Warmians

Infobox Ethnic group
group = Warmians
population = Ols Prussian Language Extinct in 17th-18th century


image_caption= Warmians and other Prussian clans during the 13th century
region1 = Warmia, East Prussia (now northern Poland)
languages = Old Prussian, later also German
religions = Prussian mythology (Paganism)
related-c = Other Prussians and Balts

Warmians (also "Warmi") were one of the Prussian clans. They lived in Warmia ( _pl. Warmia, _la. Varmia, _de. Ermland, _lt. Varmė), a territory since 1945 largely in Poland. It was situated between the Vistula Lagoon, Łyna and Pasłęka Rivers. [cite encyclopedia | editor=Simas Sužiedėlis | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Lituanica | title=Prussians | year=1970-1978 | publisher=Juozas Kapočius | volume=IV | location=Boston, Massachusetts | id=LCC|74-114275 | pages=367]

Soon after arrival of the first dukes of the Polans in later Poland centuries of conquest attempts on the native Prussians began in 997 AD. The preferred method were attempts at christianizing the still heathen people, thereby conquering their land. A number of crusades followed, called by Konrad of Masovia, as well as attacks on Prussian land of the Yotvingians, which later became Polish Podlasia and of the Sudovians and Galindians. When Prussians and Pomeranians defended themselves against these Polish attacks, Konrad, who had already called for crusade in 1209, then called in the Teutonic Order.

The Warmians, along with the other Prussians, were conquered by the Teutonic Knights, a crusading military order directly under the pope. The Knights conquered the Prussians and converted them to Christianity. Many cities and towns were built and the population increased by bringing in colonists from Germany, other countries of Europe, as well as and from Poland. The Prussians were eventually assimilated into the colonists and the Old Prussian language became extinct by the end of the 17th century or beginning of the 18th century. [lt icon cite book |first=Algirdas |last=Sabaliauskas |title= Mes baltai |edition=2nd |publisher=Gimtasis žodis |pages=73–74 |year=2002 |isbn=9955-512-17-2]

History

After arriving to Kulmerland in 1230, the Teutonic Knights proceeded to conquer the pagan Prussians and convert them to Christianity. The Warmians, together with the Bartians and the Natangians, were conquered between 1238-1241. [lt icon cite book |last=Kulikauskas |first=Gediminas |title=Gimtoji istorija. Nuo 7 iki 12 klasės |url=http://mkp.emokykla.lt/gimtoji/ |accessdate=2007-07-09 |year=2002 |publisher=Elektroninės leidybos namai |location=Vilnius |isbn=9986-9216-9-4 |chapter=Ordinų raida XIII–XIV amžiuose |chapterurl=http://mkp.emokykla.lt/gimtoji/?id=812] During one of the first Teutonic raids into Warmia, the Knights destroyed Honeda, a Warmian castle, and built Balga, their own brick fortress. [cite encyclopedia | editor=Simas Sužiedėlis | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Lituanica | title=Varmė | year=1970-1978 | publisher=Juozas Kapočius | volume=VI | location=Boston, Massachusetts | id=LCC|74-114275 | pages=60] Using their tested tactics, the Knights used Balga as a base for further expansion. The stronghold was one of five castles that did not fall during the First Prussian Uprising, [cite book| first=William |last=Urban |title=The Prussian Crusade |publisher=Lithuanian Research and Studies Center |location=Chicago, Illinois |year=2000 |edition=2nd |pages=198–199 |isbn=0-929700-28-7] that broke out in 1242 and ended in 1249 by signing the Treaty of Christburg. The Knights also built the Braunsberg and Heilsberg castles.

After a crushing defeat of the Teutonic Knights in the Battle of Durbe in 1260, the Prussians rebelled again. The Great Prussian Uprising lasted for fourteen years. Warmians appointed Glappo as their leader and joined the uprising. During the early stage of the uprising, Glappo and his men successfully captured Braunsberg, but failed to capture Balga. In 1266, the rulers of Brandenburg arrived in Prussia and built a castle on the border of Warmian and Natangian lands between Balga and Königsberg. Named Brandenburg (now Ushakovo), the castle withstood Prussian attacks. Glappo was captured and hanged when he tried to recapture the fortress in 1273. [Urban, William. "The Prussian Crusade", 331–332.] The uprising ended a year later, and it was the last time the Warmians rebelled. Afterwards they were slowly assimilated by the Germans and Poles. Poles settled in greater numbers after the Second Peace of Thorn (1466), and removed the Archbishopric of Warmia from the control of the Teutonic Knights and placed it under the sovereignty of the Crown of Poland as part of the province of Royal Prussia.

Etymology

Several theories exist about the origin of the word "Warmia":
* It might be derived from Prussian word "wormyan" (English: "red");
* It might stem from Lithuanian word "varmas" (English: "mosquito"). In such a case it might have cultic background as worms are associated with fertility;cite book |first=Endre |last=Bojtár |title=Foreword to the Past: A Cultural History of the Baltic People |publisher=CEU Press |year=1999 |pages=156 |isbn=963-9116-42-4]
* Folk etymology has it that Warmia is named after the legendary Prussian chief Warmo. Ermland, name used by Germans, is said to derive from his widow Erma.

References