Leisure In Poland - one pleasure. Mountains, sea, cycling tracks, tourist routes. What is just not here. A separate item on this list is traveling through Teutonic castles in the northern part of the country.

The Teutonic Order for several hundred years of its domination on these lands built about 90 castles and fortresses. Some of them did not live to this day - were destroyed, burned or demolished. Those who remained are striking the greatness of gothic architecture, boast a rich history, shrouded with numerous secrets and legends. All this testifies solely on the unsurpassed mastery of medieval builders. Teutonic castles willingly attend tourists from all over the world. We offer you to walk with the traces of the Crusaders.

Crusaders - Knights of the Teutonic Order.

The expedition route in the footsteps of the Crusaders starts from Toruni. This city was founded by the Knights of the Teutonic Order in 1230. It can boast wonderful, full historical attractions, old measteam and not much younger than new meat. From the mighty Teutonic Castle, destroyed during the time of 13-year war, remained only colorful ruins.

The ruins of the Teutonic castle in the city of Torun.

Approximately 15 kilometers in the southwestern direction from Toruni is the Castle of Bezhoglovsky - a small village with a well-surviving fortress. The Fauglovsk Fortress is one of the oldest Teutonic buildings (1270 g). It was in it a residence of the comut (commander of a separate squad of a knightly order). The castle was destroyed several times during battles, but in the middle of the XIX century it was completely rebuilt in a neo-neutic style.

The Faublovsk Fortress is one of the oldest.

We are moving through the vistula and go to the north to the city of Nobets. Already from far away, the massive ruins of the Teutonic castle, which was built on an artificial island, not far from falling out of the VDA in Vistula. Svetska castle retained a part of the medieval wall and high, more than 30 meters, a cylindrical tower, from the top of which a delightful panorama opens.

Tower of Svetskoy Castle.

Now we will have to go on the banks of the Vistula in the northern direction, in order to achieve the city of anger. The most beautiful view of the city will open to us from the east. Growsk Gothic castle was built in the second half of the XIII century. A particularly luxurious castle looked at the time of living in his walls of the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order Mikhala Kosymiter.

Gnevsky castle.

Far in the West, near the ancient borders of the State of Teutonic, there is a majestic Chertovsky castle. It has been preserved to this day only partially - a fragment of the city wall and a high 46-meter tower, which offers a delightful view of the city of Chelukhov. One of the Comments of the Chershovsky stronghold was the famous Konrad von Valenrod - the 24th Master of the Order and the greatest commander of the Middle Ages.

Teutonic fortress in Clohov.

Another, nominated far to the west, landmark - Teutonic castle in Mostov. This is one of the most preserved fortresses whose history begins in the XIV century. The architect of the Ladovsky Castle was Mikolai Fellenstein - the one that built a fortress in Malbok. Today in the castle there are a museum and a hotel.

Bytovsky castle.

We return to the Vistula Valley, and then we follow along its east tributaries of the hole to see the most significant attraction of Teutonic traces. Castle in Malbrok. This is the most huge brick building in the world, it was built to substantiate the capital of the TEVTON state in it. Every year, thousands of tourists come, in order to admire these treasure of gothic architecture.

Malbork is the most famous castle of Crusaders.

Now we go south to see the castle in the piece. On the armor between the two lakes, in a place engaged in an excellent defensive position, a junk castle rises, built in the middle of the XIV century. In the building, underground floors, defense walls and ditch were perfectly preserved. Currently, the Association of the Knight's Brotherhood of the Earth of the Stymskaya.

Started at 11 c. Crusades led to the phenomenon of creating knightly monastic associations, "orders." The first such association that appeared in the Holy Land was the Order of Temmernovnikov or Templars (temple. - Temple. The next knightly order was created on the basis of the Jerusalem Hospital of St. John

The German Order was also created on the basis of the hospital that appeared during the third crusade in 1190 in the siege of the city of Acre. In 1198, it was decided to create a knightly order, his first master was Hermann Walpot (Germann Walpot).

With the arrival of Hermann Background, the Salza (Hermann von Salza 1209-1239) changed. In 1210-11. Hungarian King Andrasha II (1205-1235), invites the Teutonic Order for the defense of the borders of Hungary from the invasions of Polovtsy.

