Prussian Uprising, First
Years: 1242 - 1249
The Prussian uprisings are two major and three smaller uprisings by the Prussians, one of the Baltic tribes, against the Teutonic Knights that take place in the 13th century during the Northern Crusades.
The crusading military order, supported by the Popes and Christian Europe, seeks to conquer and convert pagan Prussians.
In the first ten years of the crusade, five of the seven major Prussian clans fall under control of the less populous Teutonic Knights.
However, Prussians rise against their conquerors on five occasions.The first uprising is supported by Polish duke Świętopełk II of Pomerania.
The Prussians are successful at first, reducing the Knights to only five of their strongest castles.
Conversely, Duke Świętopełk suffers a series of military defeats and is eventually forced to make peace with the Teutonic Knights.
With Duke Świętopełk's support for the Prussians broken, a prelate of Pope Innocent IV then negotiates a peace treaty between the Prussians and the Knights.
However, this treaty is never to be honored or enforced, especially after the Battle of Krücken at the end of 1249.
