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The Prussian Crusade was a series of 13th-century campaigns of Roman Catholic crusaders, primarily led by the Teutonic Knights, to Christianize the pagan Old Prussians. Invited after earlier unsuccessful expeditions against the Prussians by Polish princes, the Teutonic Knights began campaigning against the Balts in 1230. By the end of the century, having quelled several Prussian Uprisings, the Knights had established control over Prussia and administered the Prussians through their monastic state. ==Early missions and conflicts== Wulfstan of Hedeby, an agent of Alfred of Wessex, recorded the seafaring and cattle-herding Prussians as a strong and independent nation.〔Christiansen, p. 38〕 Mieszko I of the Polans tried to extend his realm from land he had just conquered around the mouth of the Oder as far as Prussia.〔Gieysztor, p. 50〕 Boleslaw I of Poland sent Adalbert of Prague to preach among the Prussians in 997, but the missionary was killed by the pagans. After some initial success among the Prussians, Adalbert's successor, Bruno of Querfurt, was also killed in 1009.〔Wyatt, pp. 22-23〕 The Poles waged war with the neighboring Prussians, Sudovians, and Wends over the following two centuries.〔Wyatt, p. 24〕〔Gieysztor, p. 77〕〔(Recent Issues in Polish Historiography of the Crusades ) Darius von Güttner Sporzyński. 2005〕 While the Poles sought the conversion of the Prussians and control of their land, the Prussians engaged in lucrative raids for slaves in the bordering territories of Chełmno Land and Masovia.〔Urban, p. 50〕 Many Prussians nominally accepted baptism only to revert to pagan beliefs after hostilities ended. Henry of Sandomierz was killed fighting the Prussians in 1166.〔Gieysztor, p. 69〕 Boleslaw IV and Casimir II each led large armies into Prussia; while Boleslaw's forces were defeated in guerilla warfare, Casimir imposed peace until his death in 1194.〔Wyatt, p. 29〕 King Valdemar II of Denmark supported Danish expeditions against Samland until his capture by Henry, Count of Schwerin, in 1223. In 1206, the Cistercian bishop Christian of Oliva, with the support of the King of Denmark and Polish dukes, found a better reception than expected upon his arrival in the war-torn Chełmno Land. Inspired, he travelled to Rome to prepare for a larger mission. When he returned to Chełmno in 1215, however, Christian found the Prussians hostile, possibly out of outrage at the actions of the Sword-Brothers in Livonia〔Wyatt, p. 47〕 or fear of Polish expansion.〔Urban, p. 51〕 The pagan Prussians invaded Chełmno Land, Masovia, and Pomerellia,〔Gieysztor, p. 94〕 besieged Chełmno and Lubawa, and forced converts to return to the old beliefs.〔Wyatt, p. 32〕 Because of the growing intensity of attacks,〔Gieysztor, p. 93〕 Pope Honorius III sent a papal bull to Christian in March 1217 allowing him to begin preaching a crusade against the militant Prussians. The following year the pagans attacked Chełmno Land and Masovia again, plundering 300 cathedrals and churches.〔Wyatt, p. 33〕 Duke Conrad of Masovia succeeded in expelling the Prussians by paying a huge tribute, which only encouraged the Prussians, however.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Prussian Crusade」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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