The leader Theodoric was appointed to the Britrenland expedition. Under his leadership in 1212, the development of the obtained territory began. The Order was built 5 locks.

In the fight against the Polovtsy, the Order has achieved certain success, making them a number of defeats. Part of the Polovtsy was forced to recognize his power and take baptism . In 1225, Andras II expelled the Teutonic Order from Hungary.

The successful struggle of the Order with Polovtsy attracted the attention of Polish Prince Konrad Mazovsky. His principality in the north of Poland was constantly subjected to ruinous raids of Prussian pagans. In 1225, Konrad Mazovetsky asked for help to German ordinance brothers.

After long negotiations, consent was achieved and the Order sent his knights to Prussia. In 1230, the ordinary squad under the team of the Landmacerster Prussia German von Balc approached the border.

Conquest Prussia.

Spring 1231 The Order Brothers led by German von Balc, crossed on east coast rivers. On the banks of the Wislas, they built a boil strengthening, calling him Thorn. The next year, they began to conquer the Prussian lands starting the offensive on the banks of the Vistula. As you move to consolidate your possessions, the Order built locks. The first locks were weddown. Earth shafts were poured around the perimeter of which a wooden parisade with wooden towers and residential premises for garrison was installed. The fortress surrounded deep rally. At the initial stage, the Order often used Prussian fortresses.

After the founding of Elbing in 1238 The Order was committed by a reconnaissance foreign expedition on the bay on two ships. Moving along the shores of Warmia to the north, they were discovered, the Prussian fortress of Hondaeda . An attempt to take the fortress by storm was unsuccessful, almost the entire landing was destroyed by prouds.

A year later (1239), well-armed ships with the new squad of the knights moored to the foot of the high shore, which was Honda. After a long siege, she switched to the Order of the Order. Slightly rebuilding the old fortress, called it Balga .

At 1239-40, the Order had 21 reinforced point.

In 1242, the territories captured by the Order began a rebellion that lasted about 7 years.

After the suppression of the uprising, the Order began to further conquer the Prussian lands

Head with the Czech king Otakar (OtTokar) was captured by Sambia (deputy). The result of this offensive was the foundation Konigsberg (1255).

To continue the onset of the Order prevented the second uprising of Prussians, which began in 1260 and was finally suppressed in 1272.

After the suppression of the uprising, the Order almost immediately began to conquer the Prussian lands of Naughty and the chalihood.

By 1283, the advanced orders of the Order came to the Memel River (Neman) and at its cool coast in 1289 built a fortress Landshut (Ragnit). At this stage, the main territory of Prussia was conquered.

The development of the conquered territory and tactical improvement of defense from the starting attacks on the part of Lithuania began.

Due to the practical absence of roads, the main transport arteries were rivers, in the region it was the Pragel River. From Konigsberg along her a large number of locks were built, including Arnau (OK 1302), Tapiau Velau in 1320 Taplaken (OK 1310), Norkitten (OK 1320), Insterburg (1336).

In 1309, the Hochmeister Residences (Veliky Magista) was transferred from Venice to Prussia to the Komtus castle Marienburg based on about 1270 g

Immediately after moving the Great Master's Master, the Prussia began the mass construction of castles in stone. By that time, the Order of the castle was developed in the Order, as for the residence of Compets and the smallest fortified fortresses. Everything was united, despite the big difference in some abrasions and location. It is due to this plannedness and uniformity of construction, Prussia castles form a certain group of the United States of the Middle Ages. As a rule, these were four-branched locks that have from one to four flibels with bergphride and high defensive walls. . These castles had a spoke on strengthening (Foreburg), as a defensive wall of bricks with a combat move.

For the XIV century a large number of expensive castles were built.

Of great importance was the question of building materials. Prussia is poor in the stones in its territory, there is also no Kamenomanian on its territory, and therefore piles, columns, some building blocks were made from brilliant granite and limestone blocks. Therefore, the main building material for the Prussian castles was the baked brick of manual molding. In addition to ordinary brick, a shaped brick was also required for the internal surfaces of the arch, windows, doors and for supports of the arch. It was also used in large quantities of glazed brick. When laying, a solution was needed for which the lime extracted in Nenenburg was required in the large quantities. Lime of the best quality was covered with Gotland Island.

