Started in the 11th century. The Crusades led to the phenomenon of the creation of knightly and monastic associations, “orders.” The first such association to appear in the Holy Land was the Order of the Templars or Templars ( temple - temple. The next knightly order was created on the basis of the Jerusalem Hospital of St. John

The German order was also created on the basis of the hospital that appeared during the Third Crusade in 1190 during the siege of the city of Acre. In 1198, it was decided to create a knightly order, its first master was German Walpot.

With the coming to power of Hermann von Salza (Hermann von Salza 1209-1239), the situation changed. In 1210-11 Hungarian king Andras II (1205-1235), invites the Teutonic Order to defend the Hungarian border from Cuman invasions.

Brother Theodoric was appointed leader of the expedition to Burzenland. Under his leadership, the development of the resulting territory began in 1212. The Order built 5 castles.

In the fight against the Cumans, the order achieved certain successes, inflicting a number of defeats on them. Some of the Polovtsians were forced to recognize his power and be baptized . In 1225, Andras II expelled the Teutonic Order from Hungary.

The order's successful fight against the Cumans attracted the attention of the Polish prince Konrad of Mazovia. His principality in northern Poland was constantly subjected to devastating raids by Prussian pagans. In 1225, Konrad of Mazovia turned to the German order brothers for help.

After lengthy negotiations, agreement was reached and the order sent its knights to Prussia. In 1230, an order detachment under the command of the Landmaster of Prussia, Hermann von Balck, approached the border.

Conquest of Prussia

In the spring of 1231, the order brothers, led by Hermann von Balck, crossed to the eastern bank of the river. On the banks of the Vistula they built a rampart fortification, calling it Thorn. The next year they began to conquer Prussian lands by launching an offensive along the banks of the Vistula. As they advanced, the order built castles to secure their possessions. The first castles were shafted. Earthen ramparts were poured along the perimeter of which a wooden palisade with wooden towers and living quarters for the garrison was installed. The fortress was surrounded by deep ditches. At the initial stage, the order often used Prussian fortresses.

After the founding of Elbing in In 1238, the order carried out a reconnaissance naval expedition across the bay on two ships. Moving north along the coast of Warmia, they discovered the Prussian fortress of Honeda . The attempt to take the fortress by storm was unsuccessful; almost the entire landing force was destroyed by the Prussians.

A year later (1239), well-armed ships with a new detachment of knights moored at the foot of the high bank on which Honeda was located. After a long siege, it passed into the hands of the Order. Having slightly reconstructed the old fortress, they called it Balga .

In 1239-40, the order had 21 fortified points.

In 1242, the Prussians began an uprising in the territories captured by the order, which lasted about 7 years.

After the suppression of the uprising, the order began the further conquest of Prussian lands

Led by the Czech king Otakar (German: Ottokar), Sambia (Samland) was captured. The result of this offensive was the foundation Koenigsberg (1255).

The order was prevented from continuing its offensive by the second Prussian uprising, which began in 1260 and was finally suppressed in 1272.

After the suppression of the uprising, the order almost immediately began to conquer the Prussian lands of Nadrovia and Scalovia.

By 1283, the advanced detachments of the order reached the Memel (Neman) River and built a fortress on its steep bank in 1289 Landshut (Ragnit). At this stage, the main territory of Prussia was conquered.

The development of the conquered territory and the tactical improvement of defense against the attacks from Lithuania began.

Due to the virtual absence of roads, the main transport arteries were rivers, in this region it was the Pregel River. From Königsberg, a large number of castles were built along it, including Arnau(c. 1302), Tapiau, Velau in 1320 Taplaken(c. 1310), Norkitten(c. 1320), Insterburg(1336).

In 1309, the residence of the Hochmeister (Grand Master) was moved from Venice to Prussia to the Komtur castle of Marienburg, founded around 1270

Immediately after the Grand Master moved to Prussia, the massive construction of castles in stone began. By that time, the order had developed its own tradition of building castles, both for the residence of commanders and for the smallest fortified fortresses. Everything was consistent, despite the large differences in some outlines and location. It is thanks to this systematic and uniform construction that the castles of Prussia form a firmly defined group of orderly building art of the Middle Ages. As a rule, these were quadrangular castles with from one to four wings with bergfried and high defensive walls . These castles had a pre-castle fortification (forburg), also surrounded by a defensive wall made of bricks with a military passage.

During the 14th century, a large number of expensive castles were built.

Of great importance was the question of building materials. Prussia is poor in stone reserves; there are also no quarries on its territory, and therefore piles, columns, and some building blocks were made from imported granite and limestone blocks. Therefore, the main building material for Prussian castles was hand-molded burnt brick. In addition to ordinary bricks, shaped bricks were also required for the internal surfaces of vaults, windows, doors and for vault supports. Glazed brick was also used in large quantities. When laying, a mortar was needed, which required large quantities of lime, mined in Noenburg. Lime of better quality was imported from the island of Gotland.

Along with the reconstruction of old castles, the founding of new ones continued, which after 1310 were often immediately built of stone.

The construction work of the castles was enormous not only in volume, but also in complexity. From the material spent on the construction of the castle, it was possible to build a medium-sized medieval city.

Small castles were also built, which served as residences for order officials (vogts, pflegers - managers, cammerarii, etc.). In addition to the costs of materials, there were also labor costs (production of building materials, construction itself). The Order also paid for highly qualified specialists.

Komtur castles (Conventburg)

The territory of the Order state was divided into commanders, large administrative units, which were the centers of the military and economic organization of the Order. This unit was headed by the commander, with a knightly convention, their residence was the castle. The castle itself Hochburg) had from one to four wings , in the shape of a closed quadrangle. Often with a large tower (bergfried) and small towers in dangerous areas.

The main floor in the castle was considered the second, which could be reached from the courtyard through a covered gallery; on the floor there was a chapel (chapel), a chapter hall (a room for meeting brothers of the order), a remter (dining room), and a dormitorium (bedroom), as well as but definitely a danzker (toilet). In winter, living quarters were heated by heating stones in the basement, warm air was supplied through air ducts, and through holes in the floor. On the ground floor there were utility rooms (kitchen, etc.). Food and other materials necessary for defense were stored in the basements. The third floor also served as storage; it was mainly used as a grain barn. Under the roof of the main castle along the perimeter there was a military passage and loopholes for shelling both outside and into the courtyard. (Particularly large castles had four or even five floors). There was always a well in the courtyard. The yard itself was paved with untreated field stone, and to prevent rainwater from stagnating, it had an inclined appearance with water drainage into a well.

The security of the castle complex was ensured by large ditches and walls with a military passage surrounding the castle itself. Between such a wall and the castle there was a platform called parham.

The construction of large massive buildings, which represented a well-fortified complex, also had a pre-castle fortification ( Forburg), and often several forburgs, with high walls, and numerous warehouse buildings for storing food, fodder, weapons, all kinds of workshops, stables, as well as living quarters, etc.

