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THE PRUSSIAN CRUSADE, PART 6
As we have seen, by 1259, the (((crusaders))) had felt secure enough with how their genocide of the Native European pagan Old Prussians was going, that they attempted to invade the neighbouring land of Samogitia. Although we should devote...
As we have seen, by 1259, the (((crusaders))) had felt secure enough with how their genocide of the Native European pagan Old Prussians was going, that they attempted to invade the neighbouring land of Samogitia. Although we should devote...
...a separate thread to this, let it suffice for now that the heroic Samogitians inflicted two defeats on the (((crusaders))), at Skuodas in 1259 and on Durbe in 1260. This event made the remaining clans of the Old Prussians, both those still free and those settled as refugees...
... amongst their free kinsmen. Moreover, especially amongst the Natangians, the desire for reclaiming their homeland was reinforced by their confidence in their new leader: Herkus Monte. Monte had been abducted by the (((crusaders))) as a child and had been indoctrinated in a...
...(((monastery))). Yet, he successfully escaped and, as a young man, found his way to his kinsmen, living as refugees in Nadruvia. So, in early 1260, each Prussian tribe had its leader: Herkus Monte led the Natangians, Glande led the Sambians, Glappo led the Warmians,...
...Diwanus led the Bartians, Auktume the Pogesanians. Combined armies of Nadruvia and Sudovia were led by Skalmantas. Furthermore, the Livonians also revolted in the north, rallying under Nameisis, leader of the Semigallians, to whom the Skalvians and Selonians adhered.
Here, we shall examine how events turned out in Prussia itself (Livonia will be the topic of our next historical investigation). After some months of destroying the (still under construction) forts the (((crusaders))) were building in eastern Bartia, the Prussians began...
...the great revolt in September. First they attacked the towns of the frontier region, which had few colonists, easy to drive out. The fortresses of timber had series next. The Prussians, having been for too long brutalized, now surprised their (((enemies))) with their skill...
...in attacking. So much progress was made in late 1260 and early 1261, that the new (((Pope))), (((Urban IV))), upon assuming his position, issued 22 (((bulls))) against the Prussians.
The first pitched battle in an open space occurred in January 24, 1261. Herkus Monte...
The first pitched battle in an open space occurred in January 24, 1261. Herkus Monte...
... effectively lured the (((crusaders))) far from their bases, at Pokarwis. When they split in two, Herkus attacked those in the position, taking them completely unawares. Then, he chased the other force, catching up with them as they were about to enter Sambia.
Afterwards, the Prussians started besieging the remaining castles. The (((crusaders))) had been dispersed in those castles, allowing the Prussians to defeat them piecemeal, location by location. By the end of 1262, most territory had been reclaimed. Only five castles,...
...Culm, Thorn, Elbing, Balga and Kőnigsberg were still occupied by the (((enemy))), but the garrisons couldn't do much damage. Herkus Monte led the reclaiming of the territory and reached Chelmno Land in 1263. In his brave endeavour, he defeated the reinforcements that the...
...(((crusaders))) had hurled against the pagans. Meanwhile, the Lithuanian duke Treniota attacked Masovia, defeating the largest part of the Polish armies and killing its leader, (((Siemowit I))). Soon, Herkus Monte started the siege of Kőnigsberg. Meanwhile, Diwanus...
... destroyed an enemy force at Schippenbeil. Glappo had destroyed all (((churches))) in Warmia. Auktume and Glande also had cleared their territory fully and had driven the (((christians))) out of the territory that once belonged to the (now extinct) Pomesanians.
Meanwhile, hearing that the (((crusaders))) were amassing a new host near Chelmno, Herkus Monte left Glande at the siege and went on another daring foray in Chelmno Land. After driving the scouts of the enemy away, he feigned retreat, luring them into the position of Lubawa.
Then, he and his men fell on the (((crusaders))), eliminating at least 40 knights and a much bigger number of sergeants and infantry men. After dispatching them, Herkus rejoined the siege, while Skalmantas and his combined Nadruvian/Sudovian fighters resumed driving the enemy...
...away from Chelmno.
In 1264, the (((crusaders))) unexpectedly refortified Bartenstein, prompting a new siege by the Prussians. The (((crusaders))) had exploited both the absence of Herkus Monte and the fact that Prussians were celebrating a festival. But, once more,...
In 1264, the (((crusaders))) unexpectedly refortified Bartenstein, prompting a new siege by the Prussians. The (((crusaders))) had exploited both the absence of Herkus Monte and the fact that Prussians were celebrating a festival. But, once more,...
... Herkus took the field, surrounding the fort, before the enemy could gather food. The enemy slew and ate their own horses. After many days, the Prussians started attacking. The first two advances were repulsed, but the third was successful. The few enemies that escaped...
...were hunted down all the way to Elbing.
Meanwhile, the traitorous (((Vaisvilkas))) and (((Shvarn))), who were in favour of (((orthodox))) Novgorod, assassinated Grand Duke Treniota of Lithuania, causing a dynastic struggle and depriving the Prussians of a much needed ally.
Meanwhile, the traitorous (((Vaisvilkas))) and (((Shvarn))), who were in favour of (((orthodox))) Novgorod, assassinated Grand Duke Treniota of Lithuania, causing a dynastic struggle and depriving the Prussians of a much needed ally.
This, coupled with the wounding of Herkus Monte in an abortive sortie outside Kőnigsberg, meant a further loss of initiative, since the Prussian chiefs were occupied with resettling the reclaimed territories instead of transferring the fight inside the enemy territory.
Meanwhile, the (((crusaders))) expected new rounds of reinforcements, in order to turn the tide
In the next installment, we will see the desperate flight of the Prussians for blood and soil.
Thanks for reading.
Dixi.
In the next installment, we will see the desperate flight of the Prussians for blood and soil.
Thanks for reading.
Dixi.
Misspelling: we will see the fight* of the Prussians...
