'Similarly, in Poland the king showed little initiative in foreign policy. When the Prussians, however, revolted in 1454 against their overlord, the Teutonic Order, and placed themselves under the protection of Casimir, he was aware that this was a unique opportunity to destroy the power of the order. In October 1453 the cities and gentry of Prussia, in a dispute with the order (which had been excommunicated by the pope and put under the ban of the Holy Roman Empire), placed themselves under Casimir's overlordship. Subsequently, in February 1454, they renounced their allegiance to the order. They then captured 57 towns and castles, and on March 6, 1454, Casimir incorporated all of Prussia with Poland, with a guarantee of autonomy and of freedom from taxation. When, as a result, war broke out and Polish Levy en mass (peasants) troops were severely defeated by the order near Konitz (or Chonjice)(Sept. 18, 1454), it was mainly Casimir's perseverance and stubbornness that led eventually to successes after a bloody victory at Puck (Sept. 17, 1462). The papacy finally intervened, and by the second Treaty of Torun (Thorn; Oct. 19, 1466), all of western Prussia, called 'Royal Prussia,' was ceded to Poland, while the remainder of Prussia was held by the Teutonic Order as a fief of the Polish crown. Though the order thus retained a part of its former territory and 'Royal Prussia' was not formally incorporated but only united with the Polish kingdom while preserving its own diet and administration, this treaty was Casimir's most important foreign policy success.'
Thirteen Years' War
(1454-66), war between Poland and the Teutonic Knights that began as a revolt by the Prussian populace against their overlords, the Teutonic Knights, and was concluded by the Treaty of Torun (Thorn; Oct. 19, 1466). In 1454 rebel Prussian groups petitioned Casimir IV of Poland for aid against the Knights. Casimir declared war on them, and in 1462 won the decisive Battle of Puck. After this the Order lost, Gniew, Puck, Nowe, Starogard, and Chojnice within a few months.
***In the Treaty of Torun, the Teutonic Order surrendered the eastern part of Pomerania (Pomerelia) and western Prussia--eastern Prussia was a vassal state of the Polish crown, with its own diet and administration and capital at Königsberg (now Kaliningrad, Russia)--and the order was opened to Poles.***
Sapura
[This message has been edited by Sapura (edited 09-02-2001).]
