Christian – the Bishop of Prussia and his activities in the context
of the Cistercian mission
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Ośrodek Badań Naukowych im. Wojciecha Kętrzyńskiego w Olsztynie
Online publication date: 2016-11-23
Publication date: 2016-11-23
KMW 2016;293(3):485-497
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ABSTRACT
This article describes the role of Bishop Christian in the evangelization of the Prussians. Christian
– a Cistercian monk continued his mission of converting Prussia to Christianity from Pomezania, Warmia and
Lubawa, which began in 1207. Christian as Bishop of Prussia in agreement with the Pomeranian princes and
Danish king Valdemar II pursued the policy of a peaceful mission, and it is also possible that he tried to subjugate
the lands where he succeeded to the Holy See. Proof of the tribute paid to the Pope by the Prussian lands - terra
Lubavia and terra Lansania, is provided by two bulls of 1216, in which the representatives of these lands after
a prior agreement give themselves over to the care of the papacy. After 1216 the situation became increasingly
difficult. There was a retaliatory action against the pagan regions of Prussia. Christian tried to organize with the
Pope a crusade against the Prussians. Despite several military expeditions, they did not achieve much success.
It was only after the arrival of the Teutonic Order who used Christian’s abduction and imprisonment by Prussian
Sambians that the lands of the pagans were successfully conquered. After being freed, Christian tried to oppose
the actions of the knights of the Teutonic Order, siding with the duke of Pomerania Swietopełk who was fighting
against them and supporting the Prussian uprising of 1242–1249.
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The impact of the crusade ideas in Western Pomerania (from the twelfth to the first quarter of the thirteenth century )
Kamil Wasilkiewicz
Slavia Antiqua. Rocznik poświęcony starożytnościom słowiańskim