In recent years you may have heard rumours of certain historical documents being discovered relating to the early years of our young nation. I, Baron Ludwig Eisenstein, chief historian of his Majesty's archives, am delighted to announce that, these rumours are indeed well-founded.
Three years ago, in the country residence of Count Michael von Winkelstein, parchments were discovered dating back over 100 years, prior to the great fire of Königsberg that destroyed so many of our precious documents. The papers in question can be attributed to the Count's great-great-great grandfather, Count Gottfried von Winkelstein, who kept regular accounts of his life and activities. As chief advisor to Prince Friedrich of Meissen, his involvement in the state matters was unparalleled amongst his peers and offers us tremendous insight into the affairs of our beloved nation at that early period in our history.
I can give you, at this time a brief synopsis of some of his earlier entries.....
It is the year of our lord 1492 and I stand here in our small enclave in the Eastern area of the Baltic - the principality of Prussia. Our ruler is Prince Friedrich of Meissen, a monarch of no great skill under whom, I as chancellor must manage our meagre resources.
We live under the shadow of the mighty Polish-Lithuanian empire on the eastern boundray of Christendom. As a vassal state of the Poles, our monthly dues to these, our masters, sap our limited wealth. But while our people would long for freedom from this oppression, we are powerless to act against their mighty armies. It seems that any dream of freedom remains a distant hope that I fear I will never see.
To the north lies the Teutonic Order with their own vassal state of Kurland. Emnities with the Kinghts run deep but even these foes are too strong for us to battle against.
Our common Germanic volk lie beyond reach to the west of the Polish port of Danzig, a wealthy city through which all our trade is directed allowing the Poles to reap more wealth from our downtrodden people. Danzig itself vies for trade in the Baltic region with our smaller neighbours of Kurland.
My goals are limited. We must strengthen ourselves for the time when we are able to cast of the shackles of serfdom and proclaim the independent state of Prussia.
For now we must build up our wealth and this we can only do through the trade networks of Europe. I therefore commission our nobles to investments in our trading infrastructure such as the more recent banking techniques practiced further afield.
...This early account of the situation at the time is often forgotten by the rulers today who often forget our humble origins as our nation grows ever stronger in wealth and vitality.
It is understandable that the Poles would be powerful since they are still a significant force on our borders but it is almost unthinkable, in this day and age, that Prussia would have held any great fear from the Teutonic Order.
Notice also the reference to the provinces of Kurland and Danzig. These are now part of Greater Prussia, but little more than a century ago, these provinces were border territories of Prussia which, at the time consisted of the sole province of East Prussia. Prussia was, in 1492 a mere principality ruled by an ineffective monarch - at least according to the Count - and was a vassal state paying dues to the Commonwealth of Poland-Lithuania in return for its protection.
But let us continue with the texts....
On the military front I notice expenditure on our small armed forces to be an excessive drain on our exchequer. On further questioning, our commanders explain this is to keep the forces on a high state of alert in readiness against aggressors. In an effort to reduce these costs, I raise this with our noble Prince and suggest that our defence must lie first and foremost with diplomacy. Only
when we are stronger, can we hope to rely on our armies. A quick look at our treasury convinces our regal highness although I don't expect to make too many friends amongst the generals. But then perhaps their time will come. I have more serious responsibilities than to look after an army of 8000 men.
In February, I am called once again before the prince who confides with me that it would be his greatest wish that we should keep Eastern Prussia. It is a somewhat strange idea since that it all we have. I am even told by him that should I fail in the task, he would find worthier candidates to take on the important post of chief advisor. Perhaps he doesn't realise that failure to do so would entail far greater loss of prestige for himself for me to worry about his anger. I decline to raise this trivial point but my boldness does allow me to suggest that we try to arrange a royal tie with our Thuringener cousins. He agrees with me so I make a note to get some of his majesty's lackeys to deal with this trivial task.
A brief look at the state accounts tells me we are receiving a monthly income equivalent to a mere 11 ducats per year, of which over 10% is spent on our armies even under the reduced state of readiness.
The Count certainly betrays a certain arrogance towards the Prince in his early texts using terms elsewhere such as "petty-minded", "small-minded" and even "imbecile" although, these parts of the account have been excluded since they serve little purpose in enlightening the ready on the real events of the day.
The Prince himself is seen in this particular text as making bold requests which, would now seem to be rather immature. However, in the later half of the 15th century, such behaviour among monarchs and leaders was fairly commonplace, as shown by Henry VII of Englands regular claims that France should not hold any land on the British Isles.