These castles were built not only as purely military structures, but also as symbols of the status of the knightly community and territorial power. Komtur castles were architecturally full of dignity. Rich decorative forms and building elements gave Northern European Gothic its unique features. In many cases, high-end artwork was used. Elements of architectural decoration were used, such as openwork stone carvings, multi-layer capitals, friezes with inscriptions, and glazed panels. The most beautiful work of order architecture are the halls with ribbed vaults. The castles were also decorated with reliefs and bas-reliefs, for which limestone imported from Gotland was used .

There were 4 Komtur castles on the territory of the Königsberg region:

Balga, Brandenburg, Königsberg, Ragnit. Temporarily served as commander's castles: Labiau, Tapiau, Lochstedt, Insterburg.

Firmari

At commander's castles there were very often firms for sick and old order brothers and order priests who, due to old age or injury, could not serve. In large Komtur castles there were two types of firmari, for order brothers-knights, order priests, gray cloaks and separately for servants. Sometimes there were separate firms for gray cloaks (serving brothers of humble origin) and simple bollards, as in Osterode Castle. But for the separate treatment of gray cloaks - half-brothers, this is perhaps the only evidence . Usually they were treated in the same room with the knights. The firmari table, at least in some castles, was provided with its own kitchen, where better and more plentiful dishes were prepared, as required by the order's statutes. Given the great importance of food diet in medieval medicine, we can talk about dietary cuisine. The kitchen had its own cook, and sometimes (in Königsberg) two cooks. In large castles with a convention of 30 to 60 brothers, there were large rooms with their own remter (dining room) for sick and elderly knights, with a separate bathhouse. Order statutes recommended bathing for sick brothers. The firmari were built in such a way that each knight of the order had his own room (cell) and a common room for rest. In most cases, this complex included a chapel, a kitchen and a basement. Everything looked like a small hospital in which life proceeded in isolation .

Baths

Baths were a fairly common phenomenon in Europe, and accordingly the Order built baths everywhere in its castles. They were available not only in castles with a large convention, but also in the castles of the Vogts, Pflegers - managers and Kammeramts. The baths were built in the same way as in firmari: a plank floor laid on a stone floor, glass windows. Stones were placed on the stoves, being hot, they were poured with water to produce steam. Water for washing was heated in boilers, and people washed in “baths” (wooden barrels). Leafy brooms were also used for bathing procedures. Sometimes there was a special well in the baths .

Water supply

According to research by B. Schmid ( B. Schmid ) there were 19 wells in the Marienburg castle complex. The well in the high castle was up to 27 m deep and lined with stones. Above it is a wooden canopy with tiles and a wheel for pulling out a container of water; the well was obviously built back in the 13th century. In the Grand Master's quarters in the middle castle there was a round hole in the floor that led through the floors into the basement to a well. Usually the well was located in the center of the castle courtyard, as in Königsberg in the courtyard of the Convention House.

Dantzker

A characteristic feature of the order's castles were danzkers (toilets), these were impressive towers standing outside the aisles of the castle building, most of them on a water stream (stream, bay, river, and in a flowing ditch). They were connected to the castle by a covered passage on powerful columns ( in Marienwerder this passage was 54 m long). They often combined defensive functions and architectural beauty and formed a striking castle complex. But, first of all, they served as a latrine for the inhabitants of the castle. In addition to the tower danzkers, there were also small rooms hung on the outer defensive wall with external hatches for sewage. Königsberg Castle had two dancers, one for the Convention House and the other for the firmari. As a rule, dancers had several places .

Heating

The heating system was also carefully thought out. In the 13th and first half of the 14th centuries. the castles were heated by open fireplaces and coal fires. Later, calorific heating (heating with warm air) is found everywhere, the oldest is found up to 1300 in Marienburg. Under the heated rooms there was a special furnace in which large boulders were heated, then thermal holes were opened and warm air from the hot stones was channeled through thermal channels and the rooms were heated through holes in the floor. The chimney was also used for open fireplaces. Thanks to this heating system, the harsh Prussian winters were tolerated quite comfortably . Later, indoor ovens began to be used in castles. The room stove, combined with ventilated fireplaces, finally took its final form in Prussia around 1370.

Small castles

Along with the large convention castles, the order knights also needed numerous small castles to manage the lands.

The purpose of small castles was very diverse.

Komturstvos, with their often huge territories, needed smaller units (administrative units). They were headed by individual order brothers or order officials.

and existed in the form Pflegamt – care, (administrative department), Waldamt- “staircases” and Kammerä mter . Led them respectively Pfleger- caretakers (managers), Waldmeister- “foresters” and camerarius - chamberlain.

The territory adjacent to the convention castle was governed as a separate administrative unit, similar to the kammeramts. Along with the commanders, there were other administrative districts that were subordinate to the landmaster or master; these were Vogtoien - Vogtstva (vicerarchy), with Vogts at their head as supreme administrators. Vogtships arose during the magisterial period, sometimes from abolished commanders.

Differences in the purpose of the small castles had little effect on their architectural form; in all these castles approximately the same conditions were available: an order official needed residential, representative and office space. The castle was supposed to have a chapel intended for the entire pre-castle area. These few rooms could well have been located in a building like a one-wing convention castle. In addition, a courtyard and other premises were needed for various military and economic needs. The fortress walls expanded the area of the castle; buildings under their protection could be adjacent to the main building and even form a multi-wing structure. Therefore, there were one, two, three, and even four-wing castles, for example Tapiau, Labiau, Insterburg. In the initial period, these castles were used as komtur castles, and when they were rebuilt in stone, from the very beginning they were built as pflegerstvos. The scale of the castles was not related to their purpose. Most likely, they depended on the size of the subordinate territory, or the importance of the castle as a military point.

Small order castles began to form when the development of convention castles reached its highest point, this happened after 1320. Before this time, not a single small castle built of stone had been identified. At the initial stage, castle buildings were completely influenced by the standard convention castle. But, in the end, they acquired their own special form .

Zwischenwerke – advanced and intermediate fortifications, built to protect the border or as cover between larger fortifications. They were small in size and, as a rule, rarely received architectural decoration. The numerous ramparts of order castles preserved in Prussia may, for the most part, be the remains of the smallest defensive structures.

The Order built small fortifications to protect the population. Simultaneously with the settlements, he founded castles, the military purpose of which was to ensure the safety and protection of the population. Later, they began to perform the functions of the previously castled conventions: they became military castles, bastions on which the defense of the country was based.

Village (city) castles predominated within the country; as a rule, they were located next to settlements or cities and represented two separate fortified places (city and castle) separated by walls and ditches.

Castles of the Sambian Bishopric

On the territory of Kal region. The Sambian (Zamland) bishopric was located, and three separate parts were allocated to it. Two of them were in Sambia, one in Nadrovia.

After the start of the Order's offensive into Prussia, Pope Gregory IX On August 3, 1234, he issues a bull in which he gives permission to a similar “golden bull” of Frederick II for the conquest of Prussia and the subordination of these territories to the Order, but on the condition that a third of these lands would be transferred to the church. The papal legate Wilhelm von Modena arrived in Prussia in 1243 and divided it into four bishoprics. Since Sambia had not yet been conquered by that time, the bishopric on its territory was only in partibus infidelium.

