In 1386 the Lithuanian Grand Duke Jogaila was baptised and married the 12-year-old Polish Queen Jadviga. He then led, as Władysław II. Jagiełło, King of Poland, a Polish-Lithuanian union, which was in opposition to the Teutonic Order. The fight against their neighbours, who had meanwhile become Christian, weakened the order’s position with the emperor and pope.
In 1410 the Order suffered a devastating defeat at Tannenberg (Battle of Grunwald) where most of the brothers fell and the Marienburg (today Malbork Castle) was only narrowly defended. The Order had to raise large sums for the Polish victors, which it financed by levying high taxes. Thereupon cities and estates joined together in the Prussian Confederation and fought together with Poland against the order. The Order lost the 13-year war, which ended in 1466 with the 2nd Peace of Toruń. The Order country was divided: Marienburg (today Malbork), Elbing (today Elbląg) and Warmia (Ermland) passed over to Poland as "Royal Prussia". The Grand Master swore the oath of allegiance to the Polish king for the rest of the territory.
Illustration:
The ruins of Thorn (today Toruń)
The ruins of Toruń Castle, a castle of the Teutonic Order, illuminated on the left the still existing Dansker (sewage tower of the castle).
Toruń stands for the beginning and end of the history of the Teutonic Order in Prussia. It was the first settlement foundation of the Order after the beginning of their campaign against the Old Prussians in 1231 and was granted a town charter in 1233. The Ordensburg (castle of the Order) made from bricks was built as from 1260 on the foundations of a previous wooden building taking over its former horseshoe shape. After the defeat at Tannenberg, the 1st Peace of Toruń was concluded. The storming of the castle by its citizens and its destruction marked the beginning of the 13-year war, which was concluded in 1466 by way of the 2nd Peace of Toruń making the land of the Order dependent on Poland. The ruins remained for centuries a reminder of the successful rising of the citizens against the order.
Photo: 1burner, Wikipedia Creative Commons Licence