Treaty of Melno

The Treaty of Melno (Lithuanian: Melno taika; Polish: Pokój melneński) or Treaty of Lake Melno (German: Friede von Melnosee) was a peace treaty ending the Gollub War. It was signed on September 27, 1422, between the Teutonic Knights and an alliance of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania at Lake Melno (German: Melnosee, Meldensee; Polish: Jezioro Mełno), east of Graudenz (Grudziądz). The treaty resolved territorial disputes between the Knights and Lithuania regarding Samogitia, which had dragged on since 1382, and determined the Prussian–Lithuanian border, which afterwards remained unchanged for about 500 years. A portion of the original border partially survives as the border between the Republic of Lithuania and Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia, making it one of the most stable national borders in Europe.[1]

Contents

Background

Main article: Gollub War

The First Peace of Thorn of 1411 did not resolve long-standing territorial disputes between the Teutonic Knights and the Polish–Lithuanian union. The peace transferred Samogitia to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, but only for the lifetimes of Polish King Jogaila (Władysław II Jagiełło) and Lithuanian Grand Duke Vytautas. At the time both rulers were aged men. Soon disagreements arose as to the Samogitian borders: Vytautas claimed that the entire northern bank of the Neman River, including port Memel (Klaipėda), was Samogitian territory.[2] The dispute was mediated at the Council of Constance and by Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor. When Sigismund delivered an unfavorable judgment to the Lithuanians, Jogaila and Vytautas invaded the monastic state of the Teutonic Knights in July 1422, starting the Gollub War.[3] The Teutonic Knights, led by Grand Master Paul von Rusdorf, were unable to mount a suitable defense. However Poland–Lithuania decided to end the conflict before reinforcements from the Holy Roman Empire could arrive through Farther Pomerania.[4] A truce was signed on September 17, 1422. Each side named eight representatives,[nb 1] gave them full authority to negotiate, and sent them to the Polish Army camp near Lake Melno.[5] The Treaty of Melno was concluded ten days later, on September 27.

Provisions

According to the terms of the treaty, the Teutonic Knights for the first time renounced all territorial, political, or missionary claims against the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.[3] Samogitia was permanently ceded to Lithuania. The Prussian–Lithuanian border ran from sparsely inhabited wilderness in Suvalkija, through the triangle north of the Neman River, to Nemirseta on the Baltic Sea. Thus the Knights still controlled Neman's lower reaches and Memel (Klaipėda), an important seaport and trade center. Lithuania retained access to the Baltic Sea between the towns of Palanga (Polangen)[nb 2] and Šventoji (Heiligen Aa) – a distance of about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi).[6] However, Lithuania failed to develop harbors in Palanga or Šventoji as there were stiff competition with already established nearby Memel and Libau (Liepāja)[7] and unfavorable natural conditions.[8] Thus it could not be considered a real access to the sea.[9] For the Knights this short coastline strip was a major sacrifice as it separated the Teutonic Knights in Prussia from their their branch in Livonia. Thus the treaty is often described as a mutual Prussian–Lithuanian compromise.[3] Kingdom of Poland received Nieszawa and half of the Vistula channel from the mouth of the Drwęca River; in return Poland renounced any territorial claims to Pomerelia, Culmerland, and the Michelauer Land.[6] These results were described as a "disappointment" for Poland.[9]

At the time of the treaty, the parties did not have their official seals and therefore it was not immediately ratified.[5] Grand Master Rusdorf attempted to exploit the recess and renegotiate the treaty as his subjects were not satisfied with the terms. He hoped to wage a war with assistance from Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor. However, Sigismund and Jogaila met in Käsmark (Kežmarok) and agreed to an alliance: Sigismund would stop his support to the Knights and Poland–Lithuania would stop their assistance to the Hussites in the Hussite Wars.[5] Thus Vytautas had to abandon his ambitions to become King of Bohemia.[10] The agreement was signed on March 30, 1423.[6] The Treaty of Melno was subsequently ratified on May 9–18 in Veliuona and approved by Pope Martin V on July 10, 1423.[11] Poland–Lithuania affixed some 120 official seals to the treaty.[12] The first Lithuanian signatories were voivode of Vilnius Albertas Manvydas, starost of Vilnius Kristinas Astikas, voivode of Trakai Jonas Jaunius, elder of Samogitia Mykolas Skirgaila.[13]

Aftermath

The treaty effectively ended warfare between the Teutonic Knights and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which continued with brief interruptions since the 13th century. The last volunteer crusaders arrived in October 1422; since then the Knights had to rely on their own men or on mercenaries.[14] It was a welcome development to Lithuania, as it could direct its attention towards its Eastern territories and internal reforms.[3] War-devastated border regions in Samogitia and Suvalkija began to recover. However, the Polish–Teutonic disputes were not resolved. In a telling episode, shortly after the treaty the Knights and the Poles disputed a watermill in Lubicz, a strategic post turned into a fortress.[15] Vytautas was angered by the dispute and threatened that he would give up Palanga to the Knights if Poland did not surrender its claims to Lubicz. The Knights won this dispute.[15]

The treaty meant an effective end to the Polish–Lithuanian cooperation against the Knights.[16] The Teutonic Knights attempted to befriend the Lithuanians, offering royal crown to Vytautas in hopes to break the Polish–Lithuanian union. During the Lithuanian Civil War (1431–1435), Lithuanian Duke Švitrigaila was able to employ the Polish–Teutonic animosity for his own advantages – the Knights invaded Poland starting the Polish–Teutonic War. The two states battled again during the Thirteen Years' War (1454–66), a civil war that tore Prussia in half.