After the conquest in 1255 Sambia (Zamland), it was soon divided. In 1258, a treaty was drawn up between the first bishop, Heinrich von Strittberg, and the Landmaster of Prussia, Gerhard von Hirtzberg, according to which the bishop chose the southern and northwestern parts of Sambia.

Until 1260, the center of the bishopric was in Königsberg, but already in 1264 the bishop founded his residence Fischhausen on the shore of Frische Haff (Cal. Bay). After the Order conquered Nadrovia, a third of the territory was transferred to the bishop. To manage the border lands in Nadrovia, a castle was founded in 1350 Georgenburg.

In their architecture and form, they were practically no different from the order’s castles. In total, on the territory of the Königsberg region there were 11 castles of the Sambian bishopric: Fischhausen, Rinau-Galtgarben, Medenau, Laptau, Tierenberg, Neuhausen, Povunden, Ziegenberg, Saalau, Georgenburg, Quednau. Of these, 2 fortifications Rinau-Galtgarben and Ziegenberg served as fortress shelters. They did not have a permanent garrison and were used only during Lithuanian raids. The local population flocked to these refuge fortresses, which had rampart fortifications, and took part in the defense.

On November 19, 1190, the Teutonic Order was founded, from which many architectural monuments have survived to this day. Today we will talk about the most famous of them, both those that are well preserved and those that lie in ruins.

Malbork Castle, Poland

Malbork, the largest seat of the Teutonic Order in Europe, is located in what is today Poland. The master of the order moved to the Polish residence from the Venetian one at the very beginning of the fourteenth century. The gigantic red brick building, which cannot fail to impress with its size and grandeur, is located on twenty hectares of a green hill surrounded by a protective moat. After the fall of the order, the castle still served as a residence, but for Polish kings. Modern Malbork is one of the most famous architectural attractions of Poland, which several hundred thousand tourists from all over the world come to see every year.

Balga Castle, Russia, Kaliningrad region

Balga Castle, the construction of which began by order of the Grand Master of the Order in 1250, is led by an old cobblestone road with powerful trees on both sides. Life was once in full swing here, and fierce battles took place. But by the beginning of the 18th century, the fortress had lost its strategic importance and began to decline. It was finally finished off by the bombing of 1945, after which it was never restored. Today, the secluded building stands in the forest on the seashore, with a five-meter fortified ditch visible nearby. The best preserved of the fortifications is the tower, which served as a lighthouse. Unfortunately, the word “preserved” is not entirely appropriate here: what remains of the tower can be climbed using some fragments of spiral staircases, and even then not very high. Only the once four-story convention building looks good.

Schaaken Castle, Russia, Kaliningrad region

According to the order's chronicles, Schaaken was founded in 1261 on the site of a Prussian fortress, while defensive ditches were deepened, the rampart was strengthened and new palisades were built, where the garrison's living quarters were located. The castle was necessary for the Teutons to defend the coast of the Curonian Lagoon (Kurishe Gaf Bay). Subsequently, Schaaken was used for the order’s campaigns on Prussian territories. The castle survived many wars and survived even the terrible meat grinder of World War II. But by the end of the 20th century, due to the lack of timely repairs, the ceiling and walls collapsed, and all the buildings turned into ruins. Today there is a private museum on the territory of the castle, the owners of which are raising funds for restoration.

Koenigsberg Castle, Russia, Kaliningrad

This castle marked the beginning of the history of the city. The Czech King Ottokar and Grand Master Poppo von Ostern founded it in 1255, and the castle existed relatively safely until 1967. It was originally a wooden structure, later rebuilt into a brick fortress and then into a castle. Over the seven centuries of its existence, it housed both the residence of the Teutonic Order and the residence of the Duke of Prussia; it was the place where Prussian kings were crowned. The castle was seriously damaged during the Great Patriotic War, but its walls survived. They fell in 1967 - the castle, despite the protests of city residents, was not restored, but blown up by decision of the regional committee of the CPSU. Today, in its place there is the House of Soviets and a pile of stones with signs indicating which part of the castle belongs to certain fragments.

Velau Castle, Russia, Kaliningrad region

One of the most important castles of the Teutonic Order was Velau Castle. It was located where the village of Znamensk is now located, belonging to the Gvardeysky district of the Kaliningrad region. The castle was destroyed in 1280. Later it was built again, but in a new place, where the Pregoli and Lava merge, on the eastern island. 1347 is the year the castle was burned, after which it was no longer restored. Today, part of the village is located on this site, and even the technical parameters of Velau Castle are practically unknown.

The development of military affairs often becomes the reason for the emergence of many innovative solutions not only in the economic sphere, but also in the field of engineering, urban planning, fortifications and medicine. Historically, each of the conflicting parties gives a start to the search and construction of new fortification systems, weapons, tactics and strategies. The emergence of new engineering solutions on the attacking side creates the basis for the search for innovations on the defensive side, and vice versa. There are many examples of this - for example, the construction in the Middle Ages throughout Europe of the so-called "star fortresses" seems to have been a consequence of the use of artillery during the siege. And such a striking example of the development of architecture in the field of fortifications can serve as today’s largest castle in the world.

Castle of the Teutonic Order

Malbork Castle(Polish name), can also be found under the German name Marienburg, which translates as “Castle of the Virgin Mary,” the patroness of the Teutonic Order. The full name of the fortification sounds like Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork. The fortification, located in northern Poland, is one of the standards of brick Gothic and an important historical monument, due to which it was included in the list in 1997.

Malbork served as the headquarters of the military order, and in its type belonged to the Ordersburg, fortifications built during the Crusades by the German military order.

The reason for the construction of such a huge complex was typical for the period of the Crusades - the fight against unwanted peoples and their conversion to Catholics. Malbork Castle served as a fortress from where the Teutonic Order launched campaigns against the inhabitants inhabiting the Baltic Sea areas.

After the conquest of Prussia, in order to strengthen itself in the region, control it and suppress the uprisings of the local population in the 1270s, the Order decided to organize a komturstvo (an administrative unit within the Order) here. These years are considered the beginning of the period of construction of the castle, which lasted until the beginning of the 14th century.

History of Malbork Castle

Malbork Castle was founded by the knights in 1274 on the banks of the Nogat River, near its confluence with the Vistula. The river was used as a source of water and a transport vein, characteristic features of fortifications of that time. Preparing for construction required considerable effort: making bricks and tiles, collecting wood and stones for the foundation, and clearing the area of forest.

No documents about the construction have been preserved, so the entire history of construction is based on the results of research by archaeologists and records of the Order. So, for example, from these conclusions it follows that as of 1280, about 4.5 million bricks were used, 70% of which were spent on the castle itself, and the rest on the encircling fortress wall.

During its history, the fortification was expanded several times. After the first stage of construction, Malbork Castle consisted of a High Castle (main) and a Middle Castle. In the northern part there was a chapel (chapel), a meeting hall, living quarters, a managerial room and a refectory; in the southern and eastern parts there were stables and workshops. Next, a dansker was built, which served as a sanitary room, a defense point and an observation point. Also at the end of the 13th century, a tower called a klesha was erected; it had a defensive purpose, but after the expansion of the territory it lost its significance.

