Einstellung der bevölkerung Preussens zur herrschaft der Ordensritter
Journal Title: Miscellanea Historico-Archivistica - Year 2016, Vol 23, Issue 23
Abstract
The history of the Lizard Union proves existance of strong opposition against the rule of the Teutonic Knights even before its defeat at the battle of Grunwald (Tannenberg). That hostile attitude was clearly expressed when several banners of Chełmno Lands (banner – unit of the cavalry) left the battlefield on July 15, 1410 by the end of the battle. Moreover, a country knights took over the town and castle of Ostróda for the Polish king to help him to march to Marienburg. Other knights, among them Nicolaus of Renis (Mikołaj z Ryńska), planned to take the Marienburg in a similar manner. In this context it has to be pointed out that the country's nobility of Chełmno Lands was not required to fight outside its borders for the Order after the privilege for Chełmno of 1233. Participation in military campaigns beyond the Vistula River and its tributaries Drewenz and Ossa was performed voluntarily and those who were taking part received from the Order payment and compensation for all incurred losses. The following campaigns can be set as an examples: Samaiten 1402, Gotland 1404 and Dobrzyń 1409. At the end of 1410 a cash payment of 4,000 marks was made on the orders of the Grand Master for Chełmno Lands. The sum, which was the equivalent of about 300 war horses, was not completely used what deeply disappointed the knights who valued higher their losses. An open question remains concerning to what extent that special arrangement for the Chełmno Lands had impact on the behavior of parts of their chivalry in the battle of Grunwald. Similar agreements were also held with the knights in Warmia and in the New March (Neumark); they could also be used for military service outside their borders only voluntary under the above enumerated conditions. This became a problem for the Teutonic Order and often led to annoyance particularly with the nobles in the New March. The four bishops of Pomesania, Warmia, Chełmno Lands and Kulm paid homage to the Polish king after the battle of Grunwald, as did the abbess of St. Bridget in Gdańsk who wrote a request for assistance to Władysław Jagiello slightly after the Polish-Lithuanian victory. Her wishes were promptly answered in the affirmative manner on 6th August. The case of Bishop Heinrich Vogelsang of Warmia is of particular interest because he set out for Poland in late September or early October and was therefore considered by the Teutonic Order as a traitor. Grand Master Heinrich von Plauen sought long in vain to replace him with a supporter of the Teutonic Order. The major cities in Prussia seemed to have an ambivalent attitude towards the heavy defeat of the Knights. According to the messages that reached the Bishop of Poznan on July 29 and briefly after, the inhabitants of Thorn beheaded their komtur and killed 50 Order soldiers. A similar fate suffered other Order soldiers in Gdansk mid-August. The city Elblag apologized later for paying the homage to the Polish king using as an excuse the fact that the German Order prohibited repeatedly to repair the damaged city walls. In the general analysis of this issue the following questions are worth answering: How different were the reactions of the inhabitants of Prussia to the changing military and political situation after the battle of Grunwald? Can the different forms of behavior be recognized depending on social class? And were the numerous tributes the result of desperation and seeing the situation as "hopeless" or rather an expression of long-suppressed resentment of Teutonic Order’s authority?
Authors and Affiliations
Sven Ekhdal
Keywords
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