 Second Peace of Toruń, painting byM. Jaroczyński, 1873,District Museum in Toruń. | |
| Type | peace treaty |
|---|---|
| Drafted | September–October 1466 |
| Signed | 19 October 1466 |
| Location | Thorn (Toruń),Poland |
| Original signatories |  KingCasimir IV Jagiellon Grand MasterLudwig von Erlichshausen |
| Parties | Kingdom of PolandState of the Teutonic Order |
| Languages | Latin |
ThePeace of Thorn orToruń of1466, also known as theSecond Peace of Thorn orToruń (Polish:drugi pokój toruński;German:Zweiter Friede von Thorn), was apeace treaty signed in theHanseatic city ofThorn (Toruń) on 19 October 1466 between thePolish kingCasimir IV Jagiellon and theTeutonic Knights, which ended theThirteen Years' War, the longest of thePolish–Teutonic Wars.
The treaty was signed in the Artus Court,[1] and afterward a mass was held in theGothicFranciscan Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary to celebrate the peace treaty.[2]
The treaty concluded theThirteen Years' War which had begun in February 1454 with the revolt of thePrussian Confederation, led by the cities ofDanzig (Gdańsk),Elbing (Elbląg),Kulm (Chełmno) andToruń, and the Prussiangentry against the rule of the Teutonic Knights in theMonastic State, in order to join theKingdom of Poland.[citation needed]
Both sides agreed to seek confirmation fromPope Paul II andHoly Roman EmperorFrederick III, but the Polish side stressed (and the Teutonic side agreed) that this confirmation would not be needed for validation of the treaty. The peace talks were held in Nieszawa (present-dayMała Nieszawka) from 23 September 1466,[3] and in the final stages moved to Toruń.
In the treaty, the Teutonic Order renounced any claims to the territories ofGdańsk/Eastern Pomerania andChełmno Land, which were reintegrated with Poland,[4] and the region of Elbing (Elbląg) andMarienburg (Malbork), and theBishopric of Warmia, which were also recognized as part of Poland.[5][6] The eastern part remained with theTeutonic Order as afief andprotectorate of Poland, also considered an integral part of the "one and indivisible" Kingdom of Poland.[7] TheRoman Catholic Diocese of Chełmno became a suffragan of theArchdiocese of Gniezno.[8]
From now on, everyGrand Master of the Teutonic Order was obliged to swear an oath of allegiance to the reigning Polish king within six months of taking office, and any new territorial acquisitions by the Teutonic Order, also outsidePrussia, would also be incorporated into Poland.[9] The Grand Master became a prince and counselor of the Polish king and the Kingdom of Poland.[10]Poles were to be admitted to the Teutonic Order.[11] The Teutonic Knights were obliged to help Poland in the event of war, and were forbidden to wage war against Catholics without the consent of Polish kings.[12] Anyprisoners of war on both sides were to be released.[13]
The treaty also dismissed any possibility of releasing the Teutonic Order from dependence to Poland or of any revision of the terms of the treaty by referring to any foreign authority, includingimperial and papal.[14]
The territories directly held by Poland were already organized into three voivodeships (Chełmno,Pomeranian,Malbork) and thePrince-Bishopric of Warmia, all of which formed the province ofRoyal Prussia[6] (later also part of the largerGreater Poland Provincen), which was considered the exclusive property of the Polish king and Polish kingdom. Later, some disagreements arose concerning certain prerogatives that Royal Prussia and the cities held, likeDanzig's privileges. The region possessed certain privileges such as the minting of its own coins, its ownDiet meetings (see thePrussian estates), its own military, and its own administrative usage of theGerman language for minority. A conflict over the right to name and approve Bishops in Warmia, resulted in theWar of the Priests (1467–1479). Eventually, Royal Prussia became integrated into thePolish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, but retained some distinctive features until thepartitions of Poland in the late 18th century.
In 1525, the Order was ousted from their territory by its ownGrand Master whenAlbert, Duke of Prussia adoptedLutheranism and assumed the title of duke as hereditary ruler under the overlordship of Poland in thePrussian Homage. The area became known as theDuchy of Prussia.