The next stage in the development of fortification is important. After the conquest of the territory of the Holy Land from the Europeans by Baybars I, the leader of the Mamluks, all the knights lost their assignments and their stay there was not reasonable, including the Teutons. The residence of the order left the lands in the Middle East and moved to Venice. Without thinking twice, so that the order would not lose its military dexterity, campaigns were carried out in the region of the Baltic Pomerania (Pomerania) to capture Danzig (now Gdansk).

In 1308, Danzig was taken, German colonists arrived on the captured lands, in fact, by this year the order began to be considered a state. Malbork Castle and the surrounding city were designated the capital of the Teutonic Order and in 1309 the Master of the Knights, Siegfried von Feuchtwangen, moved here from Venice, thereby strengthening the position and importance of the castle.

After the master moved to Malbork, the castle was rebuilt and expanded many times, which made it possible to accommodate more knights every year. It soon grew to a size that made it the largest in the world, and it also became the most fortified place in Europe. The plot of land surrounded by the outer fortress wall occupied an impressive area of 21 hectares. Behind the wall there were several more defensive walls and three separate castles: High, Middle and Lower, each of which had its own moat. In total, the castle could accommodate 3 thousand knights.

The advantageous position and inaccessibility of the fortress played an important role in its economic development. Malbork Castle became a post controlling trade along the Vistula. All merchant ships and ships going to the Baltic paid duties to the knights for the right to travel along the river. The Teutons also created a monopoly on the amber trade. This state of affairs became the reason for the adoption of the order into the Hanseatic League, which united about 300 trading cities of Northern and Western Europe. The security of the fortress created favorable conditions for holding conferences between members of the union within its walls.

Malbork Castle, medieval stronghold

The hegemony of the Teutons did not suit the neighboring Poles and Lithuanians, who also wanted to return their lands back. These reasons led to the Great War of 1409-1411, led by King Vladislav II Jagiello and the Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytautas. During the Battle of Grunwald, Malbork Castle was besieged, the surrounding area was destroyed, but the fortress was never taken. It all ended with the First Peace of Torun, where the order suffered minor territorial losses. However, these events marked the beginning of the decline of Teutonic rule in these lands.

In the period 1454-1466, the Thirteen Years' War broke out, during which the Poles decided to expand their possessions and reach the shores of the Baltic, taking control from the Teutonic Order. Due to the high taxes of the order in the cities under its control, oppositions hostile to the knights began to form.

In 1456, due to high expenses, the order became insolvent. In turn, this state of affairs caused indignation among the mercenaries from Bohemia who were stationed inside the fortress. Having learned about this, the Polish general Stibor de Poniec borrowed funds in Danzig to pay off the mercenaries and convince them to give the castle to the Poles. So in May 1457, King Casimir IV of Poland triumphantly entered Malbork Castle.

In 1466, Malbork became part of the Kingdom of Prussia, one of the Polish provinces. The castle served as a royal residence where balls and events were held. The 17th century was not the best period for the fortress. At this time, the Swedes conquered the complex twice, which caused its decline. After the division of Poland between Prussia and Russia in 1772, Malbork went to the Prussians, where they built workshops and placed barracks.

At the end of the 18th century, the German architect Friedrich David Gilly made sketches of the remains of the fortress, later published in Berlin. The architect's work so impressed the population that funds were allocated for the reconstruction of Malbork Castle in order to restore the history of the order.

The first captured Prussian fortification was adapted by them as a temporary shelter. This fortification was named Thorn. In the same year, on the very bank of the river, they found a place where they decided to build a castle, which was also named Thorn. Therefore, the first fortification became known as Alt Thorn or Old Thorn.

In this year, 1231, the Order no longer planned to advance deeper into Prussia. The main task was to strengthen and equip its bridgehead on the right bank of the Vistula, thus obtaining a solid base for further movement to the north and east. The following year, the Order actively began to advance into the Prussian lands.

The next castles founded by the Order were Althaus and, not far from it, Kulm.

But the supply routes from Thorn were not blocked, and therefore were subject to Prussian attacks. The Order was forced to build another castle on the road between the castles of Thorn and Althaus - Birgelau.

In the same year, one of the order detachments made a throw to the north, along the Vistula for more than 60 km, establishing the Marienwerder castle at the end of the throw. Throughout 1233, the order's garrisons tried to fight off the Prussians who went on the offensive. Marienwerder was lost at the beginning of the year, but by the end of the year it was recaptured from the Prussians and rebuilt.

The year 1234 was the year of reclaiming the occupied territories and strengthening ties between the castles. The distance between Kulm and Marienwerder reached 60 km, and communication routes were often interrupted by Prussian attacks, and therefore the intermediate castle of Graudenz was built.

At the same time, it was decided to build the castle of Rehden to cover the right flank from Prussian attacks. The year 1235 was spent repelling the attacks of the Prussians, who again went on the offensive, as well as additional strengthening of the castles.

Then it was decided to expand the narrow strip of conquered territory, which was easily interrupted by the Prussians, and begin to advance into Prussia. The next castle on this route was Alt Christburg, founded 30 km (as the crow flies) northeast of Marienwerder

At the same time, another castle was founded north of Alt Christburg, which received the name Christburg; in the same year, like Alt Christburg, it was captured and burned by the Prussians. In the same 1236, to support Graudenz, the Engelsburg castle was founded to the southeast of it.

Having gained a foothold in Pomesania, in 1237 the Order set the task of accessing the sea. It was not possible to advance further along the Vistula, as the order’s detachments approached the heavily swampy mouth. It was decided to enter the lands of Pogesania. The advanced order detachment, after a tiring, battle-filled 30-kilometer march, reached the Gulf of Frisch. Elbing Castle was built on the shore of the bay at the mouth of the river. The Order coped with the task quite successfully - now it had access through the bay to the sea, since at that time the Frisch Spit opposite Elbing had a strait. Throughout 1237 and 1238, the Order repelled Prussian attacks and consolidated the conquered territory.

During this period, in 1238, the Order carried out a reconnaissance naval expedition across the bay on two ships “Pilgrim” and “Friedland” along the coast of Warmia. These ships were equipped by one of the German princes and handed over to the Order. They discovered the Prussian fortress of Honeda on a steep coastal slope. The ships could not get close to the shore, and therefore they made a landing on boats.

The landing was carried out quite suddenly - the Prussians were defeated in a short battle. But the remnants managed to lock themselves in the fortress and take up defensive positions. The attempt to take the fortress by storm was unsuccessful. The crusaders took trophies from the settlement near the fortress and nearby villages. But before they could load them onto the ships, they were unexpectedly attacked by a large Prussian army. Most of the landing party died, the rest were driven into the water and partly destroyed, and the rest were captured. The soldiers and crews who remained on the ships, unable (due to the lack of boats) to come to the rescue, watched as their comrades died. Returning to Elbing and reporting what had happened to Landmaster Hermann von Altenburg, they began to prepare for a more serious campaign.

The next year, well-armed ships with a new detachment of knights and equipment for the siege of the fortress moored at the foot of the high hill on which Honeda was located. The attempt to take the Prussian fortress by storm was unsuccessful, and the siege dragged on.