Along with the restructuring of old castles, the foundation of new, which after 1310, was often immediately built of stone.

Work on the construction of locks was huge not only in terms of volume, but also in difficulty. From the material spent on the construction of the castle, it was possible to completely build a medieval city of medium sizes.

Also small castles were built, served by the residences to the Order of Officials (Fogem, Pflegram - Managing, Cameramine, etc.). In addition to the cost of materials, the cost of labor and the production of construction materials, the construction itself). Order paid and highly qualified specialists.

Cuttings Castles (Konventburg)

The territory of the Order of the United States shared on the comvoria, major administrative units that were centers of the military and economic organization of the Order. He headed this unit of the comvor, with the Knight's Convention, their residence was the castle. Castle himself, ( hohburg) I had from one to four flies , in the form of a closed quadricle. Often with a large tower (Bergfried) and small towers on dangerous areas.

The main floor in the castle, was considered the second, where it was possible to climb from the courtyard through the covered gallery, there were chapels on the floor (chapel), the Hall of the Kapitula (room for the meeting of the Order of the Breaks), Reterter (Dining Room), and Dormtorium (Bedroom), and so The same Danzker (toilet) is sure. In the winter period, residential premises were heated, by incandescing stones in the basement, over the air channels, warm air was supplied through the holes in the floor. On the ground floor there were shopping premises (kitchen, etc.). The basements stored food and others necessary for defense materials. The repository also served as the third floor, mainly used him as a bread barn. Under the roof of the main castle around the perimeter there was a military course and loopholes for the shelling both outside and to the courtyard. (Especially large castles had four and even five floors). In the courtyard necessarily had a well. The courtyard himself was paved with untreated wildlife, and so that rainwater was not stood, had an inclined view with the tap of water into the well.

The safety of the castle complex was provided at the expense of large pvs and walls with a combat stroke surrounding the castle itself. There was a site called such a wall and castle parhs.

The construction of large massive buildings that represented well-strengthened complex, had a pre-smoking fortification ( foreburg), And often a few Furburgs, with high walls, and numerous buildings of storage facilities, for storing food, forage, weapons, all sorts of workshops, stables, as well as residential premises, etc.

These castles were built not only as pure military structures, but also as symbols of the status of the knightly community and territorial power. Matches of architecturally were full of dignity. Rich ornamental forms and building elements attached their unique features to the North European Gothic. In many cases, artwork works of the highest class were used. Elements of architectural jewelry were used, somehow openwork stone thread, multi-layer capitals, friezes with inscriptions, glazed panels. The most beautiful work of the Order Architecture are the halls with ribbed crops. Castles were decorated as reliefs and bas-reliefs for which the limestone was applied caused from Gotland .

On the territory of the Königsberg region there were 4 Komtrusky Castle:

Balga, Brandenburg, Konigsberg, Ragnit. Temporarily performed the functions of the Municipal Castles: Labeau, Tapiau, Lohastt, Insterburg.

Firmari

At Kitrusky castles, a company very often had a company for patients and old managing brothers and ordinar priests, which in old age or injury could not carry the service. There were two types of Firmari, for the order of the Knights, the Odden priests, and separately for servants. Sometimes for gray raincoats (serve brothers of more than-known origin) and simple knecht firmairi were separate as in the castle of Osterod. But for a separate treatment of gray raincoats - it is perhaps the only proof . Usually they were treated in the same room with knights. The table of the company, at least in some castles, was provided with her own kitchen, where they were preparing better and more abundant dishes, as the ordinance statutes demanded. With a large meaning in medieval medicine to the food diet, you can talk about the dietary kitchen. The kitchen had his own chef, and sometimes (in Königsberg) and two cooks. In large castles with a convention from 30 to 60 brothers, there were large rooms with their own straight (dining room) for patients and elderly knights, with a separate bath. Ordinance statutes recommended the patients with bathing brothers. Firmairi were constructed in such a way that every ordinar knight had a private room (cilya) and a common holiday room. In most cases, this complex included a chapel, a kitchen and a basement. Everything looked like a small hospital in which life proceeded insulated .

