- Polish–Teutonic War (1431–1435)
Infobox Military Conflict
conflict = Polish–Teutonic War (1431–1435) or the Lithuanian Civil War
partof = Polish–Teutonic Wars
caption = Monument in the field of theBattle of Pabaiskas . This decisive battle ended the war.
date = 1431–1435
place = Lithuania, western Prussia,Volhynia
territory =
result = Teutonic defeat. Sigismund Kęstutaitis became Grand Duke of Lithuania
combatant1 = )
Golden Horde
combatant2 = )
Hussite s
commander1 =Švitrigaila
Sigismund Korybut †
Paul von Rusdorf
Franco Kerskorff †
commander2 =Sigismund Kęstutaitis
Michael Žygimantaitis
Jogaila
Jan Čapek ze Sán
strength1 =
strength2 =
casualties1 =
casualties2 =
notes =The Polish–Teutonic War of 1431–1435 or Lithuanian Civil War of 1431–1435 was a war over the succession to the throne of the
Grand Duchy of Lithuania fought betweenŠvitrigaila and Poland-backedSigismund Kęstutaitis afterVytautas the Great died in 1430 without leaving an heir. Švitrigaila allied himself with theGrand Master of the Teutonic Order ,Paul von Rusdorf , against the Kingdom of Poland. Rusdorf's intervention in the Lithuanian succession dispute proved to be a failure. When Sigismund captured power in Lithuanian by staging a coup in 1432, Lithuania split into two opposing camps and three years of devastating hostilities began. To prevent the Knights from continuing their support to Švitrigaila, Poland supportedHussite invasion in Prussia in 1433. The war ended in a decisive defeat suffered by Švitrigaila and his ally, the Livonian branch of the Knights, in theBattle of Pabaiskas in September 1435. Švitrigaila eventually surrendered in 1437; Sigismund Kęstutaitis ruled Lithuania for only eight years as he was assassinated in 1440.Prelude
On
October 27 1430 Vytautas the Great ,Grand Duke of Lithuania , died suddenly without leaving an heir or a will. His coronation asKing of Lithuania was scheduled for September 1430; however, Poles stopped the crown from reaching Lithuania. [cite book |title=Vytautas the Great, Grand Duke of Lithuania |first=Joseph B. |last=Koncius | year=1964 |publisher=Franklin Press |location=Miami |pages=182–184 |id=LCC|66089704] Vytautas' only daughterSophia of Lithuania was married toVasily I of Moscow and had only one surviving son, Vasily II. He was Orthodox and could not lead the recently christianized Catholic Grand Duchy. Orthodox faith prevented many otherGediminids from becoming pretenders to the throne. There were two most suitable Catholic candidates: Vytautas' brother and technically the legal heir,Sigismund Kęstutaitis , and Vytautas' cousinŠvitrigaila .cite book | last=Kiaupa | first=Zigmantas | coauthors=Jūratė Kiaupienė, Albinas Kunevičius | title=The History of Lithuania Before 1795 | origyear=1995 | edition=English | year=2000 | publisher=Lithuanian Institute of History | location=Vilnius | isbn=9986-810-13-2 | pages=205–211]Lithuanian nobles unilaterally elected Švitrigaila as the Grand Duke. This violated the terms of the
Union of Horodło of 1413, where Lithuanians promised not to elect a new Grand Duke without the approval of the Kingdom of Poland. In order to receiveRuthenia n votes Švitrigaila granted equal rights to Catholic and Orthodox nobles – it was one lasting achievement of his brief reign. Švitrigaila askedSigismund, Holy Roman Emperor to send him the crown intended for Vytautas.lt icon cite book | last= Kiaupienė | first=Jūratė | title=Gimtoji istorija. Nuo 7 iki 12 klasės | url=http://mkp.emokykla.lt/gimtoji/ | accessdate=2008-07-02 | year=2002 | publisher=Elektroninės leidybos namai | location=Vilnius | isbn=9986-9216-9-4 | chapter=Gediminaičiai ir Jogailaičiai prie Vytauto palikimo | chapterurl=http://mkp.emokykla.lt/gimtoji/?id=848] The Polish noblity, led by Zbigniew Oleśnicki, were outraged and demanded that Švitrigaila acknowledged hisfealty to his brotherJogaila ,King of Poland . Švitrigaila refused and professed full independence.cite book| first=Aleksander |last=Gieysztor |title=The New Cambridge Medieval History, c.1415–c.1500 |chapter=The kingdom of Poland and the grand duchy of Lithuania, 1370–1506 |publisher= Cambridge University Press |year=1998 |isbn=0521382963 |volume=7 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Qzc8OeuSXFMC&pg=RA2-PA732 | pages=734–735] The conflict was further complicated by territorial disputes inPodolia andVolhynia , that according to an agreement in 1411 were to be ruled by Lithuania only for the lifetime of Vytautas.Teutonic invasion to Poland
Švitrigaila fought against the Polish–Lithuanian forces at
Lutsk in Volhynia, and at the same time started organizing a wider anti-Polish coalition. He negotiated with theTeutonic Knights ,Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor ,Moldavia , theGolden Horde , dukes of eastern lands of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The most promising ally was the Teutonic Order, which sought to undo thePolish–Lithuanian union which led to its defeat in theBattle of Grunwald in 1410. In June 1431 theTreaty of Christmemel (modernSkirsnemunė ) was signed between the Teutonic Knights and Švitrigaila. Švitrigaila's cause was also aided byMoldavia n forces, lead byAlexander the Good , who attacked Poland in southeast.cite encyclopedia | editor=Simas Sužiedėlis | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Lituanica | title=Švitrigaila | year=1970–1978 | publisher=Juozas Kapočius | volume=V | location=Boston, Massachusetts | id=LCC|74-114275 | pages=348–350]According to the agreement of Christmemel the Teutonic Knights declared war and invaded Poland, whose forces where engaging Švitrigaila in Volhynia. Finding little opposition, they ravaged
Dobrzyń Land , taking the town ofNieszawa and tried to move toKuyavia andKrajna regions. However, the Teutonic army was defeated onSeptember 13 1431 at Dąbki, near Nakel (modern Nakło nad Notecią). [pl icon cite journal|first=Marian |last=Biskup |title=Najazd krzyżacki na Polskę i bitwa pod Dąbkami 1431 |journal=Zeszyty Naukowe Wojskowej Akademii Politycznej| volume=Historia |year=1967 |issue= 15] In September a two-year truce between Poland, Lithuania, and the Teutonic Knights was signed inStaryi Chortoryisk . It was more favorable to Poland and it is not clear why Švitrigaila agreed to it. However, the truce did not solve the underlying dispute. The war turned into diplomatic struggle: Poland sought to turn Lithuanian nobles against Švitrigaila.Coup in Lithuania
Conspirators, led by Sigismund Kęstutaitis, attacked Švitrigaila and his escort, who were staying in
Ašmena for the night ofAugust 31 1432 . Švitrigaila managed to escape toPolotsk . It is unclear what groups supported Sigismund and why. Possibly Lithuanian nobles were dissatisfied with favors Švitrigaila showed to Orthodox dukes, but before the coup no such opposition showcased itself. Sigismund, who did not play a major role in Lithuanian politics before the coup and who initially supported Švitrigaila,cite encyclopedia | editor=Simas Sužiedėlis | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Lituanica | title=Žygimantas | year=1970–1978 | publisher=Juozas Kapočius | volume=VI | location=Boston, Massachusetts | id=LCC|74-114275 | pages=361–363] became the Grand Duke and resumed policy of union with Poland. OnOctober 15 1432 he signed theUnion of Grodno , which in essence confirmed theUnion of Vilnius and Radom (1401) and granted Sigismund the same rights as Vytautas enjoyed during his reign. After Sigismund's death, Lithuania was to return to King of Poland. Sigismund also made territorial concessions to Poland in disputedPodolia andVolhynia .To win support from the nobles, Sigismund granted privileges in May 1434 to to both Catholic and Orthodox nobles. The privilege guaranteed their rights to buy, sell, exchange, gift, and inherit land. "