One day the Prussians launched a massive attack from the fortress, but it was unsuccessful. The knights went on the offensive and drove them back. Few of the Prussians were able to return to the fortress. Heavy losses forced the Prussian leader to negotiate with the order. Soon the fortress was surrendered

(in 1239). The Order slightly rebuilt the Prussian fortress and adapted it to its needs, giving it the name Balga.

In the same year, detachments of crusaders, together with the order brothers, moving along the coast of the bay, founded Braunsberg Castle and moved deep into Warmia. Having completed a 70-kilometer forced march, they invaded the lands of the Barts and founded another castle on the Alla River - Bartenstein. To gain a foothold in this land, troops from Bartenstein advanced to a depth of about thirty kilometers and founded the castle of Rössel.

In parallel with this offensive, an attack was made from Balga deep into the territory and Kreuzburg Castle was founded. At this point, the Order’s offensive stopped, and measures began to be taken to consolidate the occupied lands. For this purpose, the castles of Shippenbeil and Heilsberg were built. In the future, it was planned to close the semi-environment and occupy the territories inside. In 1239-40, the Order had 21 fortified points.

But the outbreak of the Prussian uprising interfered with the Order’s plans. As a result, many castles were captured and destroyed. Including: Alt Christburg, Christburg, Braunsberg, Heilsberg, Kreuzburg. The cities founded near the castles were almost all burned.

The uprising lasted about 7 years. During this period, the Order built 5 temporary castles, 4 of them were located along the Vistula - 2 of them on the left bank - since the supply through the Thorn was interrupted. In addition, the Pomeranian prince Shventopolk supported the Prussian uprising and to fight it the Order needed bridgeheads on the left bank.

Lenzenburg (1246) - the fifth castle - was a Prussian fortress, which the Prussians voluntarily handed over to the Order. It was located on the shore of the bay, through which reinforcements and supplies went, since Balga was very poorly located and the Prussians blocked it on the peninsula with two fortresses, Schrankenberg and Partagal. Realizing the importance of Lenzenburg, the Prussians laid siege to this fortress, and it was soon captured and destroyed.

After the suppression of the uprising in 1249-50, the restoration of the destroyed castles and their strengthening began. By 1252, the situation had stabilized and the order began to further advance deeper into the Prussian lands. First of all, to repel future attacks from Pomerellen, Dirschau Castle was built on the left bank of the Vistula (1252). By the same time, the Livonian branch of the Order approached Prussia from the north and founded the Memel fortress (1252). Then Kulmerland (Kulm lands) was finally occupied and the Order reached the border with Masuria, founding Bratian Castle (1254). Attempts to attack Samland were unsuccessful and, having been defeated, the Order was forced to retreat. In 1252-5Z a second attack was made on Samland. The commander of Christburg, Heinrich Stange, crossed the frozen bay in winter and reached Girmov (Germau) through Lochstedt. A battle took place here, in which the Order was again defeated.

Finally, great help from the crusaders, led by the Bohemian king Ottokar, arrived. This large detachment, concentrating in the castle of Balga (1255), crossed the bay on the winter ice, and landed on the Samland peninsula. The offensive was swift and unexpected for the Prussians and ended in their complete defeat. The result of this offensive was the founding of Königsberg (1255).

The following year, moving parallel to Pregel, the Order advanced to Nadrauen and founded

Velau Castle (1256). In 1258, the Order reached the Curonian Lagoon, near which Labiau was founded. A bridgehead was also created for the attack on Nadrauen on the opposite bank of the Deyma River - Laukishken Castle (1258).

To maintain contact with these far-flung castles, already during the second Prussian uprising, a decision was made to build Caymen Castle (1261).

Having pushed back the Prussians, in 1264 the Order began building a series of small castles on Samland. 7 castles were built: Pobetten and Kumenen (old Prussian fortresses), Rudau, Medenau (treasury of the Samland bishopric, no longer mentioned as a castle in 1466), Germau, Wargen, and Waldau. The following year, Tapiau Castle was added.

With the help of the approaching crusaders, Brandenburg was built to replace the burned Lenzenburg, which was soon destroyed by the Prussians and then rebuilt by the Order. During the period of the second Prussian uprising in the north of today's East Prussia, as the rebel Prussian troops were driven out and defeated, 4 more castles were built. The most powerful of them were the castles of Lochstedt and Fischhausen. Schaaken and Tirenberg are small castles. Although later, when Shaaken was rebuilt in stone, it looked quite impressive.

After the suppression of the uprising, the Order almost immediately began to conquer Nadrauen. With a blow from Laukishken to the very center of this land, they captured the Prussian fortress and built the castle of Sassau in its place. At the same time, the conquest of Galindia and Sudavia continued.

By 1283, the advanced detachments of the Order and the crusaders reached the Memel (Neman) River and on its steep bank in 1288 they built the Ragnit fortress. By this stage, the bulk of the Prussian lands were already under the control of the Order.

The development of the occupied territory and the tactical improvement of defense against the increasing attacks from Lithuania began. Neuhaus Castle, built in 1283 at the beginning of the Curonian Spit, was decided to be moved around 1290 to the central part of the spit, to Rossiten. By 1310, the situation in Prussia had stabilized relatively and the seat of the Order was moved from Venice to Marienburg (1274).

During the period from 1230 to 1290, the Order and the Crusaders founded about 90 castles, some of which were used temporarily. Of the 90 castles, information is available only about 74; about the remaining sixteen, except for mentions during the campaigns, there is no information. As of 1310, only 19 castles were partially built in stone.

At the initial stage, the Order often used captured Prussian fortresses, which were earthen ramparts with deep ditches and a wooden palisade running along the edge of the ramparts. At the same time, new castles were built in strategic directions, essentially similar to the Prussian ones, but of a more regular form with the obligatory pre-castle fortification (foreburg). They had wooden blockhouses for the garrison and palisades, additionally fortified with wooden towers.

The reconstruction of castles in stone began immediately after 1309. In 1310, the reconstruction of 6 castles began at once. Subsequently, almost every year one castle was rebuilt, and in 1330 another 6. It should be taken into account that along with the reconstruction of old fortresses, the foundation of new ones continued, which after 1310, as a rule, were immediately built of stone. If we take into account that the castle took an average of 10 years to build, then at the same time there were from 10 to 15 castles under construction.

The construction of castles in stone continued by the Order until 1410.

After the defeat at Tannenberg (Grunwald) and as a result of the destruction of the financial system of the Order, the construction of new castles on Prussian territory ceased. Subsequently, the Order had difficulty maintaining them in combat readiness and restoring them after fires and destruction during the ongoing hostilities.

State Archives employee

Our ideas about knightly times are traditionally associated with the most important element of medieval architecture - the castle. On the territory of the former order state in Prussia, in some places these silent witnesses of the former Teutonic rule have been preserved to this day. In the 13th-14th centuries, during the heyday of the art of castle architecture, the crusaders covered the lands they conquered in Prussia with a dense network of castles. In total, at the beginning of the 15th century. The Order had about 120 castles in Prussia, in the Chelmin region and in Gdansk Pomerania. On the current territory of the Kaliningrad region of Russia, according to available information, there were up to 58 order castles and fortifications.

