War of the Priests
Encyclopedia
The War of the Priests (1467-1479, ) was a drawn-out dispute with Poland
over the independence of the Royal Prussia
n Prince-Bishopric of Ermland . The Second Treaty of Thorn that had been sealed in 1466 at Toruń
affected also the Bishopric of Warmia
, which claimed to have received Prince-Bishopric status a century earlier from Emperor Charles IV
. This led to conflicts with Polish King Casimir IV
http://portalwiedzy.onet.pl/31677,haslo.html.
was in the 14th century part of the Monastic State of the Teutonic Knights
, but enjoyed autonomy and was administrated as a prince-bishopric. The bishops, often members of the Teutonic Order, were loyal to the order even in early 15th century, when the Teutonic Knights
raised the tax
es to pay for the resulting costs of the Battle of Grunwald
at Grünfelde near Tannenberg in 1410 against Poland and Lithuania. Eventually, the order's policies and tax increases led to opposition within the order state and to the foundation of the Prussian Confederation
in 1440 by Prussia
n cities who wanted to defend their rights against the order.
The Prussian Confederation eventually asked for external aid and allied with the Polish King Casimir IV
in order to secede, which led to the Thirteen Years' War (1454–1466). The Bishop of Warmia Paul von Legendorf (1458–1467) joined the Prussian Confederation in the last year of the conflict (1466). The Second Peace of Thorn (1466) put some of the seceding Western Prussian cities as Royal Prussia
under the suzerainty of the Polish King. The Bishops of Warmia, though, insisted on their prerogatives, namely the completely independent election of the bishop by the chapter.
, and instead elected Nicolaus von Tüngen
. This resulted in a dispute in which the bishopric was supported by the Teutonic Order and Matthias Corvinus, the Hungarian king.
the city which held out against him.http://www.zum.de/whkmla/military/15cen/pfaffenkrieg14671479.html.
) ended the feud in 1479. The Polish King accepted Nicolaus von Tüngen, who had been elected in 1467, as bishop, and granted or confirmed several prerogatives of the bishopric. The bishop acknowledged the sovereignty of the Polish King over Warmia, obliged the chapter to elect only candidates "liked by the Polish King" and the Warmians had to pledge allegiance to him.
However, 10 years later, the election of the next bishop, Lucas Watzenrode the Younger
revived conflicts between Warmia's chapter and Casimir IV. The Prince-Bishopric of Warmia in church organisation matters received exempt status, under directly authorisation of the Pope, resisting attempts to subordinate it by the archbishopric of Gniezno
. Politically it remained under lordship of the Polish crown.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
over the independence of the Royal Prussia
Royal Prussia
Royal Prussia was a Region of the Kingdom of Poland and of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth . Polish Prussia included Pomerelia, Chełmno Land , Malbork Voivodeship , Gdańsk , Toruń , and Elbląg . It is distinguished from Ducal Prussia...
n Prince-Bishopric of Ermland . The Second Treaty of Thorn that had been sealed in 1466 at Toruń
Torun
Toruń is an ancient city in northern Poland, on the Vistula River. Its population is more than 205,934 as of June 2009. Toruń is one of the oldest cities in Poland. The medieval old town of Toruń is the birthplace of the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus....
affected also the Bishopric of Warmia
Archbishopric of Warmia
The Prince-Bishopric of Warmia was a semi independent ecclesiastical state, a Prussian bishopric under the jurisdiction of the Archbishopric of Riga that was a protectorate of the Monastic state of the Teutonic Knights and a protectorate of Kingdom of Poland, later part of the Polish-Lithuanian...
, which claimed to have received Prince-Bishopric status a century earlier from Emperor Charles IV
Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles IV , born Wenceslaus , was the second king of Bohemia from the House of Luxembourg, and the first king of Bohemia to also become Holy Roman Emperor....
. This led to conflicts with Polish King Casimir IV
Casimir IV Jagiellon
Casimir IV KG of the House of Jagiellon was Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1440, and King of Poland from 1447, until his death.Casimir was the second son of King Władysław II Jagiełło , and the younger brother of Władysław III of Varna....
http://portalwiedzy.onet.pl/31677,haslo.html.
Political background
The Prussian Bishopric of WarmiaWarmia
Warmia or Ermland is a region between Pomerelia and Masuria in northeastern Poland. Together with Masuria, it forms the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship....
was in the 14th century part of the Monastic State of the Teutonic Knights
Monastic State of the Teutonic Knights
The State of the Teutonic Order, , also Monastic State of the Teutonic Knights or Ordensstaat , was formed in 1224 during the Northern Crusades, the Teutonic Knights' conquest of the pagan West-Baltic Old Prussians in the 13th century....
