fled or was expelled to Germany , also in accordance to the Potsdam Agreement. Historic Pomerelia nowadays forms the bulk of the Pomeranian Voivodeship , but its southern part is part of
10584-534: The western Prussians were forcibly colonized by the early 1250s, the Teutonic Knights continued their advance north and east, next facing the Sambians of thickly-populated Samland . Komtur Heinrich Stango of Christburg led an army across the Vistula Lagoon in 1252, with the intention of attacking Romuve . The Sambians defeated the crusaders in battle, however, killing Stango in the process. To replace
10692-558: Was occupied and illegally annexed by Nazi Germany , and the Polish population was subjected to various crimes , such as mass arrests, imprisonment, slave labor , kidnapping of children , deportations to Nazi concentration camps and genocide, incl. the Intelligenzaktion . The Germans established the Stutthof concentration camp , the first Nazi concentration camp outside of pre-war German borders, with multiple subcamps in
10800-492: Was a Polish fief ruled by Pomeranian dukes until 1637, when it was incorporated directly into Poland. In early modern times Gdańsk was the biggest city of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth , and most of its exports (especially grain) were made through the port. Gdańsk and Żuławy Wiślane were mostly German/Dutch-speaking Lutheran or Reformed , while most of the region remained Polish/Kashubian Catholic. In
10908-504: Was crowned as king of Poland in 1295, but ruled directly only over Pomerelia and Greater Poland , while the rest of the country ( Silesia , Lesser Poland , Masovia ) was ruled by other Piasts . However, Przemysł was murdered soon afterwards and succeeded by Władysław I the Elbow-high . Władysław, sold his rights to the Duchy of Kraków to King Wenceslaus II of Bohemia in 1297 and accepted him as his suzerain in 1299. However, he lost control of Greater Poland and Pomerelia in 1300 after
11016-710: Was interested in the Polish offer, his focus was on assisting Emperor Frederick II with the Fifth Crusade . Because the Teutonic Order had recently been expelled from the Burzenland in the Kingdom of Hungary , Hermann also desired greater autonomy for his forces in future endeavors. Hermann met with Frederick II at Rimini and suggested that the subjugation of the Prussians would make the Holy Roman Empire 's borders easier to defend against invaders, presumably referring to Lithuanian counterattacks against Christian crusades. The Holy Roman Emperor gave his approval of
11124-531: Was internally divided among his sons Swietopelk II , Wartislaw, Sambor II and Ratibor. Swietopelk II, who took his seat in Gdańsk, assumed a leading position over his brothers: Sambor II, who received the castellany of Lubieszewo (the center later moved to Tczew ), and Ratibor, who received the Białogard area, were initially under his tutelage. The fourth brother, Wartislaw, took his seat in Świecie , thus controlling
11232-476: Was killed fighting the Prussians in 1166. Bolesław IV and Casimir II each led large armies into Prussia; while Bolesław's forces were defeated in guerilla warfare , Casimir imposed peace until his death in 1194. King Valdemar II of Denmark supported Danish expeditions against Samland until his capture by Henry I, Count of Schwerin , in 1223. In 1206, the Cistercian bishop Christian of Oliva , with
11340-479: Was one of the last regions of Europe to be Christianized, a process that began in the 15th century and continued for at least a century afterward. While no native texts survive detailing the mythology of the Baltic peoples during the pagan period, knowledge of such beliefs may be gained from Roman and German chronicles, from later folklore, from etymology and from the reconstructions of comparative mythology . While
11448-419: Was pardoned and allowed to settle at Balga . Sudovia was left unpopulated, becoming a border wilderness that protected Prussia, Masovia, and Volhynia from the Lithuanians. The Prussians rebelled in short-lived uprisings in 1286 and 1295, but the crusaders firmly controlled the Prussian tribes by the end of the 13th century. The Prussian populace retained many of their traditions and way of life, especially after
11556-412: Was separated by large stretches of woodlands and swamps. The Piasts introduced Christianity to pagan Pomerelia, though it is disputed to what extent the conversion materialized. In the eleventh century the region had loosened its close connections with the kingdom of Poland and subsequently for some years formed an independent duchy. Most scholars suggest that Pomerelia was still part of Poland during
11664-521: Was to capture as much of Mestwin's Pomerelia as possible. Mestwin, unable to dislodge the Brandenburgian troops himself called in the aid of Bolesław the Pious , whose troops took the city with a direct attack. The war against Brandenburg ended in 1273 with a treaty (possibly signed at Drawno Bridge), in which Brandenburg returned Gdańsk to Mestwin while he paid feudal homage to the margraves for
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