Almost all of them are represented on this map.
(click to enlarge, 1280 x 944 px, 181.7 kV)

Functions of the castles of the Teutonic Order

The role of medieval castles was not limited to the military sphere. They performed many more significant functions, which gave them a significant place in medieval life. This general pattern also applies to the castles of the Teutonic Order. However, when comparing them with other castles of medieval Europe, their significant features become apparent. These features stem from the fact that the order's fortifications were the residences of large human groups, subject to strict military order and order discipline.

Military function

The castles of the Teutonic Order were an auxiliary tool for offensive field activities, and were also places of stationary deployment of garrisons ready for action at any moment, as well as a gathering point for the Order's army and militias and a place of protection for the evacuated civilian population. But, above all, they became a point of very effective “passive” defense. The basis of linear defense, mandatory in convention castles, became even more effective thanks to the adaptation of massive buildings for defensive purposes, the latest designs, as well as the organization of deep, wide and water-filled ditches. This increased the potential of linear defense. At the same time, tasks were carried out to defend the field area at the main fortification.

Map of the lands of the Teutonic Order and bishoprics in East Prussia, commanders, castles, etc. (click to enlarge)

Map of the lands of the Teutonic Order and bishoprics in the territory of East Prussia, the boundaries of the Order’s commanders are also highlighted (click to enlarge)

Monastic function

In European defensive architecture, purely military tasks were only part of the program of functional defense construction and for this reason only partially influenced the form of the architectural object. This general pattern applies to order castles, and even in their case it had a special meaning. Because, according to the principles of the idea of knightly orders, their members were both knights and monks, and their habitats were supposed to fulfill the needs arising from the functions of knighthood, as well as ensure the necessary implementation of monastic functions. The Teutonic Order in this regard relied primarily on the views of the Cistercians and Benedictines, as well as on the ideology of older knightly orders. One of the fundamental requirements was the implementation of the so-called VITA COMMUNIS principle, that is, in a sense, the isolated common life of all members of the convention.

The daily rhythm of life was subject to strict time regulation, which determined the time of prayer, meals, and joint night rest. To implement these tasks, the brethren had to have appropriate premises. Based on the analysis, it can be argued that the named premises were mostly located on the second floor of the main wing. From the very beginning, these rooms were characterized by a special richness of architectural forms, as well as painstaking wall paintings and architectural decorations on the external sides of the buildings. These rooms were distinguished by large windows, especially portals rich in architectural forms.

These premises include primarily:

Chapel- which is directly mentioned in the order’s charters. Its significance is evidenced by the fact that all members of the convention were required to gather daily in the chapel for prayer, starting at midnight every three hours, that is, eight times a day. This daily duty also included Holy Mass, which was celebrated mainly before dawn. In addition, other services were held in the chapel, such as a funeral mass in honor of fallen brothers, or celebrations for the acceptance of new members of the Order.

Chapter Hall (Capitularium)- a room in which events related to the organization of the daily routine in the monastery, as well as the maintenance of order discipline, took place. It was also where the meetings of the entire convention took place. Of greatest importance was the weekly meeting, which was called the home chapter. Then sections of the statutes were read in order to thus consolidate them in the memory of the mostly illiterate members of the Order. Then current affairs were sorted out and various tasks were distributed to the brethren for the entire next week. The last item discussed was discipline. In case of its violation, each member of the Order had to, as it were, file a complaint against himself, and was also morally obliged to report all the offenses committed by other brothers. The commander imposed disciplinary punishments, which were generally discussed in the Charter. Among them one can find forced fasting, work with servants (slaves), taking away the cloak - or temporary deprivation of the rights and privileges and duties of knighthood, as well as flogging and, in exceptional cases, expulsion from the Order. Perhaps in the chapter halls meetings took place with the castle inspectors sent by the grand masters.

Refectory or remter (dining room)- this is another room in which all the inhabitants of the castle were housed. In the refectory, life pulsed from dawn to dusk. Here food had to be taken in accordance with the hierarchy, which was expressed in the presence of three separate tables. The first one was seated exclusively by members of the convention. The second table was intended for the "gray cloaks", half-brothers and servants. The third is for the castle servants. Before and after meals, prayers were read, and the brother priests blessed the brethren.

Dormitory– a shared bedroom for all members of the convention. This room was not distinguished by any special decorations or wall paintings. All that was here were the primitive beds of the Order members in the form of bags with soft filling. The room was separated by light partitions and, in accordance with the instructions of the Charter, was illuminated throughout the night. The resting brothers had to be constantly ready for battle, so they slept in outerwear.

Infirmary or hospital. According to the concepts of the Middle Ages, it was a symbiosis of a hospital and a shelter for the disabled and elderly. A significant space in the castle was intended for the infirmary, since according to the Charter, in addition to the premises for the sick, it included a separate kitchen, and sometimes a separate small chapel, as well as a bathhouse. The Teutonic Order used infirmeria exclusively for their own purposes.

Administrative function

In the komturias, this function was carried out by the komturs, and the convention castle was the local representation of state administrative power. This function included, in addition to general supervision, the organization of the lives of settlers, the implementation of fiscal policy, and the organization of public works. Order castles served, first of all, as an instrument for the exercise of state power; they were a visible indicator of the political status of the Order. Therefore, the means for shaping their general architectural appearance were chosen in such a way that they most convincingly served the purpose of representing dignity and power. Therefore, the architecture of the castles should have even had a somewhat aggressive character. At the same time, it was a symbol of domination, based on military force.

Economic function

In order castles this function was much more significant than in many other European castles. Each castle of the Teutonic Order was mainly the control center of the surrounding latifundia, which had very different specializations. Some of them were intended for cultivating the land, others for raising horses, cattle (or non-horned), others even specialized in raising falcons for hunting. Among other things, some latifundia were intended for forestry, fishing or amber harvesting.

Other features

Castles were not places for the conduct of courts, and prison functions were carried out in cases of urgent need, sporadically. Very often, castles were used as staging points for the country’s well-organized postal network, as well as permanent road communication systems.

Conditions for placing locks

The nature of the geographical environment has a significant influence on the course of historical processes. This statement can be fully attributed to such a branch of the historical process as military activity, as well as defensive construction. Therefore, the dominant element of the environment in which the Crusader castle was located were, first of all, the nearest rivers and lakes, extensive water spills and bogs (swamps), and also hills and steep slopes. Geographical and hydrographic conditions largely determined the choice of location for the construction of fortifications.

Other criteria for choosing a location were also the proximity and availability of materials from which defensive structures were built, namely clay deposits for further production of bricks, the availability of wood, as well as boulders, which became the basis for foundations and parts of the circumferential walls. Of no small importance was the possibility of recruiting labor, i.e. the remoteness of settlements, the population of which was mercilessly used for the construction of fortifications.

