Bisenė

Bisenė
Jurbarkas District Municipality, Lithuania
Kartupėnai Hill Fort in April 2010
Bisenė
Coordinates	55°6′8″N 23°0′21″E / 55.10222°N 23.00583°E / 55.10222; 23.00583Coordinates: 55°6′8″N 23°0′21″E / 55.10222°N 23.00583°E / 55.10222; 23.00583
Type	Hill fort
Site history
Built	Before 1283
Built by	Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Materials	Wood, earthworks
Fate	Burned down in April 1316
Battles/wars	1283, 1313 (twice), 1316
Events	Lithuanian Crusade

Bisenė or Bisena was a wooden fortress of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania during the Lithuanian Crusade. It was one of the Lithuanian defensive outposts along the Neman River and was burned down by the Teutonic Order in 1283 and 1316. Its location was long debated and often confused with Pieštvė, but after 1985 research of Romas Batūra it has been generally accepted to be Kartupėnai Hill Fort near the confluence of the Kartupis and Neman in Jurbarkas District Municipality, Lithuania. After the burning down of Kolainiai in 1291 and Bisenė in 1316, Junigeda (Veliuona) became the western-most Lithuanian fortress along the Neman.

Chronicler Peter von Dusburg noted that the Teutonic Order finalized its conquest of Prussia and launched the Lithuanian Crusade in winter 1283. The first target of the Teutons was Bisenė. Teutonic soldiers, commanded by the Prussian Landmeister Konrad von Thierberg, crossed the frozen Neman River and rigorously attacked the Lithuanian fortress in the morning. It fell in the afternoon and was burned to the ground. Surviving defenders were taken captive. A detachment of the Teutons raided surrounding area taking much loot. Dusburg noted that many Teutons were injured in the attacks and four brothers drowned in the Neman when frozen ice collapsed under their feet.

Lithuanians rebuilt the fortress. In early 1313, the Teutonic order completed the construction of Christmemel not far from Bisenė and used it as a base for further attacks. In summer 1313, Bisenė was attacked by Prussian Landmeister Heinrich von Plötzke and his men. Part of his force sailed via the Neman and used boats to construct a bridge across the river. The invaders used "war machines" but the fortress withstood the assault. Landmeister Heinrich with men from Sambia and Natangia tried again in fall 1313. This time they burned the outer bailey but failed to take the main fortress.