Prussian Confederation

The Prussian Confederation ( actually "covenant against violence ") was incorporated on March 14, 1440 Marie Werder. This was followed by 53 nobles and 19 cities, including Danzig, Elbing and Thorn, against the arbitrariness of the Teutonic Order together to

" Faithfully support each other, ... the violence and the injustice that happened to them in former times to throw off. "

The German order was after the Battle of Tannenberg, 1410, in the First Peace of Thorn, in 1411, forced to pay reparations to Poland, which brought him to the brink of financial ruin. So bring the German knights additional taxes from the Prussian stands and Hanseatic cities. Then the items demanded a say in the government of the Order state, which was refused. Inspired by the resistance of the Prussian estates, also broke in 1441 Warmia a peasant uprising, which was suppressed by the Knights.

While Grand Master Konrad von Erlichshausen (1441-1449) tried to find a balance with the stands, trying his nephew and successor, Ludwig von Erlichshausen (1450-1467), the Prussian League, in cooperation with the Pope and the Emperor by legal means ( proof of illegality ) to deal with. Emperor Frederick III. had the covenant was first recognized in 1441. However, on December 1, 1453, the Emperor decided the dispute in favor of the Order.

Then the Prussian Confederation announced the Grand Master as patron obedience to, said on February 4, 1454 the Order of the war and presented with Hans von Baysen on March 6, 1454 an alliance to the King of Poland, Casimir IV, as a patron.

The alliance led to the Thirteen Years' War against the Order, who was with the Second Peace of Thorn, in 1466, ended. The part of the covenant, who was able to successfully escape the religious rule, was joined as a " corporate state Prussia Royal proportion " in a law not clearly defined "Union" with the Kingdom of Poland.

Members

Founding members of 14 March 1440

Other members from April 3, 1440: