Chapter II: The First War
Cysse von Rutenberg marched into the lands of the Teutonic Order at the hand of a mighty army, but one hampered by an inadequate number of squires. Von Spanheim had decreed that, since no Teutonic troops were in the area, the knighly would only need one squire each instead of the two to which they were accustomed. This did not sit particularly well with von Rutenberg, but von Spanheim was proved right as the army invested the port of Memel without encountering any significant oppostion
(maintenance is at 50%).
Meanwhile the Lithuanians besieged Konigsberg, while the Poles had marched into the Teuton's western holdings of Neumark, around the town of Kustrin. They had just finished reducing the fortresses of that place when news arrived that the Order had mortgaged the land to the Elector of Bradenburg. The Poles fumed, but had to abandon their conquests.
The initial stages of the war
Their mood did not improve to learn that the city of Warsaw fell soon after, and the Teutons incorporated it within their realm
(Teutonic Order annex Masovia). The Teuton army then marched to relieve Konigsberg, but where met and deated by an army of Poles and Lithuanians under the Lithuanian king. They retreated back to Warsaw, and there defeated the army of the Polish king that was hoping to retake the city.
Hearing that the Teuton army was being reduced von Rutenberg left a small covering force at Memel and marched back into Kurland. After a conference with von Spainheim regiments totalling a further four thousand infanty were raised. He split his army into two. The infantry, and the new regiments once they completed their muster, were to go and complete the siege of Memel. Von Rutenberg, at the head of just over eight thousand knights, departed southward through Prussia, and emerged onto the Polish plain.
In a series of battles in Masovia, Wielkopolska, and near Mozyr the Teuton army had been dispersed. The Polish King had marched north to besiege the port of Danzig. Von Rutenberg routed the remnants of the Teuton army to and surrounded Warsaw. The Teutons fled northward, where they were defeated again by the Lithuanians. By this time the siege of Memel was progressing once again, and the entirely of the Teuton lands were under threat.
Barely three thousand Teuton troops remained, from an army that had once numbered over twenty thousand. Unfortunately they realised that the Knights of the Sword had completely left their lands in the hands of God. They marched into Kurland, and although they could not secure any cities or fortresses, they rampaged around the countryside, looting everything in sight. The sieges continued, each progressing slowly. It was Warsaw that fell first, when a Polish patriot opened the gates. Von Rutenberg then marched with his army to join the army at Memel. Konigsberg was the next city to fall, and then Danzig, and finally Memel fell on the first day of spring 1421. Peace was not, however, forthcoming.
It was at this time that a remarkable document arrived from Sweden, and the Council there declared that they would not acknowledge the independence of the Knights of the Sword, and would not recognise their heralds. This brazen statement angered many, but there was nothing that could be done, for the Swedes had a powerful fleet while the Order had none at all
(Diplomatic Insult - Sweden).
Desiring to free Kurland from the Teuton bandits von Rutenberg led his army home, but now they paid the price of von Spanheim's frugality, for the army was ambused by the Teutons. Short of squires the knights were unable to arm, and had to make an ignomious retreat. Three months later they returned, and the mistake was not repeated. The Teutons were surrounded, and annihilated.
The long drawn out business of negotiation now proceeded. To celebrate the victories von Spanheim inducted new members of the Order from both Poland and Lithuania, to seal the friendships recently established with those lands
(Royal marriages with Lithuania and Poland). At last, after many months of denial, the Teutons agreed to terms. First they recognosed that the Grandmaster of the Knights of the Sword had sole right to name the castellon of Memel, and sole right of garrison. A few weeks later they surrendered the port of Danzig to Poland, and the remnants of their treasury was split between Poland and Lithuania. However they did retain control of Warsaw. Peace returned once more to the Livonian Order.
After the two peace treaties. The Black lines marks the original border of the Teutonic Order.
A separate peace with the TO for Memel, followed by LIT+POL making peace for Danzig and 83 gold. This followed about six months of no peace despite the TO having no troops and on provinces. I got bored of the waiting.