Prussian Crusade

Prussian Crusade
Baltic tribes and Prussian clans ca. 1200
Date 1217–1274 Location Modern-day Kaliningrad Oblast and northwestern Poland Result Crusader victory Territorial changes Teutonic Knights gain control of Prussia
Belligerents
Crusaders Teutonic Order Order of Dobrin Duchy of Masovia	Pagans Prussians Prussian allies: Grand Duchy of Lithuania Duchy of Pomerania
Commanders and leaders
Hermann von Salza Konrad von Thuringen Gerhard von Malberg Hartmann von Heldrungen Konrad I of Masovia	Herkus Monte Skomantas of Sudovia Diwanus Glande Glappo Prussian allies: Swietopelk II of Pomerania

Crusaders

Pagans

Prussian allies:

Prussian allies:

The Prussian Crusade was a series of 13th-century campaigns of Roman Catholic crusaders, primarily led by the Teutonic Knights, to Christianize the pagan Old Prussians. Invited after earlier unsuccessful expeditions against the Prussians by Polish princes, the Teutonic Knights began campaigning against the Balts in 1230. By the end of the century, having quelled several Prussian Uprisings, the Knights had established control over Prussia and administered the Prussians through their monastic state.

Wulfstan of Hedeby, an agent of Alfred of Wessex, recorded the seafaring and cattle-herding Prussians as a strong and independent nation.Mieszko I of the Polans tried to extend his realm from land he had just conquered around the mouth of the Oder as far as Prussia.Boleslaw I of Poland sent Adalbert of Prague to preach among the Prussians in 997, but the missionary was killed by the pagans. After some initial success among the Prussians, Adalbert's successor, Bruno of Querfurt, was also killed in 1009.

The Poles waged war with the neighboring Prussians, Sudovians, and Wends over the following two centuries. While the Poles sought the conversion of the Prussians and control of their land, the Prussians engaged in lucrative raids for slaves in the bordering territories of Chełmno Land and Masovia. Many Prussians nominally accepted baptism only to revert to pagan beliefs after hostilities ended. Henry of Sandomierz was killed fighting the Prussians in 1166.Boleslaw IV and Casimir II each led large armies into Prussia; while Boleslaw's forces were defeated in guerilla warfare, Casimir imposed peace until his death in 1194. King Valdemar II of Denmark supported Danish expeditions against Samland until his capture by Henry, Count of Schwerin, in 1223.

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