The Battle of Grunwald took place on July 15, 1410 between an alliance of the Kingdom of Poland and Lithuania against the Teutonic Order. It was one of the most important battles in Medieval Europe.

6. Uprising

In 1409, an uprising in Teutonic-held Zemaitija (Samogitia) started. The Samogitians were angered by a 1408 famine caused by frequent Teutonic attacks and torching of farms and crops. Samogitians succeeded in taking and burning Christmemel, Friedeburgh, Dobesinburg; only Memel withstood the attacks.

While Vytautas secretly supported Samogitians, officially he still adhered to the Peace of Raciąż. Only when in summer 1409 the Knights arrested 20 ships loaded with grain, sent by Jogaila from Thorn, Vytautas openly
rose against the Knights.

The king of Poland announced that he would stand by his promises in case the knights invaded Lithuania. This was used as a pretext, and on August 14, 1409 the Teutonic Grand Master Ulrich von Jungingen declared war on the Kingdom of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The forces of the Teutonic Order initially invaded Greater Poland and Kuyavia, but the Poles repelled the invasion and reconquered Bydgoszcz (Bromberg), which led to a subsequent armistice agreement.

Sponsored by:

PoloniaNews.com