Bath

Baths were fairly widespread in Europe, respectively, the Order everywhere built Bani in their castles. They had not only in castles with a large convention, but also in the castles of fogs, pflegers - managers and samples. Baths were built in the same way as in Firmai: the boarded floor, laid on the stone flooring, glass windows. On the furnace struck stones, being crammed, they were watering with water to obtain steam. Water for washing heated in boilers, washed in "baths" (wooden barrels). For bath procedures, deciduous brooms were also used. Sometimes there was a special well in the baths .

Water supply

According to research B. Schmid (B. Schmid. ) There were 19 wells in the castle complex of Marienburg. Well in a high castle had a depth of up to 27 m. It was laid out by stones. There is a wooden canopy over it with a tile and a wheel for pulling water tanks, the well, obviously, was built in the 13th century. In the premises of the Grand Master in the middle castle in the floor there was a round hole, which led through the floors to the basement to the well. Usually the well was in the center of the castle yard, as in Königsberg in the courtyard of the house of the convention.

Danzker

The characteristic feature of the Odden castles, there were dance butts (toilets), these were the impressive towers behind the peasants of the castle corps, in most on the aquatic stream (creek, bay, river, and in a flowing rally), with the lock they were connected to the indoor transition on powerful columns ( In Marienverder, this move had 54 m. Length). Often, they combined defensive functions and architectural beauty and form a distinguished lock complex. But, first of all, they performed the functions of the exhaust place for the inhabitants of the castle. In addition to the tower dresscakers, there were as small, hung on the outer defensive wall of the room with outer hatches for unclean. Königsberg castle had two Danzker, one for the House of Convention Second, for Firmairi. As a rule, Dentantschers had several places .

Heating

The heating system was also thoroughly thought out. In the 13th and first half of the 14th centuries. The castles were heated by open fireplaces and coal bends. Later, the caloric heating is found everywhere (heating with warm air), the oldest is found until 1300 in Marienburg. Under heated premises, a special furnace was located in which large boulders were poured, then the warm holes and warm air from the hot stones along the thermal channels and through the holes in the floor heated the room was opened. The chimney pipe was also used for open fireplaces. Thanks to this heating system, severe Prussian winters were carried out quite comfortable . Later in the castles began to use indoor furnaces. The bedroom furnace in connection with the ventilation cams, finally accepted the finished form in Prussia around 1370.

Small castles

Along with the major castles of conveterns, numerous small locks were needed to control the lands.

The purpose of small locks was very diverse.

The competence with their often huge territories needed smaller departments (administrative units). They were headed by separate ordinary brothers or ordinar officials.

and existed in the form Pflegamt. - Calicism, (management department), Waldamt.- "Staiting" and K.ammer.ä mter. . Headed them respectively Pfleger- Soars (managers), Waldmeister.- "Forestry" and cameRarius. - Camera.

The territory adjacent to the convention lock was controlled as a separate administrative unit similar to samples. Along with the compelons, there were other administrative districts that were in submission of the Landmister or Masters were Vogtoien. - FUGETS (governors), with fogs at the chapter as supreme administrators. Fog sites arose in the master's period, sometimes from the abolished comvoria.

Differences in the purpose of small locks were insignificant on their architectural form; In all these castles, approximately the same conditions were available: the Order of the Official was required to be a residential, representative and, office space. The castle was supposed to be a chapel, intended for the entire pre-smoking area. These few rooms could easily settle down in a building of the same convetern type building. In addition, for various military and economic needs, a yard and other premises were needed. The fortress walls expanded the area of \u200b\u200bthe castle, the buildings under their protection could be adjusted to the main structure and even form multiplegel facilities. Therefore, there were one, two, - three - and even four-fledged castles, for example Tapiau, Labeau, Insterburg. These locks in the initial period were used as Kitruski, and when they were rebuilt in stone, from the very beginning, they were constructed as pflegnce. The scale of the locks were not associated with their destination. Most likely, they depended on the size of the subordinate territory, or the value of the castle as a military point.

