prussian uprisings prussian uprisings major smaller uprisings baltic tribes took place 13th century prussian crusade military order supported sought conquer convert pagan years crusade seven major prussian clans fell control numerous rose occasions uprising supported duke successful reducing knights strongest castles conversely duke suffered series military defeats eventually forced peace support broken pope innocent negotiated peace treaty knights treaty honored enforced especially end second uprising known historiography great prussian uprising prompted largest defeat suffered 13th century uprising longest largest threatening reduced strongest castles reinforcements knights slow arrive despite repeated pope urban position order looked set order lacked unity common strategy reinforcements finally reached prussia prussian clans surrendered uprising ended later lesser uprisings depended foreign help suppressed years uprising effectively ended prussian crusade prussia christian german speaking territory native number settlers different german states background repelled early incursions outnumbered attacks poland russians southeast west called land started number attacks later asked knights protect raids preoccupied holy land knights arrived task build base left bank opposite completed year later led knights repeat mistakes previous order push eastwards forest interior build fortified log later brick stone castles major rivers serve basis future expansion castles built faced major difficulties capturing castles accustomed battling open fields conflicts occurred summer winter heavily armoured knights travel fight land soaked water melting snow autumn rains summer campaigns dangerous knights immediately build new castles conquered territory strategy proved successful years seven major prussian clans fell control numerous resisted leading uprisings following years prussian uprising prussian uprising influenced major events firstly knights lost battle ice lake april secondly southern poland devastated invasion poland lost knights lost trusted allies supplied troops fighting knights supported brothers claims implied new castles knights competing lands trade routes historians embrace prussian alliance careful point historical information came documents written charged persuade pope declare crusade pagan christian duke besieged castles managed capture eastern regions western parts december knights able capture castle banks ensuing week siege failed recapture fortress lost men spring lost castle dominated trade face losses duke forced short lived truce summer help raided land way defeated pursuing knights june banks soldiers perished including marshal encouraged defeat gathered army men unsuccessfully besieged managed gather coalition given territories prussia received brothers hoped regain inheritance built castle separated launched blockade castle attacks blockade smashed late army suffered great defeat early killed asked truce pope innocent appointed chaplain future pope urban handle peace negotiations war renewed large reinforcements arrived prussia christmas eve knights besieged overwhelmed major fortress later renamed newly arrived subdued destroyed knights rebuilt new location prussian armies failed capture new castle raided forcing locals surrender peace talks begun achieved little new truce arranged september peace november return lands seized brothers allow pass domains stop charging tolls ships stop aid compelled sign treaty february treaty provided personal freedom rights newly converted christians formally ended uprising november defeated knights battle skirmishes lasted sources cite year end uprising point treaty ceased political power remained interesting historical document great prussian uprising preparation tactics major revolt began september triggered lithuanian military victory joint forces knights uprising spreading prussian lands clan chose leader led clan join uprising uprising supported leader leader coordinate efforts different forces educated germany best known successful leaders commanded besieged castles knights built send large armies fight west familiar western european siege tactics machinery relied siege forts built castle cut supplies garrisons raise large armies deliver supplies garrisons smaller castles began fall castles usually destroyed manned castles notably lacked technology defend captured castles organization provide food supplies stationed garrisons august jacob negotiated treaty uprising elected pope urban having inside scope events prussia especially favourable issued papal years calling reinforcements knights reinforcements slow come poland germany preoccupied disputes order fighting uprising early prussian success reinforcement forces arrived early wiped january january reinforcements arrived led duke obliged pope duties prussia army broke siege soon army returned home resumed siege reinforced later injured retreated leaving unable stop supplies reaching castle siege eventually failed successful capturing castles deeper prussian territory exception knights left strongholds castles fell fell destroyed captured forts instead defence end successful meant large prussian forces stay near home free operate parts prussia raiding recovered raided large force took prisoners way men confronted contingent enemies ensued killed knights including master marshal received help summer attacked killing duke raided provoking join uprising assassination subsequent fights prevented campaigns leader raided turning point year turning point uprising substantial reinforcements finally started arriving prussia gave fight castles cut region rest prussia supplies brought sea castle served basis raids surrounding order sent troops joint forces defeated decisive battle forcing surrender reinforcements arrived germany armies albert arrived prussia unable achieve john rulers built castle lands named bad weather organize campaigns prussian lands returned home captured year returned rebuild castle john died end son killed tournament subsequent supportive knights duke supporter uprising died sons briefly joined uprising king participated prussian crusade promised pope urban prussian lands conquer finally arrived prussia achievement forcing duke reconcile large army unable campaign early heavily armed knights hardly fight wet spring season warfare relied raids border regions small groups men dozen quick raids farms villages border posts etc warfare defeat knights relied future reinforcements germany europe draining local resources massacre surrendered soldiers knights refused negotiate unable coordinate efforts develop common strategy clan leader lead clans watch attacks threatened garrisons way able continue war west minor expeditions year end uprising major prussian offensive organized leader infantry besieged border castle knights managed escape joined cavalry knights set camp opposite bank blocking route home christians retired night half prussian army crossed river distance order attack knights rear half charged straight river knights encircled battle saw knights men killed immediately assaulted captured looting surrounding area cavalry arrived prussian infantry perished cavalry escaped despite losses soon blocked roads leading hoping castle killed siege small post winter reinforcements arrived led army invaded besieged unnamed castle assault claimed lives resistance broken region small group followers forced withdraw forests southern prussia year finally captured hanged prussian leader hanged siege campaign attacked rear tribe standing surprise raid ambushed garrison knights great expedition avenge raid capturing rebel headquarters ending uprising knights proceeded rebuild strengthen castles destroyed number escaped lithuania knights free peasants local nobles convert hostages granted privileges retain noble status knights conquered uprisings aftermath great uprising rose number times knights uprisings smaller scale posed real danger concentrate conquests number uprisings variously considered suppressed year showed exhaustion division prussian tribes uprising provoked leader successfully raided lands year help led men land uprising failed spread convinced join insurrection accepted baptism promised loyalty knights continued fight crushed survivors chief escaped grand lithuania joined fled great uprising prussian attempts rid rule relying foreign powers enemies knights known fourth uprising depended help duke grandson plot soon revealed suffered consequences uprising limited depended help lithuania rebels captured surprise plundered far threat time prussian nobility baptized pro extent peasants killed attacking knights attempt effectively ended prussian crusade knights concentrated conquering lithuania lithuanian historians note fierce resistance won time young lithuanian state mature strengthen withstand year crusade culminating battle minimal territorial losses prussian lands colonists germany 16th century eventually outnumbered natives estimated numbered comprised half total population prussia subject eventually extinct 16th century believed prussian language extinct beginning 18th century
Prussian uprisings