The agreement drew the Prussian–Lithuanian border roughly and imprecisely. Thus it caused local demarcation disputes and was redrawn with greater detail and precision in 1532 and 1545.[17] The border survived without major changes until World War I. In 1919, the Treaty of Versailles detached the Klaipėda Region (Memel Territory) from Germany as a League of Nations mandate. Lithuania annexed the region in 1923. The southern portion of the border, with small modifications, still survives as the border between Lithuania and Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia.[1]

Notes

  1. ^ Teutonic Knights sent two Teutonic officers, Bishop of Ermland, Bishop of Pomesania, Livonian marshal, and three secular knights.
  2. ^ According to the Bychowiec Chronicle, Birutė, mother of Lithuanian Grand Duke Vytautas, hailed from Palanga.

References

  1. ^ a b Rašimaitė, Eglė (2010-03-24). "Siena: šimtmečių vingiai". Kelias: 60–64. ISSN 1648-7818. http://www.urm.lt/index.php?-1529686995.  (Lithuanian)
  2. ^ Ivinskis, Zenonas (1978). Lietuvos istorija iki Vytauto Didžiojo mirties. Rome: Lietuvių katalikų mokslo akademija. p. 345. LCC 79346776.  (Lithuanian)
  3. ^ a b c d Kiaupa, Zigmantas; Jūratė Kiaupienė, Albinas Kunevičius (2000). The History of Lithuania Before 1795. Vilnius: Lithuanian Institute of History. pp. 144–145. ISBN 9986-810-13-2. 
  4. ^ Turnbull, Stephen (2003). Tannenberg 1410: Disaster for the Teutonic Knights. Oxford: Osprey. pp. 83–84. ISBN 1-84176-561-9. http://books.google.com/books?id=GH_u9mKEL6oC&pg=PA83. 
  5. ^ a b c Urban, William (2003). Tannenberg and After. Chicago: Lithuanian Research and Studies Center. pp. 281–283. ISBN 0-929700-25-2. 
  6. ^ a b c Zinkus, Jonas, et al., ed (1985–1988). "Melno taika". Tarybų Lietuvos enciklopedija. 3. Vilnius, Lithuania: Vyriausioji enciklopedijų redakcija. p. 46. LCC 86232954.  (Lithuanian)
  7. ^ Semaška, Algimantas (2006). Kelionių vadovas po Lietuvą: 1000 lankytinų vietovių norintiems geriau pažinti gimtąjį kraštą (4th ed. ed.). Vilnius: Algimantas. p. 498. ISBN 9986-506-90-4.  (Lithuanian)
  8. ^ McLachlan, Gordon (2008). Lithuania: the Bradt travel guide (5th ed.). Bradt Travel Guides. p. 209. ISBN 9781841622286. http://books.google.com/books?id=pDdqGoXvSvYC&pg=PA209. 
  9. ^ a b Halecki, Oskar; F. Reddaway, J. H. Penson. The Cambridge History of Poland to 1696. Cambridge University Press. p. 222. ISBN 9781001288024. http://books.google.com/books?id=N883AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA222. 
  10. ^ Mickūnaitė, Giedrė (2006). Making a great ruler: Grand Duke Vytautas of Lithuania. Central European University Press. p. 50. ISBN 9789637326585. http://books.google.com/books?id=a5zKQM7eEMgC&pg=PA50. 
  11. ^ Jučas, Mečislovas (2009). The Battle of Grünwald. Vilnius: National Museum Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania. p. 112. ISBN 9786099507453. 
  12. ^ Petrauskas, Rimvydas; Jūratė Kiaupienė (2009). Lietuvos istorija. Nauji horizontai: dinastija, visoumenė, valstybė. IV. Baltos lankos. pp. 416–417. ISBN 978-9955-23-239-1.  (Lithuanian)
  13. ^ Kirkienė, Genutė (2008). LDK politikos elito galingieji: Chodkevičiai XV–XVI amžiuje. Vilniaus universiteto leidykla. p. 65. ISBN 978-9955-33-359-3.  (Lithuanian)
  14. ^ Christiansen, Eric (1997). The Northern Crusades. London: Penguin Books. p. 242. ISBN 0-14-026653-4. 
  15. ^ a b Mickūnaitė, Giedrė (2006). Making a great ruler: Grand Duke Vytautas of Lithuania. Central European University Press. p. 130. ISBN 9789637326585. http://books.google.com/books?id=a5zKQM7eEMgC&pg=PA130. 
  16. ^ Lukowski, Jerzy; W. H. Zawadzki (2006). A concise history of Poland (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 48. ISBN 9780521618571. http://books.google.com/books?id=HMylRh-wHWEC&pg=PA48. 
  17. ^ Čelkis, Tomas (2008). "Nuo teritorinio ruožo prie linijos: sienų sampratos pokyčiai Lietuvos Didžiojoje Kunigaikštystėje XIV-XVI amžiuje". Lietuvos istorijos studijos 22: 68, 70. ISSN 1392-0448. http://www.minfolit.lt/arch/14501/14514.pdf.  (Lithuanian)
Timeline of dispute over Samogitia between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Teutonic Knights
Kingdom of Poland
Polish–Lithuanian
Commonwealth
Second Polish Republic