Small Order Locks begin to form when the development of the conversion locks has reached its higher PointThis happened after 1320. Until that time, not a single small castle built from stone was not detected. At the initial stage, the castle structures were completely influenced by a standard convector lock. But in the end, they acquired their special shape. .

ZWISCHENWERKE - Advanced and intermediate fortifications, were constructed to protect the boundary or as a cover between larger fortifications. They were small in size and, as a rule, rarely received architectural design. Numerous surviving castles survived in Prussia, may be by most part residues of the smallest defensive structures.

The Order built small fortifications to protect the population. Simultaneously with the settlements, he founded the castles whose military goal was to ensure the security and protection of the population. Later, they began to perform the functions of previously lying on the castles of the conversion: they became military castles, the bastions found by the country's defense.

Trees (urban) castles prevailed inside the country, as a rule, they were located near settlements or cities and are two separate fortified places, (city and castle) separated by the walls and Rips.

Castles of sambit bishopric

On the territory of Kal region. There was a sambian (deputy) bishopiness, he was allocated three separate parts. Two of them were in Sambi, one in Nadrovia.

After the start of the coming of the order to Prussia Roman Papa Gregory IX. On August 3, 1234 publishes Bulla, in which the Friedrich "Golden Bulle" gives permission II. to conquer Prussia and subordination of these territories, the Order, but provided that the third part of these lands will be transferred to the Church. Papal legat Wilhelm von Modena in 1243 arrived in Prussia and divided it into four bishops. Since Sambia by that time was not yet conquered, the bishop of its territory was only in partibus infidelium.

After conquest at 1255g. SAMBIA (Outlook), soon happened its section. In 1258, between the first bishop Heinrich von Strattberg and Landmaster Prussia Gerhard von Hirsberg was drawn up a contract for which the bishop chose the southern and northwestern parts of Sambia.

Until 1260, the center of the bishop of was in Konigsberg, but already in 1264, the bishop founded his residence Fishhausen On the shore of Fria Huff (Cal. Bay). After the conquest of the Order of the Northwest, a third of the territory was transferred to the bishop. To control border lands in Nadrovia in 1350, the castle was founded Georgenburg.

In their architecture and form, they practically did not differ from the Odden castles. In total, there were 11 castles of the Siberian Bishopra: Fishhausen, Rinau-Galtharben, Medenau, Laptau, Trenberg, Noyhausen, Roundedden, Tsigenberg, Zalau, Georgenburg, Kvedna. Of these, 2 strengthen Rinau-Galtgar Bank, Cigenberg, served asylum fortresses. They did not have a constant garrison and were used only during Lithuanian raids. In these fortresses of refuge, the local population was glaels, it also took part in defense.

Numerous 700-year-old castles of the Teutonic Order make the Kaliningrad region with a special region. Medieval castles scattered through the territory of the Kaliningrad region, so it will not be easy for one trip. But using our route, you can do it.

1. Koenigsberg Castle

It is convenient to start an overview with the ruins of Königsberg Castle (1255), which are located right in front of the hotel "Kaliningrad" (Ul. Poltsky, 108). In 1697, the Great Embassy of Peter I was taken here, and a few years later, the first king of Prussia Friedrich I was crowned in the castle.

The castle was destroyed to the foundation of war and later with the hands of the Soviet authorities. Experts say that the amber room delivered here in this period burned in the fires of war.

Tourists can see the foundation and finding of excavations in an open exposure. Before visiting it is worth calling tel.: + 7-905-24-570-24.

2. Brandenburg Castle in Ushakovo

21 km from Kaliningrad in the village of Ushakovo on the banks of the Kaliningrad Bay, the ruins of the castle of Brandenburg (1266) are located. Only the red-hot ruins of the two buildings of Furburg, which you notice the right side of the road remained.

3. Chamber Castle in Nekrasovo

We go to the village of Nekrasovo to the remains of the Chayne Castle (1270). A defensive wall, which preserved the other parts, looks particularly impressive. Here is a tourist center with many fascinating offers: Museum of the Inquisition, archery, horseback riding and visiting the tavern.

