The Prussian Uprisings, which took place in the 13th century during the Prussian Crusade, were two major and three minor uprisings by the Old Prussians, one of the Baltic tribes, against the Teutonic Knights. The military crusading organization intended to subjugate and convert the Pagan Prussians, with the help of the Popes and Christian Europe. Five of the seven major Prussian clans were ruled by the lesser-number Teutonic Knights during the first ten years of the crusade. But five times the Prussians rebelled against their overlords. The Duke of Pomerania, Swietopelk II, sponsored the initial insurrection. The Prussians initially had success, limiting the Knights to just five of their most powerful fortresses. After a string of military setbacks, the duke was eventually compelled to reach a peace agreement with the Teutonic Knights. A bishop of Pope Innocent IV mediated a peace settlement between the Prussians and the Knights after the backing of Duke Swietopelk for the Prussians was withdrawn. Particularly after the Prussian victory in the Battle of Krücken at the end of 1249, this contract was never upheld or enforced. The Battle of Durbe in 1260, the largest loss the Teutonic Knights experienced in the 13th century, served as the impetus for the second rebellion, which history refers to as The Great Prussian Uprising. The Teutonic Order, which was once again reduced to five of its strongest fortresses, considered this rebellion to be the longest, greatest, and most dangerous. Despite repeated encouragements by Pope Urban IV, reinforcements for the Knights were sluggish to come, and the situation of the Order appeared to be getting worse. Fortunately for the Order, the Prussians lacked cohesion and a unified plan of attack, and reinforcements only arrived in Prussia sometime around 1265. The Prussian clans submitted one by one, putting an end to the insurrection in 1274. The three subsequent, smaller uprisings were put down within a year or two with the help of international aid. The Prussian Crusade was effectively ended by the last revolt in 1295, and Prussia was transformed into a Christian German-speaking region that included both native Prussians and numerous immigrants from other German states
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[Image : Schematic Map of the Second Prussian Uprising]
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