Notangians
Encyclopedia
Natangians or Notangians (Prussian: Notangi, ; ) was one of the eleven clan
s of Prussian people
, who lived in Natangia, an area that is now mostly in the Russian enclave Kaliningrad Oblast
(East Prussia
before 1945).
In the 13th century when the Teutonic Knights
began their crusade against the Prussians, some 15,000 people might have lived in the area between the rivers identified by the Knights as Pregel (now Pregolya) and Alle
(now Łyna). The Natangian lands bordered with Sambia
in the north and with Warmia
in the south. They likely spoke a West Baltic language
, now extinct, similar to Old Prussian language
.
of early 1249, which assured personal freedom to newly converted Christians, included Notangians. However, the treaty failed to address the underlying causes of the conflict, and Natangians massacred 54 knights in the Battle of Krücken
in November 1249. But the victory was short-lived, the Knights regained their strength in just two years and continued their crusade. In 1255 they built Königsberg
(now Kaliningrad) at the mouth of Pregel river, right on the border between Natangia and Sambia.
During the Great Prussian Uprising (1260-1274) Natangians elected Herkus Monte
, who was educated in Germany, as their chief. At first he was successful and defeated the Knights in the Battle of Pokarwis
and Battle of Löbau
. However, the rebels were unable to capture the brick castles built by the Knights and lost their cause. Herkus, who became the most prominent leaders of the Prussians, was captured and hanged in 1273. The Natangian nobles submitted to the Germans, who promised privileges and undisturbed ownership of their estates. Natangians, led by Sabynas and Stanta, rebelled for the last time in 1295.
When German colonists settled
in the area, Natangians kept their local language and customs until the 17th century. Later on their identity disappeared at the end of the 17th century or beginning of the 18th century as they merged with German Population, but the local populace still defined themselve as "Natangians" up to 1945 and even the local Newspaper of Landsberg (Górowo Iławeckie) was called "Natanger Zeitung" after 1919.
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
s of Prussian people
Old Prussians
The Old Prussians or Baltic Prussians were an ethnic group, autochthonous Baltic tribes that inhabited Prussia, the lands of the southeastern Baltic Sea in the area around the Vistula and Curonian Lagoons...
, who lived in Natangia, an area that is now mostly in the Russian enclave Kaliningrad Oblast
Kaliningrad Oblast
Kaliningrad Oblast is a federal subject of Russia situated on the Baltic coast. It has a population of The oblast forms the westernmost part of the Russian Federation, but it has no land connection to the rest of Russia. Since its creation it has been an exclave of the Russian SFSR and then the...
(East Prussia
East Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
before 1945).
In the 13th century when the Teutonic Knights
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
began their crusade against the Prussians, some 15,000 people might have lived in the area between the rivers identified by the Knights as Pregel (now Pregolya) and Alle
Alle
Alle can refer to:*the German name for the Łyna , a river since 1945 in Poland and the Russian Kaliningrad Oblast*Alle, Switzerland, a community in the Swiss canton of Jura*Alle, Belgium in the province of Namur, Belgium...
(now Łyna). The Natangian lands bordered with Sambia
Sambia
Sambia or Samland is a peninsula in the Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia, on the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea. The Curonian Lagoon and the Vistula Lagoon demarcate the peninsula. Prior to 1945 it formed an important part of East Prussia.-Names:Sambia is named after the Sambians, an extinct...
in the north and with Warmia
Warmia
Warmia or Ermland is a region between Pomerelia and Masuria in northeastern Poland. Together with Masuria, it forms the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship....
in the south. They likely spoke a West Baltic language
Baltic languages
The Baltic languages are a group of related languages belonging to the Balto-Slavic branch of the Indo-European language family and spoken mainly in areas extending east and southeast of the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe...
, now extinct, similar to Old Prussian language
Old Prussian language
Prussian is an extinct Baltic language, once spoken by the inhabitants of the original territory of Prussia in an area of what later became East Prussia and eastern parts of...
.
History
Natangians are first mentioned in a 1238 treaty between the Knights and Świętopełk II of Pomerania. The Treaty of ChristburgTreaty of Christburg
The Treaty of Christburg was a peace treaty signed on February 2, 1249 between the pagan Prussian clans, represented by a papal legate, and the Teutonic Knights...
of early 1249, which assured personal freedom to newly converted Christians, included Notangians. However, the treaty failed to address the underlying causes of the conflict, and Natangians massacred 54 knights in the Battle of Krücken
Battle of Krücken
The Battle of Krücken was a medieval battle fought in 1249 during the Prussian Crusades between the Teutonic Knights and Prussians, one of the Baltic tribes. In terms of knights killed, it was the fourth largest defeat of the Teutonic Knights in the 13th century.Marshal Heinrich Botel gathered men...
in November 1249. But the victory was short-lived, the Knights regained their strength in just two years and continued their crusade. In 1255 they built Königsberg
Königsberg
Königsberg was the capital of East Prussia from the Late Middle Ages until 1945 as well as the northernmost and easternmost German city with 286,666 inhabitants . Due to the multicultural society in and around the city, there are several local names for it...
(now Kaliningrad) at the mouth of Pregel river, right on the border between Natangia and Sambia.
During the Great Prussian Uprising (1260-1274) Natangians elected Herkus Monte
Herkus Monte
Herkus Monte was the most famous leader of the Great Prussian Uprising against the Teutonic Knights and Northern Crusaders...
, who was educated in Germany, as their chief. At first he was successful and defeated the Knights in the Battle of Pokarwis
Battle of Pokarwis
The Battle of Pokarwis was a medieval battle fought in several skirmishes between pagan Old Prussians and the crusading Teutonic Knights on January 22, 1261 during the Great Prussian Uprising that followed the failed first Prussian Uprising of 1242-1249....
and Battle of Löbau
Battle of Löbau
Battle of Löbau or Lubov was a medieval battle fought between the Teutonic Order and Prussians in 1263 during the Great Prussian Uprising. Pagan Prussians rose against their conquerors, who tried to convert them to Christianity, after Lithuanians and Samogitians soundly defeated the joint forces of...
. However, the rebels were unable to capture the brick castles built by the Knights and lost their cause. Herkus, who became the most prominent leaders of the Prussians, was captured and hanged in 1273. The Natangian nobles submitted to the Germans, who promised privileges and undisturbed ownership of their estates. Natangians, led by Sabynas and Stanta, rebelled for the last time in 1295.
When German colonists settled
Ostsiedlung
Ostsiedlung , also called German eastward expansion, was the medieval eastward migration and settlement of Germans from modern day western and central Germany into less-populated regions and countries of eastern Central Europe and Eastern Europe. The affected area roughly stretched from Slovenia...
in the area, Natangians kept their local language and customs until the 17th century. Later on their identity disappeared at the end of the 17th century or beginning of the 18th century as they merged with German Population, but the local populace still defined themselve as "Natangians" up to 1945 and even the local Newspaper of Landsberg (Górowo Iławeckie) was called "Natanger Zeitung" after 1919.