Treaty of Christmemel facts for kids

The Treaty of Christmemel was an important agreement signed on June 19, 1431. It was made between Paul von Rusdorf, the leader of the Teutonic Knights, and Švitrigaila, the Grand Duke of Lithuania. Švitrigaila needed help because he was about to go to war with Poland. He wanted to keep his position as the ruler of Lithuania. This treaty created an alliance against Poland. It also led the Teutonic Knights to attack Poland, starting a war. As part of the deal, Lithuania gave up some land near the Baltic Sea, including a town called Palanga. This changed an earlier agreement from 1422.

Why the Treaty Was Needed

When Grand Duke Vytautas died in October 1430, he didn't have a child to take over. This meant the Grand Duchy of Lithuania needed a new ruler. An agreement from 1413, called the Union of Horodło, said that Lithuanian nobles should get Poland's approval before choosing a new Grand Duke.

However, the Lithuanian nobles chose Švitrigaila on their own. He was the brother of King Jogaila of Poland. Švitrigaila did not want to be loyal to his brother. He wanted to become a king himself, just like Vytautas had planned.

Because of this, Poland and Lithuania started getting ready for a war. Švitrigaila looked for friends to help him fight Poland. He hoped to create a big alliance. This group would include Lithuania, the Holy Roman Empire, the Teutonic Knights, Moldavia, and the Golden Horde. Getting the Teutonic Knights to join was very important for him.

How the Treaty Was Made

The Teutonic Knights were a good choice for Švitrigaila's ally. They wanted to break up the alliance between Poland and Lithuania. This alliance had caused them to lose battles in 1410 and 1422.

Švitrigaila started talking with the Knights soon after Vytautas died. He sent messengers to them often. But the Grand Master, Paul von Rusdorf, took his time. He talked with other groups first. These included the Livonian Order, the Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund, and even Pope Martin V.

The Livonian Order suggested supporting Švitrigaila. But they also advised not to completely break ties with Poland. Emperor Sigismund and other leaders supported the alliance. However, the Pope was against it.

In May 1431, Rusdorf met Švitrigaila in person. But he still didn't agree to the treaty. He said he needed to talk with his own people first. Rusdorf might have been slow because Poland was also trying to make an alliance with the Teutonic Knights against Švitrigaila.

Finally, the treaty was signed on June 19, 1431. It happened in a place called Christmemel, which is now Skirsnemunė.

What the Treaty Said

The treaty created a military alliance. Here are the main points:

• If one side was attacked, the other side had to help defend them.
• They would only declare war if both sides agreed to it.
• Any peace agreement would apply to both sides equally.
• Anything they won in the war would be divided fairly between them.

The treaty was meant to last forever. It would continue even after Švitrigaila and Rusdorf died, as long as their future leaders agreed to it.

Rusdorf signed the treaty for the Teutonic Knights. The Livonian Master, Zisse von Rutenberg, and some Prussian bishops also signed. On Lithuania's side, Švitrigaila signed. His brother Lengvenis and cousin Sigismund Kęstutaitis also signed. Many important Lithuanian bishops and nobles signed too.

What Happened Next

After the Treaty of Christmemel was signed, the Teutonic Knights attacked Poland. They damaged an area called Dobrzyń Land. But they lost a battle in September 1431. At the same time, the Polish army invaded Volhynia. They surrounded Švitrigaila in a castle in Lutsk.

Švitrigaila then suggested making peace. A two-year truce, or ceasefire, was signed on September 1. It was called the Truce of Staryi Chortoryisk.

The treaty was confirmed again in Christmemel on May 15, 1432. This second treaty had 50 witnesses. But historians noticed that some important Lithuanian nobles were missing. This suggested that more people were starting to oppose Švitrigaila's rule.

Indeed, a group of nobles planned a surprise attack. They removed Švitrigaila from power in August 1432. The Knights officially followed the truce. But they still helped Švitrigaila, mostly through the Livonian Order. Their alliance was finally defeated in a big battle in September 1435. This battle was called the Battle of Wiłkomierz.