 Around 1454 Graudenz had already reached about the same level of economical development as other towns in the western part of the State of the Teutonic Order, such as Danzig ("Gdańsk"), Elbing ("Elbląg"), Thorn ("Toruń"), Marienburg ("Malbork"), Kulm ("Chełmno"), Konitz ("Chojnice"), Neumark ("Nowe Miasto Lubawskie") and Preußisch Stargard ("Starogard Gdański").In 1440, Graudenz joined the Prussian Confederation opposing the government of the State of the Teutonic Knights.At the beginning of the Thirteen Years' War (1454–66) the citizens forced the Teutonic Order to hand over the castle.