The last of the most important criteria was the distance from the castle being built to the existing ones. This was influenced by two factors. The first is the prohibition by statutes on the presence of brothers at night outside the walls of the castle-monastery. Therefore, the distance between them should not have exceeded one day of horse riding, or about 25-30 km. The second point is related to military activity and combat readiness. The distance between the castles had to be such that the garrisons could inform each other using smoke during the day and fire at night.

The construction of castles was also influenced by legal conditions. In medieval Europe, when starting to build a fortification, it was necessary to obtain a special privilege. These principles were observed in all states of medieval Europe. These principles were also implemented in the order state in Prussia. This happened on the basis of the emperor’s privileges to the Teutonic Order, which recognized any exercise of power for him, including a city monopoly. Related to this is the right to attract citizens for construction and repair work in castles. This right was called BAUDE and was used by the crusaders within the framework of a special form of labor organization called USRICHTUNG in the sources.

Construction groups

This group included an architect who was also a mason, a significant group of ordinary masons with various specializations, who reported to the architect and were engaged in the most simple unskilled types of work. The remaining workers no longer played a significant role in the construction process. These included carpenters, carpenters, potters, stove tile makers and many other artisans called WERKMEISTER, who performed work intermediate between civil engineering and mechanics, related to the construction of dams, channel blocking, and the system of filling defensive ditches. Completely unskilled workers were also involved in the work, who were engaged in land work, transport, etc.

Construction sites

When choosing a specific location for the construction of a castle, we were guided, first of all, by the principle of its future defense capability, as well as the quality of the soil on which it was planned to be built, the level of spring water rise, transport conditions, as well as the instructions of the Charter. Most often, from the moment of choosing a site for construction, making measurements, calculations, planning work, etc., several years passed before the start of construction, during which building materials were accumulated, transport was prepared and sources of financing were sought.

About building materials

A significant role in the formation of the local architectural style was played by the fact that on the territory of Prussia there are no stone deposits or quarries, and natural stone is present only in the form of glacial boulders, scattered across arable land and fields and used for the construction of foundations and those parts of structures that needed in special strength. The main material for construction was clay, from which bricks were formed and fired on site. In Prussia, there are two main types of masonry: Gothic and Vendian. In addition to ordinary bricks, complexly profiled bricks were also used (for arches of windows and doors, ribs and cornices). At the same time, the bricks were often covered with virgin soil (clay?) in black, brown, green, and yellow colors. The ornament made of such bricks occupied a large area on the walls in the form of rhombuses and ribbons and was reminiscent of Middle Eastern ornaments. Pillars, columns and individual architectural details, as a rule, were made of imported plank stone. Under the strict state regime of the Order of Prussia, there was a firmly established procedure for the construction of fortresses both for the residence of commanders and for the smallest fortified castles. Everything was uniform, despite the enormous difference in some outlines and location. Local conditions were taken into account everywhere. It is thanks to this systematic and uniform construction that the castles of Prussia form a firmly defined direction of architectural art of the German Order during the Middle Ages.

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The order of appearance of the castles of the Teutonic Order

In December 1230 (according to other sources, in the spring of 1231), after waiting for the Vistula to rise, the order brothers with bollards, led by Hermann von Balck, appointed Landmaster of Prussia, together with a detachment of crusaders crossed to the eastern bank of the river. The first captured Prussian fortification was adapted by them as a temporary shelter. This fortification was named Thorne. In the same year, on the very bank of the river, they found a place where it was decided to build a castle, which also received the name Thorne. Therefore, the first fortification began to be called Alt Thorn or Old Thorn. In this year 1231, the Order no longer planned to advance deeper into Prussia. The main task was to strengthen and equip its bridgehead on the right bank of the Vistula, having thus received. a solid base for further movement to the north and east. The following year, the Order actively began to advance into the Prussian lands.

Prussia and Lithuania according to the Chronicle of the Prussian Land by Peter from Dusburg (enlarged map size 1507 x 1117 px, 209 KB)

The next castles founded by the Order were Althaus and not far from it - Culm. But supply routes from Torna were not blocked, and therefore were subject to attacks by the Prussians. The Order was forced to lay down on the road between the castles Thorne And Althaus another castle - Birgelau. In the same year, one of the order detachments made a throw to the north, along the Vistula for more than 60 km, establishing a castle at the end of the throw Marienwerder. Throughout 1233, the order's garrisons tried to fight off the Prussians who went on the offensive. Marienwerder was lost at the beginning of the year, but by the end of the year it was recaptured from the Prussians and rebuilt. 1234 was the year of reclaiming the occupied territories and strengthening ties between the castles. Distance between Kulm And Marienwerder reached 60 km, and communication routes were often interrupted by Prussian attacks, and therefore an intermediate castle was built Graudenz. At the same time, it was decided to build a castle Reden to cover the right flank from Prussian attacks. The year 1235 was spent repelling the attacks of the Prussians, who again went on the offensive, as well as additional strengthening of the castles.

It was then decided to expand the narrow strip of conquered territory, easily interrupted by the Prussians, and begin to advance into Prussia. The next castle on this way was Alt Christburg founded 30 km (as the crow flies) northeast of Marienwerder. At the same time, further north Alto Christburg another castle was founded, called Christburg, he is in the same year as Alt Christburg, was captured and burned by the Prussians. In the same 1236 for support Graudenz a castle was founded southeast of it Engelsburg. Having gained a foothold in Pomesania, in 1237 the Order set the task of accessing the sea. It was not possible to advance further along the Vistula, because Order detachments approached the heavily swampy mouth. It was decided to enter the lands of Pogesania. The advanced order detachment, after a tiring, battle-filled 30-kilometer march, reached the Gulf of Frisch. A castle was built on the shore of the bay at the mouth of the river Elbing. The Order coped with the task quite successfully - now it had access through the bay to the sea, because at that time the Frisch Spit was opposite Elbing had a strait.

Throughout 1237 and 1238, the Order repelled Prussian attacks and consolidated the conquered territory. During this period, in 1238, the Order carried out a reconnaissance naval expedition across the bay on two ships “Pilgrim” and “Friedland” along the coast of Warmia. These ships were equipped by one of the German princes and handed over to the Order. They discovered a Prussian fortress on a steep coastal slope Honeda. The ships could not get close to the shore, and therefore they made a landing on boats. The landing was carried out quite suddenly - the Prussians were defeated in a short battle. But the remnants managed to lock themselves in the fortress and take up defensive positions. The attempt to take the fortress by storm was unsuccessful. The crusaders took trophies from the settlement near the fortress and nearby villages. But before they could load them onto the ships, they were unexpectedly attacked by a large Prussian army. Most of the landing party died, the rest were driven into the water and partly destroyed, and the rest were captured. The soldiers and crews who remained on the ships, unable (due to the lack of boats) to come to the rescue, watched as their comrades died. Back in Elbing and having reported what had happened to Landmaster Hermann von Altenburg, they began to prepare for a more serious campaign.