, but enjoyed autonomy and was administrated as a prince-bishopric. The bishops, often members of the Teutonic Order, were loyal to the order even in early 15th 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...
raised the tax
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
es to pay for the resulting costs of the Battle of Grunwald
Battle of Grunwald
The Battle of Grunwald or 1st Battle of Tannenberg was fought on 15 July 1410, during the Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War. The alliance of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, led respectively by King Jogaila and Grand Duke Vytautas , decisively defeated the Teutonic Knights, led...
at Grünfelde near Tannenberg in 1410 against Poland and Lithuania. Eventually, the order's policies and tax increases led to opposition within the order state and to the foundation of the Prussian Confederation
Prussian Confederation
The Prussian Confederation was an organization formed in 1440 by a group of 53 gentry and clergy and 19 cities in Prussia to oppose the monastic state of the Teutonic Knights. It was based on the basis of an earlier similar organization, the Lizard Union...
in 1440 by Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n cities who wanted to defend their rights against the order.
The Prussian Confederation eventually asked for external aid and allied with the Polish King Casimir IV
Casimir IV
Casimir IV may refer to:*Polish king Casimir IV Jagiellon*Casimir IV, Duke of Pomerania...
in order to secede, which led to the Thirteen Years' War (1454–1466). The Bishop of Warmia Paul von Legendorf (1458–1467) joined the Prussian Confederation in the last year of the conflict (1466). The Second Peace of Thorn (1466) put some of the seceding Western Prussian cities as Royal Prussia
Royal Prussia
Royal Prussia was a Region of the Kingdom of Poland and of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth . Polish Prussia included Pomerelia, Chełmno Land , Malbork Voivodeship , Gdańsk , Toruń , and Elbląg . It is distinguished from Ducal Prussia...
under the suzerainty of the Polish King. The Bishops of Warmia, though, insisted on their prerogatives, namely the completely independent election of the bishop by the chapter.
Election dispute
In 1467, the chapter did not accept the bishop nominated by Polish King Casimir IVCasimir IV
Casimir IV may refer to:*Polish king Casimir IV Jagiellon*Casimir IV, Duke of Pomerania...
, and instead elected Nicolaus von Tüngen
Nicolaus von Tüngen
Nicolaus of Tüngen was bishop of Warmia from 1467 until 1489....
. This resulted in a dispute in which the bishopric was supported by the Teutonic Order and Matthias Corvinus, the Hungarian king.
Military action
In 1478, Polish forces of king Casimir IV intervened militarily in Warmia, besieging Braunsberg BraniewoBraniewo
Braniewo is a town in northeastern Poland, in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, with a population of 18,068 . It is the capital of Braniewo County...
the city which held out against him.http://www.zum.de/whkmla/military/15cen/pfaffenkrieg14671479.html.
Settlement
The first Treaty of Piotrków (in Piotrków TrybunalskiPiotrków Trybunalski
Piotrków Trybunalski is a city in central Poland with 80,738 inhabitants . It is situated in the Łódź Voivodeship , and previously was the capital of Piotrków Voivodeship...
) ended the feud in 1479. The Polish King accepted Nicolaus von Tüngen, who had been elected in 1467, as bishop, and granted or confirmed several prerogatives of the bishopric. The bishop acknowledged the sovereignty of the Polish King over Warmia, obliged the chapter to elect only candidates "liked by the Polish King" and the Warmians had to pledge allegiance to him.
However, 10 years later, the election of the next bishop, Lucas Watzenrode the Younger
Lucas Watzenrode the Younger
Lucas Watzenrode the Younger was Prince-Bishop of Warmia and patron to his nephew, astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus.-Early life:...
revived conflicts between Warmia's chapter and Casimir IV. The Prince-Bishopric of Warmia in church organisation matters received exempt status, under directly authorisation of the Pope, resisting attempts to subordinate it by the archbishopric of Gniezno
Gniezno
Gniezno is a city in central-western Poland, some 50 km east of Poznań, inhabited by about 70,000 people. One of the Piasts' chief cities, it was mentioned by 10th century A.D. sources as the capital of Piast Poland however the first capital of Piast realm was most likely Giecz built around...
. Politically it remained under lordship of the Polish crown.