Veldamas ", a class of dependent peasants, was released from its taxes and duties to the state – all their earnings now belonged to the nobles.lt icon cite book| url=http://www.lzuu.lt/file.doc?id=17317 |format=PDF |first=Marytė Elena |last=Tarvydienė |title=Žemėtvarkos pagrindai |publisher=Lithuanian University of Agriculture |year=2007 |pages=22–24] No noble was to be punished or imprisoned for crimes without a court order. Lithuania was divided into two camps: supporters of Sigismund (Lithuanian lands,Samogitia ,Podlachia ,Hrodna ,Minsk ) and supporters of Švitrigaila (Polotsk ,Vitebsk ,Smolensk ,Kiev ,Volhynia ). Three years of devastating hostilities began. OnDecember 8 1432 armies of Švitrigaila and Sigismunt met nearAšmena . Švitrigaila enlisted help fromSayid Ahmad I , Khan of theGolden Horde , and planned to attack capital of the Grand Duchy,Vilnius , and return to the throne. [lt icon cite encyclopedia | editor=Jonas Zinkus, et. al | encyclopedia=Tarybų Lietuvos enciklopedija | title=Ašmenos mūšis | year=1985–1988 | publisher=Vyriausioji enciklopedijų redakcija | volume=I | location=Vilnius, Lithuania |id=LCC|86232954 | pages=115] Both sides suffered heavy losses and final victory went to Sigismund. The Order officially observed the truce but continued secret support of Švitrigaila mostly through its Livonian branch.Hussite invasion to Prussia
In June 1433 Poland allied itself with the Czech
Hussite s in order to stop the Order sending secret support to Švitrigaila via its Livonian branch.cite book| title=Tannenberg and After |first=William |last=Urban |publisher=Lithuanian Research and Studies Center |location=Chicago |year=2003 | isbn=0-929700-25-2 |pages=306–308] cite web| first=Maciej |last=Rynarzewski |url=http://www.pth.olsztyn.pl/abstrakty/Maciej%20Rynarzewski%20Abstract.pdf |title=Polish – Bohemian expedition to Nowa Marchia and Pomorze Gdańskie in year 1433| accessdate=2008-07-03 |publisher=Polskie Towarzystwo Historyczne Oddział w Olsztynie] The Teutonic Knights supported thepope andSigismund, Holy Roman Emperor against heretic Hussites during theHussite Wars . Czech forces underJan Čapek of Sány were granted safe passage through Poland for their biggest and last "beautiful ride." [cite book | first=Stephen |last=Turnbull |coauthors=Angus McBride |title=The Hussite Wars 1419–36 |year=2004 |pages=15 |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=9ntLB8W-cVQC&pg=PA15&as_brr=3&sig=ACfU3U0SSBRWTwwgJus0008frrGmBD0r5A |publisher=Osprey Publishing |isbn=1841766658] The Polish forces were also supported byPomerania n dukeBogusław IX (from the Duchy of Stolp (Słupsk)).pl icon cite book| first=Antoni |last=Prochaska |title=Król Władysław Jagiełło |publisher=Akademia Umiejętności |year=1908 |location=Kraków |oclc=13016756 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=DxoRAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA265&as_brr=3&ei=1aFrSKyzNoPijgGgoPDfAg#PRA1-PA265,M1 |pages=265] In addition, theMoldavians , whose ruler Iliaş was replaced by more pro-Polish Stephen II, have joined the Polish alliance. The Hussite army, including forces led byFeodor Ostrogski , ravaged Teutonic territories inNeumark ,Pomerania , and western Prussia for four months. First they unsuccessfully besieged Konitz (modern Chojnice) and then moved north to Schwetz (modern Świecie) and Danzig (modern Gdańsk).cite book| title=Tannenberg and After |first=William |last=Urban |publisher=Lithuanian Research and Studies Center |location=Chicago |year=2003 | isbn=0-929700-25-2 |pages=347–350] They captured several towns and castles, including Dirschau (modern Tczew) on theVistula River onAugust 29 1433 . Despite the failed siege of Danzig, Hussites celebrated their "beautiful ride" by symbolically filing their bottles with water from theBaltic Sea .cite book |authorlink=Stephen Turnbull (historian) |last=Turnbull |first= Stephen |title=Tannenberg 1410: Disaster for the Teutonic Knights |publisher= Osprey |location= Oxford |year= 2003 |pages=84–85 |isbn= 1-84176-561-9]A truce was signed on
