Treaty of Christmemel

The Treaty of Christmemel (Lithuanian: Skirsnemunės sutartis) was a treaty signed on June 16, 1431 between Paul von Rusdorf, Grand Master the Teutonic Knights, and Švitrigaila, Grand Duke of Lithuania. The treaty established anti-Polish alliance and prompted the Knights to invade the Kingdom of Poland, starting the Polish–Teutonic War (1431–1435). Lithuania also surrendered Palanga and three miles of the coastline on the Baltic Sea, thus modifying the Treaty of Melno of 1422.[1]

Grand Duke Vytautas died in 1430 leaving no heir to rule the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. According to the terms of the Union of Horodło of 1413, the Lithuanian nobility pledged not to elect a new Grand Duke without the approval of the Kingdom of Poland.[2] Nevertheless, the Lithuanian nobles unilaterally elected Švitrigaila, brother of King of Poland Jogaila, as their Grand Duke. Švitrigaila refused to acknowledge fealty to his brother and a civil war broke out in Lithuania.[2] The Teutonic Knights were a natural ally of Švitrigaila as they wanted to undo the Polish–Lithuanian union, established in 1385, which led to their defeat in the Battle of Grunwald of 1410.[3]

Following the Treaty of Christmemel, the Knights invaded Poland and ravaged the Dobrzyń Land before suffering a defeat in the Battle of Nakel in September 1431.[4] At the same time Polish army invaded Volhynia and besieged Švitrigaila in the Lubart's Castle in Lutsk. Švitrigaila proposed peace and a formal two-year Truce of Staryi Chortoryisk was signed on September 1.[5]

The treaty of 1431 was confirmed again in Christmemel on May 15, 1432.[6] The second treaty had 50 witnesses, however historians noted that some prominent figures of Lithuanian nobility, including Kristinas Astikas, were missing. This is interpreted as a sign of growing opposition to Švitrigaila's reign.[6] Indeed, a group of nobles organized a coup and deposed of Švitrigaila in August 1432. The Knights formally observed the Peace of Staryi Chortoryisk, but also continued to support Švitrigaila, mostly through the Livonian Order.[3] Their alliance was decisively defeated in the Battle of Pabaiskas in September 1435.

References

  1. ^ (Lithuanian) Šapoka, Adolfas, ed (1990) [1936]. Lietuvos istorija. Mokslas. p. 169. ISBN 5-420-00631-6. 
  2. ^ a b Kiaupa, Zigmantas; Jūratė Kiaupienė, Albinas Kunevičius (2000). The History of Lithuania Before 1795. Vilnius: Lithuanian Institute of History. pp. 206–207. ISBN 9986-810-13-2. 
  3. ^ a b Urban, William (2003). Tannenberg and After. Chicago: Lithuanian Research and Studies Center. pp. 306–308. ISBN 0-929700-25-2. 
  4. ^ (Polish) Biskup, Marian (1967). "Najazd krzyżacki na Polskę i bitwa pod Dąbkami 1431". Zeszyty Naukowe Wojskowej Akademii Politycznej Historia (15). 
  5. ^ (Lithuanian) Jučas, Mečislovas (2000). Lietuvos ir Lenkijos unija. Aidai. pp. 165–167. ISBN 9986-590-95-7. 
  6. ^ a b (Lithuanian) Kirkienė, Genutė (2008). LDK politikos elito galingieji: Chodkevičiai XV–XVI amžiuje. Vilniaus universiteto leidykla. p. 64. ISBN 978-9955-33-359-3.