 Sambians (in orange) and other Prussian clans during the 13th century | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| Extinct in 17th–18th century | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Languages | |
| Old Prussian, later alsoGerman | |
| Religion | |
| Prussian mythology (Paganism) laterChristianity | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| OtherPrussians andBalts |
TheSambians were aPrussian tribe. They inhabited theSambia Peninsula north of the city ofKönigsberg (nowKaliningrad). Sambians were located in a coastal territory rich inamber and engaged in trade early on (seeAmber Road). Therefore, they established contacts with foreign nations before any other Prussians.[citation needed] However, as with all other Prussians, they were conquered by theTeutonic Knights, and, exposed toassimilation andGermanization, became extinct sometime in the 17th century.
The Sambians bordered theNatangians in the south, and theNadruvians in the east.
Engaged in the amber trade, Sambia was the richest and most densely populated region ofPrussia. It provides a wealth of artifacts from theBronze Age, including imported goods from theRoman Empire. Sambians, unlike other Prussians, did not cremate their dead. They built earth barrows above graves and surrounded them with stone circles.[1] The name of the clan was first mentioned in 1073 byAdam of Bremen, who calls them "most humane people".[2] Warfare withDanes continued from the mid-9th century to beginning of the 13th century. It is known that there wasWiskiauten, aViking settlement in Sambia, that flourished for about 300 years.[3]Swedes maintained more peaceful relations and fostered trade.[4]
The 13th century saw the rise of another enemy, the Teutonic Knights, acrusading military order from theHoly Roman Empire. Its goal was to conquer all pagans and convert them toRoman Catholicism. The conquest of Sambia during thePrussian Crusade was delayed by theFirst Prussian Uprising that broke out in 1242. The uprising technically ended in 1249 by signing theTreaty of Christburg, but skirmishes lasted for four more years. Only in 1254–1255 could the Knights arrange a large campaign against the Sambians. KingOttokar II of Bohemia participated in the expedition and as a tribute the Knights named the newly foundedKönigsberg Castle in his honor.[4] The Sambians rose against the Knights during theGreat Prussian Uprising (1260–1274), but were the first ones to surrender. When other clans tried to resurrect the uprising in 1276 Theodoric,vogt of Sambia convinced the Sambians not to join the insurrection;Natangians andWarmians followed the Sambian lead and the uprising was crushed within a year.[5] In 1243, theBishopric of Samland (Sambia) was established as the church administration of the region, as arranged by the papal legateWilliam of Modena. At the end of the 13th century, Sambians numbered only about 22,000.[6] They gave in to Germanization later than western tribes that were conquered earlier. In 1454, the region was incorporated by KingCasimir IV Jagiellon to theKingdom of Poland.[7] After the subsequentThirteen Years' War, the longest of all Polish–Teutonic wars, since 1466, Sambia formed part of Poland as afief held by the Teutonic Order,[8] and after 1525 held by secularDucal Prussia.
According toPeter von Dusburg, Sambia was subdivided in 15 territorial units. Their German names (from east to west) are:Germau,Medenau,Rinau,Pobeten,Wargen,Rudau,Laptau,Quedenau,Schaaken,Waldau,Caimen,Tapiau,Labiau,Laukischken, andWehlau.[4]
5. Pluskowski, Aleksander.The Archaeology of the Prussian Crusade-Holy War and Colonisation. New York. pp. 8, 60, 61, 62, 63, 196. ISBN 978-0-415-69171-0