September 13 1433 inJasiniec . Polish–Teutonic negotiations were continued inBrześć Kujawski and Hussite–Catholic negotiations continued in theCouncil of Florence and Czech Diet inPrague . The Polish led invasion of Neumark and Pomerania proved to be successful, cutting of the Order from any support from the Holy Roman Empire, and convincing them to sign a treaty with Poles. While the leaders of the Order were willing to fight, the citizens of Prussia demanded an immediate end to the war.pl icon cite book |first=Feliks |last=Koneczny |title=Dzieje polski za Jagiellonow| publisher= Nakładem Krakowskiego Towarzystwa Oświaty Ludowej |location=Kraków |year=1903 |oclc=123147077 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=oyoLAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA126&dq=%C5%81%C4%99czycy+1433&as_brr=3 |pages=123] Finally a twelve-year truce was signed between Poles and the Order inŁęczyca onDecember 15 1433 (this has also led some Polish historians to divide this Polish–Teutonic War into two wars, in 1431–1433 and in 1435). [cite book| first=Jędrzej |last=Giertych |coauthors=Brazilla Carroll |title=Poland and Germany: A Reply to Congressman B. Carrol Reece of Tennessee | year=1958 | publisher=Jędrzej Giertych |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=tg4gAAAAMAAJ&pgis=1 |pages=37 |oclc=4169234] The Teutonic Knights agreed in addition to the 12-year old trucepl icon cite book| first=Antoni |last=Prochaska |title=Król Władysław Jagiełło |publisher=Akademia Umiejętności |year=1908 |location=Kraków |oclc=13016756 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=DxoRAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA265&as_brr=3&ei=1aFrSKyzNoPijgGgoPDfAg#PRA1-PA267,M1 |pages=267] pl icon cite web| url=http://portalwiedzy.onet.pl/71706,,,,wojny_polsko_krzyzackie,haslo.html |title=Wojny polsko-krzyżackie|publisher=Encyklopedia WIEM |accessdate=2008-07-03] to other Polish demands, including that the Order would cease support to Švitrigaila; in addition each side would control the territories it occupied until a peace would be signed ("uti possidetis"), and no party would seek mediation of foreign powers to change this truce.pl icon cite book| first=Leon |last=Rogalski |title=Dzieje Krzyżaków: oraz ich stosunki z Polska̜, Litwa̜ i Prussami |publisher= Nakł. i drukiem S. Orgelbranda |year=1846 |location=Warsaw | volume=II |oclc=38718035 |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=UhgLAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA210&as_brr=3& |pages=21] This marked the end of the war on Polish territories; the struggle on Lithuanian lands would continue for two more years (as the truce with Poland did not extend to theLivonian Order ).Jogaila's alliance with heretics damaged his reputation and earned him
excommunication from the pope.dubiousclarifyme By 1433 however Jogaila had gained favor with the Church, particularly due to the fact thatŠvitrigaila had allied himself with theIslam icTatars . Jogaila receivedtithe s from the Church (which expected him to combat both the Tatars and the Hussites), and his representatives were invited to be heard in front of theecumenical council at Florence.Decisive battle and aftermath
In July and August 1433, Švitrigaila and his Livonian allies raided