But it can be clear to all readers that, well considered in the light of Prussia's current wealth, the small province of Eastern Prussia was an impoverished principality, much in the same way as we would view The Hanseatic League in these days
Three years ago, in the country residence of Count Michael von Winkelstein, parchments were discovered dating back over 100 years, prior to the great fire of Königsberg that destroyed so many of our precious documents. The papers in question can be attributed to the Count's great-great-great grandfather, Count Gottfried von Winkelstein, who kept regular accounts of his life and activities. As chief advisor to Prince Friedrich of Meissen, his involvement in the state matters was unparalleled amongst his peers and offers us tremendous insight into the affairs of our beloved nation at that early period in our history.
I can give you, at this time a brief synopsis of some of his earlier entries.....
It is the year of our lord 1492 and I stand here in our small enclave in the Eastern area of the Baltic - the principality of Prussia. Our ruler is Prince Friedrich of Meissen, a monarch of no great skill under whom, I as chancellor must manage our meagre resources.
We live under the shadow of the mighty Polish-Lithuanian empire on the eastern boundray of Christendom. As a vassal state of the Poles, our monthly dues to these, our masters, sap our limited wealth. But while our people would long for freedom from this oppression, we are powerless to act against their mighty armies. It seems that any dream of freedom remains a distant hope that I fear I will never see.
To the north lies the Teutonic Order with their own vassal state of Kurland. Emnities with the Kinghts run deep but even these foes are too strong for us to battle against.
Our common Germanic volk lie beyond reach to the west of the Polish port of Danzig, a wealthy city through which all our trade is directed allowing the Poles to reap more wealth from our downtrodden people. Danzig itself vies for trade in the Baltic region with our smaller neighbours of Kurland.
My goals are limited. We must strengthen ourselves for the time when we are able to cast of the shackles of serfdom and proclaim the independent state of Prussia.
For now we must build up our wealth and this we can only do through the trade networks of Europe. I therefore commission our nobles to investments in our trading infrastructure such as the more recent banking techniques practiced further afield.
...This early account of the situation at the time is often forgotten by the rulers today who often forget our humble origins as our nation grows ever stronger in wealth and vitality.
It is understandable that the Poles would be powerful since they are still a significant force on our borders but it is almost unthinkable, in this day and age, that Prussia would have held any great fear from the Teutonic Order.
Notice also the reference to the provinces of Kurland and Danzig. These are now part of Greater Prussia, but little more than a century ago, these provinces were border territories of Prussia which, at the time consisted of the sole province of East Prussia. Prussia was, in 1492 a mere principality ruled by an ineffective monarch - at least according to the Count - and was a vassal state paying dues to the Commonwealth of Poland-Lithuania in return for its protection.
But let us continue with the texts....
On the military front I notice expenditure on our small armed forces to be an excessive drain on our exchequer. On further questioning, our commanders explain this is to keep the forces on a high state of alert in readiness against aggressors. In an effort to reduce these costs, I raise this with our noble Prince and suggest that our defence must lie first and foremost with diplomacy. Only
when we are stronger, can we hope to rely on our armies. A quick look at our treasury convinces our regal highness although I don't expect to make too many friends amongst the generals. But then perhaps their time will come. I have more serious responsibilities than to look after an army of 8000 men.
In February, I am called once again before the prince who confides with me that it would be his greatest wish that we should keep Eastern Prussia. It is a somewhat strange idea since that it all we have. I am even told by him that should I fail in the task, he would find worthier candidates to take on the important post of chief advisor. Perhaps he doesn't realise that failure to do so would entail far greater loss of prestige for himself for me to worry about his anger. I decline to raise this trivial point but my boldness does allow me to suggest that we try to arrange a royal tie with our Thuringener cousins. He agrees with me so I make a note to get some of his majesty's lackeys to deal with this trivial task.
A brief look at the state accounts tells me we are receiving a monthly income equivalent to a mere 11 ducats per year, of which over 10% is spent on our armies even under the reduced state of readiness.
The Count certainly betrays a certain arrogance towards the Prince in his early texts using terms elsewhere such as "petty-minded", "small-minded" and even "imbecile" although, these parts of the account have been excluded since they serve little purpose in enlightening the ready on the real events of the day.
The Prince himself is seen in this particular text as making bold requests which, would now seem to be rather immature. However, in the later half of the 15th century, such behaviour among monarchs and leaders was fairly commonplace, as shown by Henry VII of Englands regular claims that France should not hold any land on the British Isles.
But it can be clear to all readers that, well considered in the light of Prussia's current wealth, the small province of Eastern Prussia was an impoverished principality, much in the same way as we would view The Hanseatic League in these days
Last edited:
will obviously come up with some reason why the Poles fared so badly against inferior forces, while an English historian may take a different view of events.