4. Waldau Castle in P. Low

On the way to the Guard, it is wonderful to look into the village of Snowier to see Waldau Castle 1258-1264 (Caliningrad Str.). The castle was marked by the visit of Peter I. The current building is more like the estate, since in the 1860s the building was subjected to restructuring - the towers and the fortress walls were dismantled.

It is noteworthy that the construction is included in the top three of the most preserved castles of Kaliningrad together with Tapiau and Georgenburg. Tourists celebrate the most interesting exposure and live excursions carried out in the extension.

5. Castle Tapiau in Guard

The further route lies with straight to Gvardeisk, no longer towards the ruins, but to the current prison - she is the castle of Tapiau (ul. Dzerriansky, 12). The castle first appears in the documents in 1258, but from those times it is repeatedly rebuilt. From the 19th century was made in a prison, in 1945 by an investigative insulator for war criminals, and then a prison again.

Since you can see the castle only from the side, it is worth visiting it in a complex with a review of the city of Guardsk.

6. Castle Insterburg in the city of Chernyakhovsk

Let's go to the city of Chernyakhovsk for visiting the colors - the castle of Insterburg (ul. Castle, 1). Founded in 1336, the castle served as a crucian base, the future king of England Henry IV stopped here, and in 1812, Napoleon used him as a hospital.

Now in the castle there is a historical and local history museum, where many vintage items are exposed. Festivals and historical reconstructions are often held on the lock area. Before a visit, you need to negotiate in advance by phone: 8-906-233-78-63.

7. Castle Georgenburg in Maevka

In the Chernyakhov region there is another medieval castle - Georgenburg, located in the settlement of Maevka. Unusual architecture construction, dating from 1337, belonged to the Siberian Bishop. The building moved the destruction from Lithuanians, Swedes and Tatars, and in the 19th century became a successful cone.

Currently, Georgenburg's building belongs to the ROC and is located on the restoration. His visit also needs to be coordinated by phone: 8-40-141-233-28.

8. Castle Ragnit in Neman

And finally, the city of Neman and his Order Castle will ragnit the 13th century (ul. Victory). Grand Red Brick structure with thick walls played the role of key outpost on a complex Lithuanian border. Nearby is the 25-meter clock tower.

It remains only to put mark on the map and go to a fascinating and mysterious journey.

The development of military affairs is often the reason for the emergence of many innovative solutions not only in the economic sphere, but also in the field of engineering, urban planning, fortifications and medicine. So historically it happened that each of the conflict parties gives a start to search and construct new fortification systems, guns, tactics and strategies. The emergence of new engineering solutions at the attacker creates the ground to search for innovations in the defensive side, and vice versa. There are many examples to this - so, construction in the Middle Ages throughout Europe so-called "Star Fortresses" It seems that the consequence of the use of artillery during the siege. And such a bright example of the development of architecture in the field of fortifications can serve as today the largest castle in the world.

Castle of Teutonic Order

Castle Malbork (Polish name) can also be governed and under the German title MarienburgWhat is translated as the "Castle of the Virgin Mary", the patroness of the Teutonic Order. The full name of the fortification sounds like Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork. The fortification located in the north of Poland is one of the standards of brick gothic and an important monument of history, so that in 1997 it was introduced in.

Malbork served as a place of betting a military order, and in its type referred to Ordsburgs, fortification structures built during the times of crusades by the German Military Order.

The reason for the construction of this a huge complex It was typical for the period of crusades - the struggle against disagreeable peoples and their appeal to Catholics. The castle of Malbork served as a fortress, from where the Teutonic Order made hiking against the inhabitants who settled the districts of the Baltic Sea.

After the conquest of Prussia, in order to strengthen in the region, control it and suppress the uprising of the local population in the 1270s, the Order decided to organize the compence here (an administrative unit as part of the Order). These years are considered the beginning of the construction period of the castle, which lasted before the beginning of the XIV century.

History of the castle Malbork

The Malbork Castle was laid by knights in 1274 on the banks of the river Nogat, near her in the vistula. The river was used as a water source, and transport veins, characteristic features for the fortifications of that time. Preparation for construction required considerable efforts: the production of bricks and tiles, wood collection and stones for the foundation, as well as cleaning the territory from the forest.

