Archaeologists have discovered the remains of a Teutonic castle from the Middle Ages in north-eastern Poland. The knights of the order took over this fortress after defeating the Prussians who lived here at the beginning of the 13th century. The castle probably served primarily as an official residence for church officials and as a warehouse for tribute payments, as historical records suggest. The excavations also reveal that a fortified settlement must have existed here as early as the Iron Age.
Originally, the Teutonic Order, like the Knights Templar, was a religious community that was supposed to defend the Christian sites in the Holy Land and protect pilgrims. But unlike other knightly orders, the German Order succeeded in gaining a foothold in Europe after the collapse of the crusader states in the Middle East. The support of Emperor Friedrich II. And Pope Gregory IX. made it possible for the German Order to secure its first territories in Central Europe from 1230 onwards. Through the struggle against the Baltic Prussian tribe, the order expanded its territories further and further into Eastern Europe, where it strengthened its supremacy through order castles.
Traces of three different fortresses
Archaeologists headed by Rafal Solecki from the Wyszynski University in Warsaw in the northern Polish province of Warmia-Masuria have now discovered the remains of such a Teutonic castle. Today nothing can be seen of the actual structure, but the earth walls and the moat can still be seen with the naked eye, despite the fact that they are now in the middle of a forest, ”explains Solecki. The researchers obtained initial indications that these up to 20-meter-high elevations were not a natural form of landscape, using laser mapping of the terrain. It revealed the foundations of a small castle.
The archaeologists then carried out excavations in this area. These showed that relics from three time periods could be found here. According to this, it was here as early as the Iron Age, in the 3rd to 5th centuries BC. a fortified settlement. Later, in the 11th to 13th centuries, the Prussians established a tribal seat here. However, when the Teutonic Order defeated the Prussians in this area and conquered their territory, the local residents of the fortress were expelled and the castle was expanded under the rule of the Teutonic Order. The buildings of the probably two-story fortress had stone foundations, but were otherwise mainly made of wood.
German order as protecting power
“The excavations confirm that this was actually a fortress from the time of the Teutonic Order,” confesses Solecki. “During the excavations in the old moat and the ramparts, we discovered characteristic ceramic objects as well as arrowheads and projectiles. The latter could indicate that the castle was exposed to attacks by the local Prussian population. ”To protect against such attacks, the knights of the order raised the earth walls around the castle, and a palisade made of wooden stakes protected the inner area.
Historical records indicate that this castle was probably not owned directly by the Teutonic Order, but belonged to one of the four Christian dioceses that were created by Pope Innocent IV in 1243 and placed under a bishop. The building therefore probably housed mainly church administrators, but could also have been used to collect tribute from the local population. The knights of the Teutonic Order were assigned to protect the church officials and these goods. In order to learn even more about this castle and its further fate, the archaeologists will continue their excavations.
Source: Science in Poland