Nicholas von Renys

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Nicholas von Renys (German: Nikolaus von Renys; Polish: Mikołaj z Ryńska; 1360 - 1411) was a secular Prussian knight during the Polish-Lithuanian-Teutonic War (1409-1411).

Nicholas von Renys was born at Rhein (Ryn) near Lötzen (Giżycko) in Prussia, within the komturship of Balga. Jan Długosz described him as a German (Nicolaus dictus Niksz, nacione Swewus) in his Banderia Prutenorum.^[1] Stephen Turnbull identifies him as a "secular knight of Polish descent ... of the clan Rogala",^[2] although Leonard Seligowski doubts the validity of the Rogala clan.^[3]

Together with his brother and cousins from the gentry of Culmerland (Chełmno Land), von Renys established the Lizard Union for mutual support against the Teutonic Order in Kulm (Chełmno) on 24 February 1397.

During the Battle of Grunwald in 1410, von Renys carried the banner of the Culmerland troops for the Teutonic Order, described in the Latin Banderia Prutenorum.^[1] Unwilling to fight against Poland, he lowered the banner, which was considered a signal for retreat that contributed to the defeat of the Knights.

Some Polish versions claim that despite holding a letter warranting him freedom, von Renys was kept captive by the Order afterwards and accused of cowardice and conspiracy.^{[citation needed]} In violation of the terms of the Peace of Toruń (1411), which prohibited persecution of traitors after the battle, the Order beheaded him in Graudenz (Grudziądz) in May 1411 and had all his male descendants killed.

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• Długosz, Jan. "Banderia Prutenorum". Retrieved on January 22, 2007.
• Stephen R. Turnbull (2003). "Tannenberg 1410: Disaster for the Teutonic Knights". Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1841765619. 
• Suligowski, Leonard. "A Translation from Symon Konarski' s "0 Heraldyce I Heraldycznem Snobizmie" (On Heraldry and Heraldic Snobbery)", Polish Genealogical Society of America. Retrieved on January 22, 2007.