No business documents have been preserved, so all the construction history relies on the results of the research of archaeologists and the orders of the Order. For example, from these conclusions it follows that as of 1280, about 4.5 million bricks were used, 70% of which were spent on the castle itself, and the rest on the joining the fortress wall.

For its history, fortification has expanded several times. After the first stage of construction, the Malbork Castle consisted of a high castle (main) and medium. In the northern part there were droplets (chapel), assembly hall, residential premises, controlling and refectory, in the southern and eastern part there were stables and workshops. Next, DanCer was built, which served as a sanitary room, a defense point and a review point. Also at the end of the XIII century, the tower called the clays was erected, she had a defensive appointment, but after expanding the territory he lost its significance.

The next stage of the development of fortification has entitful. After the restoration of the territory of the Holy Land from Europeans Beibars I, the leader of Mamlukov, all the knights lost their appointments and their stay there were not reasonable, including the Teutons. The residence of the Order left the land in the Middle East and moved to Venice. Thilly thinking that the Order did not lose military skirting, hiking were carried out in the Baltic Pomerania region (Pomerania) to capture Danziga (now Gdansk).

In 1308, Danzig was taken, German colonists arrived at the captured land, in fact, by this year the Order began to be considered a state. Malbork Castle and its surrounding the city appointed the capital of the Teutonic Order and in 1309 the Master of Knights Siegfried von Feikhtwangen, moved here from Venice, thereby strengthening the situation and significance of the castle.

After moving the master in Malbork, the castle was repeatedly rebuilt and expanded, which made it possible to accommodate a greater number of knights every year. Soon he broke up to the sizes that made him the largest in the world, besides, it became the most fortified place in Europe. The land plot conjected by the outer fortress wall occupied an impressive area in 21 hectares. Behind the wall there were some more defensive walls and three separately standing castle: High, medium and lower, each of which had its ditch. In total, the castle could accommodate 3 thousand knights.

The favorable position and the inaccessibility of the fortress played an important role in her economic Development. Malbork Castle became a post controlling trading on Vistula. All commercial vessels and ships, which go to the Baltic, paid knights duties for the right of travel along the river. Teutons also created a monopoly on the amber trade. Such a state of affairs was the cause of the adoption of the Order to the Hanseatic Union, which united about 300 North trade cities Western Europe. The safety of the fortress created favorable conditions for conferences between members of the Union inside its walls.

Castle Malbork, medieval stronghold

Hegemony Tutons did not suit the neighboring Polyakov and Lithuanians who also wanted to return their lands back. These reasons led to the Great War of 1409-1411, under the leadership of King Vladislav II Yagaylo and the Grand Prince Lithuanian Vitovt. During the Grunwald battle, the Malbork Castle was precipitated, the districts were destroyed, but the fortress did not succeed. It all ended with the first Torun world, where the Order was minor territorial losses. However, these events became the beginning of the decline of the administrator reign on these lands.

In the period 1454-1466, a thirteen-year-old war broke out, during which the Poles decided to expand their possessions and go to the shores of the Baltic, taking control of the Teutonic Order. Due to the high taxes of the Order in controlled cities, opposition began to form hostile knights.

In 1456, due to large expenses, the Order became insolvent. In turn, such a state of affairs caused indignation in mercenaries from Bohemia, located inside the fortress. Having learned about this Polish General Worbor de Ponzzy took funds in Danzig to pay off with mercenaries and convince them to give the castle to Poles. So in May 1457, the King of Poland Casimir IV triumphly drove into the castle of Malbork.

In 1466, Malbork became part of the Kingdom of Prussia, one of the Polish provinces. In the castle there were the royal residence, where they conducted balls and events. The XVII century for the fortress was not the best period. At this time, the Swedes won the complex twice, which served as arrival of him in decline. After the section of Poland between Prussia and Russia in 1772, Malbork moved prouds, in which they made workshops and placed barracks.

At the end of the 18th century, the German architect Friedrich David Zhillya made sketching the remains of the fortress, later published in Berlin. The works of the architect as far as the population was struck, which were allocated to the reconstruction of the Malbork Castle to restore the history of the Order.