Golub War

Background

The First Peace of Thorn of 1411 had ostensibly ended conflicts between the warring powers of the Polish-Lithuanian–Teutonic War, although the border between Samogita and Prussia was not determined. Poland also contested Pomerania, Pomerelia, and Culmerland (Chełmno Land). When numerous attempts at negotiations failed, a brief Hunger War broke out in summer 1414. Since Poles and Lithuanians were unable to capture strongly fortified Ordensburgen of the Knights, parties agreed to mediate their dispute in the Council of Constance. The council established the Samogitian Diocese in Varniai and appointed Matthias of Trakai as its first bishop. However, it did not solve the underlying territorial disputes by the time it ended in 1418.

A new, but futile, round of negotiations started in May 1419 in Gniewków with papal legate Bartholomew Capri, archbishop of Milan, as mediator. This decision was probably influenced by the fact that Sigismund hoped to receive support from the Teutonic Knights in his war with the Hussites, who were supported by Vytautas. Vytautas and Jogaila categorically refused to accept this decision. Jogaila unsuccessfully appealed to Pope Martin V.

War

In July 1422, Emperor Sigismund and the Teutonic Knights devoted resources to a war against the Hussites, who attacked and devastated large parts of Germany. The pope called for strong measure to "get rid of this plague". Vytautas and Jogaila used the preoccupation with the defence against the Hussite raids by attacking Prussia and the Order. Teutonic Grand Master Michael Küchmeister von Sternberg was forced to resign in March. His successor Paul von Rusdorf released most of the hired mercenaries; the Order was left with very few soldiers to defend itself.

Joint Polish and Lithuanian forces marched north to Osterode, Teutonic forces retreated to Löbau. When it became clear that siege engines would not arrive, Jogaila ordered an advance towards the Order's fortified capital of Marienburg.

Aftermath

The war ended with Treaty of Melno, after the Teutonic defeat at the Battle of Marienburg. A truce was signed on September 17, 1422, but the war effectively concluded only ten days later as a result of this treaty. This ended the territorial disputes and fights between Lithuania and the Teutonic Knights. Poland, however, resumed fighting with the Order once again in 1431–1435 when the Order supported Švitrigaila, not the Polish-backed Sigismund Kęstutaitis, as the successor of Vytautas.

References

References

1. Turnbull, Stephen. (2003). "Tannenberg 1410: Disaster for the Teutonic Knights". Osprey.
2. Christiansen, Eric. (1997). "The northern Crusades". Penguin.
3. Jasienica, Paweł. (1988). "Polska Jagiellonów". Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy.
4. Ivinskis, Zenonas. (1978). "Lietuvos istorija iki Vytauto Didžiojo mirties". Lietuvių katalikų mokslo akademija.
5. Kiaupa, Zigmantas. (2000). "The History of Lithuania Before 1795". Lithuanian Institute of History.
6. Urban, William. (2003). "Tannenberg and After". Lithuanian Research and Studies Center.
7. Christiansen, Eric. (1997). "The Northern Crusades". Penguin Books.