Background Thirteen Years' War (1454–66)

1 background

1.1 reasons war
1.2 1452-1454 negotiations
1.3 international situation

background
reasons war

a dispute between poland , teutonic order on control of gdańsk pomerania had lasted since 1308 teutonic takeover of danzig (gdańsk), when territory contested , annexed teutonic order. event resulted in series of polish–teutonic wars throughout 14th , 15th centuries. in 15th century, towns of prussia rapidly grew economically. however, not followed increase in political influence. rule of teutonic knights seen more , more anachronistic — taxes (customs) , system of grain licenses (every trader had pay large fees privilege of trading grain) hindering economic development in province. @ same time nobility wanted larger in running of country , looking enviously @ neighbouring poland, polish nobility enjoyed wider privileges. knights accused of violating few existing privileges of nobility , cities. craftsmen discontented because of competition so-called partacze, or artisans settled knights near castles. kashubians, poles, germans, , prussians melting 1 nation, , national differences disappeared, common goals of ethnic , social groups of prussia became more prominent, , prussian estates leaned increasingly towards poland.

teutonic order

in 1397 prussian knights had founded secret organisation called eidechsenbund (english translation: lizard union), more or less against teutonic knights, organization had failed not supported urban population. after victory polish , lithuanian forces @ grünfelde near tannenberg (the battle of grunwald (tannenberg)) during polish–lithuanian–teutonic war (1409–1411), prussian estates eagerly pledged allegiance king władysław ii jagiełło (jogaila) of poland. returned order s rule after poles unable conquer marienburg (malbork). clause in peace treaty stated guaranteed prussian states, gain right defy teutonic order if broke treaty. in succeeding wars prussian estates opposed conflict, , pushed grand masters of teutonic knights make peace.

on february 21, 1440, group made of individuals prussian cities, nobility , clergy, formed prussian confederation. main contributors nobility of culmerland (chełmno land), thorn, culm (chełmno), , hanseatic cities of elbing (elbląg) , danzig. grand master paul von rusdorf seen approve existence of confederacy, successor, konrad von erlichshausen, opposed it. non-compromising policy followed , intensified ludwig von erlichshausen took office in 1449 or 1450.

1452-1454 negotiations

in 1452, prussian confederation asked emperor frederick iii mediation in conflict teutonic order. disagreeing confederacy, frederick banned , ordered obey teutonic order on 5 december 1453.

faced situation prussians sent envoys poland — although prussian confederation, under influence of thorn , pomeranian , culmerland nobility, had sought contact poles. received support, greater poland , party of queen sophia of halshany, mother of king casimir iv jagiellon of poland. bishop of kraków, zbigniew oleśnicki, opposed support , tried prevent war.

prussian confederation offered incorporate prussia crown of kingdom of poland, 1454, central archives of historical records, warsaw

in january 1454, year casimir iv married elisabeth habsburg, prussian faction asked casimir iv , protection kingdom of poland. casimir asked prussian confederation more formal petition. on 4 february 1454, secret council of prussian confederation sent formal act of disobedience grand master. 2 days later confederacy started rebellion , prussia, except marienburg, stuhm (sztum), , konitz (chojnice), free teutonic rule. of captured ordensburg castles destroyed.

on 10 february 1454, confederacy sent official delegation poland, headed johannes von baysen. 20 february, delegates in kraków , asked casimir bring prussia polish kingdom. after negotiating exact conditions of incorporation, king agreed , delegates of prussian confederation pledged allegiance casimir on 6 march 1454.

on same day, king agreed conditions of prussian delegates — instance thorn demanded destruction of polish city of nieszawa — giving wide privileges prussian cities , nobility. 3 days later, johannes von baysen named first governor of prussia. after 15 april, of prussian estates, exception of prince-bishopric of warmia, pledged allegiance new ruler.

poland sent grand master declaration of war, predated 22 february. both sides expected war end quickly.

international situation

in 1454 poland in conflict grand duchy of lithuania, meant although casimir iv grand duke of lithuania king of poland, lithuania sent no aid during war poland and, aside few ineffective raids, did not participate during conflict. there threat of attack grand duchy of moscow , ottoman empire, had conquered constantinople in 1453.

elsewhere, international situation quite poland, no outside states intervene. southern border of poland more or less secure because of weakness of bohemian lands, resulted hussite wars. although hanseatic league sympathized prussian cities, league backed teutonic knights because order granted them privileges. livonian order had problems denmark , unable teutonic knights in prussia. because of conflict between sweden , denmark, both sides stayed more or less neutral in upcoming conflict.

france , england weakened after hundred years war, , england embroiled in civil war, wars of roses. duke of burgundy, flanders, , netherlands, philip good, more interested in creating independent kingdom of burgundy. pope nicholas v s primary concern dealing ottoman turks.