Lida ,Kreva ,Eišiškės and devastated suburbs ofVilnius ,Trakai , andKaunas . The hostilities were briefly stopped by horse plague. When Jogaila died in May 1434, the Order resumed its support to Švitrigaila, who rallied his supporters, including knights from the Livonian Order, Orthodox dukes, and his nephewSigismund Korybut , distinguished military commander of the Hussites. [lt icon cite journal| title=Žygimantas Kaributaitis – tragiško likimo asmenybė |first=Arnoldas |last=Piročkinas | journal=Mokslas ir gyvenimas |year=1999 |volume=10 |issue=502 |url=http://ausis.gf.vu.lt/mg/nr/99/10/10kar.html |issn=0134-3084] The finalBattle of Pabaiskas was fought in September 1435 nearUkmergė (Vilkomir, Wiłkomierz). It estimated that the battle involved 30,000 men fighting on both sides. Švitrigaila's army, lead by Sigismund Korybut, was split in half by the attacking Lithuanian–Polish army, lead byMichael Žygimantaitis , and was soundly defeated.cite encyclopedia | editor=Simas Sužiedėlis | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Lituanica | title=Pabaiskas, Battle of | year=1970–1978 | publisher=Juozas Kapočius | volume=IV | location=Boston, Massachusetts | id=LCC|74-114275 | pages=140–141]Švitrigaila with a small group of followers managed to escape to Polotsk. The Livonian Order suffered a great defeat, sometimes compared to defeat inflicted upon the Teutonic Knights in the
Battle of Grunwald of 1410.cite book| title=Tannenberg and After |first=William |last=Urban |publisher=Lithuanian Research and Studies Center |location=Chicago |year=2003 | isbn=0-929700-25-2 |pages=311] The Teutonic Knights signed peace treaty in Brześć Kujawski onDecember 31 1435 . They agreed to cease their support to Švitrigaila and in the future to support only Grand Dukes properly elected jointly by Poland and Lithuania. The treaty did not change borders determined by theTreaty of Melno in 1422. [lt icon cite book |title=Lietuvos istorija 11–12 klasėms | first=Rūstis |last=Kamuntavičius |coauthors=Vaida Kamuntavičienė, Remigijus Civinskas, Kastytis Antanaitis |year=2001 |publisher=Vaga |location=Vilnius |isbn=5-415-01502-7 |pages=92] The Peace of Brześć Kujawski showed that Teutonic Knights lost their universal missionary status. Teutonic and Livonian Order no longer interfered with Polish–Lithuanian affairs; instead Poland and Lithuania involved themselves in theThirteen Years' War , the civil war in Prussia that tore it in half.cite book |last=Christiansen |first= Eric |title=The Northern Crusades |publisher= Penguin Books |location= London |year= 1997 |pages=242–243 |isbn= 0-14-026653-4]Švitrigaila was losing his influence in the Slavic principalities and could no longer resist Poland and Sigismund. On
September 4 1437 he attempted to reconciled with Poland: he would rule lands that still supported him (chieflyKiev andVolhynia ) and after his death the territories would pass to the King of Poland. [lt icon cite encyclopedia | first=Bronius | last=Dundulis | editor=Vytautas Spečiūnas | encyclopedia=Lietuvos valdovai (XIII-XVIII a.): enciklopedinis žinynas | title=Švitrigaila | year=2004 | publisher=Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos institutas | location=Vilnius | isbn=5-420-01535-8 | pages=91–93] However, Polish Senate did not ratify this treaty under strong protest from Sigismund. Švitrigaila retreated to Moldavia in 1348.cite book| title=Tannenberg and After |first=William |last=Urban |publisher=Lithuanian Research and Studies Center |location=Chicago |year=2003 | isbn=0-929700-25-2 |pages=313] The reign of Sigismund Kęstutaitis was short – he was assassinated in 1440. Švitrigaila returned from his exile in 1442 and ruledLutsk until his death a decade later.References
Further reading
*pl icon cite book| first=Roman |last=Grodecki |coauthors=Stanisław Zachorowski, Jan Dąbrowski | title= Dzieje Polski Średniowiecznej | volume= 2 |publisher=Wydawnictwo Platan |location= Kraków |year=1995 | origyear=1926 |pages=103–125 |isbn=83-7052-230-0
* cite book | first=Marian |last=Biskup |coauthors=Gerard Labuda |title=Dzieje zakonu krzyżackiego w Prusach| publisher=Wydawnictwo Morskie |location=Gdańsk |year=1986
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