The next year, well-armed ships with a new detachment of knights and equipment for the siege of the fortress moored at the foot of the high hill on which Honeda. The attempt to take the Prussian fortress by storm was unsuccessful, and the siege dragged on. One day the Prussians launched a massive attack from the fortress, but it was unsuccessful. The knights went on the offensive and drove them back. Few of the Prussians were able to return to the fortress. Heavy losses forced the Prussian leader to negotiate with the order. Soon the fortress was surrendered (in 1239). The Order slightly rebuilt the Prussian fortress and adapted it to its needs, giving it the name Balga. In the same year, detachments of crusaders, together with the order brothers, moving along the coast of the bay, founded the castle Brownsberg and moved deeper into Warmia.

The main castles of the Prussian land

Having completed a 70-kilometer forced march, they invaded the lands of the Barts and founded another castle on the Alla River - Bartenstein. To gain a foothold in this land, troops from Bartenstein advanced to a depth of about thirty kilometers and founded a castle Ressel. In parallel with this offensive, an attack was launched from Balga deep into the territory and a castle was founded Kreuzburg. At this point, the Order’s offensive stopped, and measures began to be taken to consolidate the occupied lands. This is why castles were built Shippenbeil And Heilsberg. In the future, it was planned to close the semi-environment and occupy the territories located inside. In 1239-40, the Order had 21 fortified points. But the plans were interrupted by the outbreak of the Prussian uprising. As a result, many castles were captured and destroyed. Including: Alt Christburg, Christburg, Braunsberg, Heilsberg, Kreuzburg. The cities founded near the castles were almost all burned. The uprising lasted about 7 years. During this period, the Order built 5 temporary castles, 4 of them were located along the Vistula - 2 of them on the left bank - since the supply through the Thorn was interrupted. In addition, the Pomeranian prince Shventopolk supported the Prussian uprising and to fight it the Order needed bridgeheads on the left bank.

Lenzenburg(1246) - the fifth castle - was a Prussian fortress, which the Prussians voluntarily handed over to the Order. It was located on the shore of the bay, through which reinforcements and supplies went, because. Balga was located very poorly and the Prussians blocked it on the peninsula with two fortresses, Schrankenberg and Partagal. Understanding the meaning Lenzenburg, the Prussians besieged this fortress, and it was soon captured and destroyed. After the suppression of the uprising in 1249-50, the restoration of the destroyed castles and their strengthening began. By 1252, the situation had stabilized and the order began to further advance deeper into the Prussian lands. First of all, to repel future attacks from Pomerellen, a castle was built on the left bank of the Vistula Dirschau(1252). By the same time, the Livonian branch of the Order approached Prussia from the north and founded a fortress Memel(1252). Then Kulmerland (Kulm lands) was finally occupied and the Order reached the border with Masuria, founding a castle Bro (1254).

Attempts to attack Samland were unsuccessful and, having been defeated, the Order was forced to retreat. In 1252-5Z a second attack was made on Samland. Christburg commander Heinrich Stange crossed the frozen bay in winter and across Lochstedt went to Girmov (Germau). A battle took place here, in which the Order was again defeated. Finally, great help from the crusaders, led by the Bohemian king Ottokar, arrived. This large detachment, concentrated in the castle Balga(1255), having crossed the winter ice of the bay, landed on the Samland Peninsula. The offensive was swift and unexpected for the Prussians and ended in their complete defeat. The result of this offensive was the foundation Koenigsberg(1255). The following year, advancing parallel to Pregel, the Order advanced to Nadrauen and founded a castle Velau(1256). In 1258, the Order reached the Curonian Lagoon, where it was founded Labiau. A bridgehead was also created for the attack on Nadrauen on the opposite bank of the Deyma River - the castle Laukishken(1258). To maintain contact with these far-flung castles, already during the second Prussian uprising, it was decided to build a castle Caymen (1261).

The Order was prevented from continuing its offensive by the already mentioned second Prussian uprising, which began in 1260. This uprising lasted 12 years. Many castles were captured and destroyed by the Prussians. Some were blocked and subjected to many years of siege, including Koenigsberg Castle. Koenigsberg He held out under siege for about two years, supplies and reinforcements came to him through the bay and river on large ships, which, with a favorable wind, rose against the current. In 1262, sufficiently strong reinforcements arrived and a sortie was launched against the Prussian camp. The Prussians were knocked out, and the siege was lifted on January 22. Having pushed back the Prussians, in 1264 the Order began building a series of small castles on Samland. 7 castles were built: Pobetten And Kumenen(old Prussian fortresses), Rudau, Medenau(treasury of the Samland bishopric, in 1466 no longer mentioned as a castle), Germau, Wargen, and Waldau. The following year a castle was added Tapiau.

With the help of the approaching crusaders to replace the burned Lenzenburg was built Brandenburg, which was soon destroyed by the Prussians and then rebuilt by the Order. During the period of the second Prussian uprising in the north of today's East Prussia, as the rebel Prussian troops were driven out and defeated, 4 more castles were built. The most powerful of them were castles Lochstedt And Fischhausen. Shaaken And Tirenberg belong to small castles. Although in the future, when Shaaken was built in stone, it presented quite an impressive appearance. After the suppression of the uprising, the Order almost immediately began to conquer Nadrauen. By blow from Laukishkena in the very center of this land they captured a Prussian fortress and built a castle in its place Sassau. At the same time, the conquest of Galindia and Sudavia continued. By 1283, the advanced detachments of the Order and the crusaders reached the Memel (Neman) River and built a fortress on its steep bank in 1288 Ragnit. By this stage, the bulk of the Prussian lands were already under the control of the Order. The development of the occupied territory and the tactical improvement of defense against the increasing attacks from Lithuania began. Lock Neuhaus, built in 1283 at the beginning of the Curonian Spit, around 1290 it was decided to move to the central part of the spit, to Rossiten.

Map of the advance of the Teutonic Order in the 13th century

By 1310, the situation in Prussia had stabilized relatively and the seat of the Order was moved from Venice to Marienburg(1274). During the period from 1230 to 1290, the Order and the Crusaders founded about 90 castles, some of which were used temporarily. Of the 90 castles, information is available only about 74; about the remaining sixteen, except for mentions during the campaigns, there is no information. As of 1310, only 19 castles were partially built in stone. At the initial stage, the Order often used captured Prussian fortresses, which were earthen ramparts with deep ditches and a wooden palisade running along the edge of the ramparts. At the same time, new castles were built in strategic directions, essentially similar to the Prussian ones, but of a more regular form with the obligatory pre-castle fortification (foreburg). They had wooden blockhouses for the garrison and palisades, additionally fortified with wooden towers. The reconstruction of castles in stone began immediately after 1309.

In 1310, the reconstruction of 6 castles began at once. Subsequently, almost every year one castle was rebuilt, and in 1330 another 6. It should be taken into account that along with the reconstruction of old fortresses, the foundation of new ones continued, which after 1310, as a rule, were immediately built of stone. If we take into account that the castle took an average of 10 years to build, then at the same time there were from 10 to 15 castles under construction. The construction of castles in stone continued by the Order until 1410. After the defeat at Tannenberg (Grunwald) and as a result of the destruction of the financial system of the Order, the construction of new castles on Prussian territory ceased. Subsequently, the Order had difficulty maintaining them in combat readiness and restoring them after fires and destruction during the ongoing hostilities.