Prussia trip

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Nationalist representation of the struggle in Poland; after a lost painting by Wojciech Gerson

Under Prussian journeys , often also referred to as Lithuanian journeys , i.e. journeys of armed men (traveling men ), one understands the repeated war expeditions of West and Central European, mostly noble crusaders as support for the Teutonic Order in its disputes with the Prussians and Lithuanians . The idea of ​​the so-called “pagan journeys” or “journeys” emerged after the end of the crusades through the loss of the city of Acre in Galilee in 1291. But the old core idea of ​​the fight against the “infidels” remained in the feudalist culture of European chivalry still widespread. So the continuing struggle of the Teutonic Order from Prussia against its opponents in the east - first against the Prussians, later the Grand Duchy of Lithuania . In this context, especially in the 14th century, the persistent refusal of the Lithuanian rulers to accept Christianity played an important role: they fought for the cross as a symbol of Christ against unbelieving pagans .

Beginnings

As early as the first half of the 13th century, so-called Prussian marches were undertaken under papal sanctions under the usual satisfactions for a crusade , such as extensive forgiveness of sins and other promises of salvation. Even then, the Teutonic Order consciously made use of contemporary Christian ethics and feudal concepts of honor. At that time it was mainly a matter of helping with the colonization of Prussia. In this context, the “heathen procession” of King Ottokar II. Přemysl in 1255 should be mentioned, which ultimately led to the foundation of the castle and town of Königsberg .

In the second half of the 13th century, however, the classic character of a crusade (absolution) was lost. Official papal calls for a crusade against the eastern pagans were no longer available in view of the internal turmoil of the empire ( interregnum ).

Climax

The trips to Prussia, which had been sporadic since the end of the 13th century, experienced a high point, particularly during the reign of Grand Master Winrich von Kniprode in the so-called "heyday" of the Teutonic Order state . It became a social fad among the European nobility to go on “journeys” against the infidels. One of the most prominent "travelers" at this time was Johann von Luxemburg , who stayed in 1345 at the Marienburg and at Königsberg . In military terms, the order owed its guests a contribution to its successes that could not be underestimated. The course of the battle near Rudau is exemplary , where the effective use of the best equipped Prussian travelers ultimately decided the outcome of the meeting.

At the end of the 14th century, due to the “conversion of the pagans” within the framework of the Lithuanian-Polish Union, the willingness to “fight pagans” in the service of the order declined noticeably. Another reason was the advance of the Ottoman Turks, who destroyed a crusade army at Nicopolis in 1396 and thus turned out to be a greater danger to the West than the Lithuanians were. Nevertheless, not a few “guests of the order” were in the service of the order in the battle of Tannenberg in 1410. It is difficult to clarify today, however, to what extent these were armed Prussian drivers or mere soldiers.

Character of the fighting in Lithuania

There are two fundamentally different variants of "pagan journeys":

On the one hand, the summer or construction trips, which were used to erect bulwark-like entrenchments in order to obtain protected bases. This variant stepped more and more into the background in connection with the consolidation of the order in the Pruzzenlande .

Second, the winter trips remained. Because of the great distance to the bases and the inaccessibility of the site it was forbidden to build castles in Lithuania, so they went on forays into the interior of Lithuania, which were basically only looting and pillaging of the "heathen country" for a very limited time. For heavily armed people, this was only possible in winter, as swamps and inaccessible forests and a lack of food prevented the horses from making an orderly advance.

In addition to the offensive approach, it was also necessary, as described above, to fend off the attacks by Lithuanian troops in the Order's country itself.

Quirks

It was widely considered a high honor, "in the face of / the Gentiles" the accolade by a Großgebietiger obtain (Grand Master, Grand Commander, Order of Marshal, Trapier or Spittler) of the Teutonic Order. Furthermore, booty was also generously granted to the noble fighters. This explains, among other things, the high proportion of the lower nobility in the wake of the high nobility in the enterprises in Prussia. In addition, there was the not to be underestimated reputation of gaining a special status as a “pagan traveler” in front of peers.

logistics

The most important travel routes were:

The path then led on to Marienburg , where the Grand Master was usually paid his respects. From there it went on via Elbing and Braunsberg to Königsberg , where they waited for the deployment order.

The crusaders had to pay their own travel expenses. However, they were involved through the transfer of any loot and parts of the proceeds from the sale of prisoners brought in, the extent of which depended on the social status of the prisoner in question.

Well-known Prussian drivers

literature

  • Karlheinz Brauers: The Order of Prussia and the Lower Rhine - especially Geldern . In: Annals of the Historical Association for the Lower Rhine . Issue 209, 2006, pp. 139-216.
  • Manfred Konrads: Friedrich von Wildenberg. Knights of the Eifel in Prussia . In: 1992 yearbook of the Euskirchen district . Pp. 63-71.
  • Werner Paravicini : The Prussian journeys of the European nobility . (Supplement to the Francia , 17 / 1–2). 2 volumes. Thorbecke, Sigmaringen 1989–1995, ISBN 3-7995-7317-8 and ISBN 3-7995-7348-8 ( Vol. 1 online , Vol. 2 online )
  • Wolfgang Sonthofen: The German Order . Weltbild, Augsburg 1995, ISBN 3-89350-713-2 .
  • Dieter Zimmerling: The German order of knights . 5th edition. Econ, Munich 1999, ISBN 3-430-19959-X .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Werner Paravicini: The Prussian journeys of the European nobility . Part 1, Thorbecke, Sigmaringen 1989, ISBN 3-7995-7317-8 , p. 149 (supplements of Francia, volume 17/1).
  2. ^ Werner Paravicini: The Prussian journeys of the European nobility . Part 1, Thorbecke, Sigmaringen 1989, ISBN 3-7995-7317-8 , p. 34 (supplements of Francia, volume 17/1).