Pogesanians were aPrussian tribe, which lived in the region ofPogesania (Polish:Pogezania;Lithuanian:Pagudė;German:Pogesanien;Latin:Pogesania), a small territory stretched between theElbląg andPasłęka rivers, now located in theWarmian-Masurian Voivodeship, northernPoland. Pogesanians, as the rest of the Prussians, were conquered by theTeutonic Knights and became Germanized or Polonized. Theold Prussian language became extinct sometime in the 17th century.

Pogesanians

Pogesanians and other Prussian clans during the 13th century
Total population
Extinct in 17th-18th century
Regions with significant populations
Languages
Old Prussian, later alsoGerman andPolish
Religion
Prussian mythology (Paganism)
Related ethnic groups
OtherPrussians andBalts

In 1237, theTeutonic Order, who had received papal and imperial orders to conquer, Christianize the 'still heathen' Prussians, invaded the region by sea.Elbing (nowElbląg) at the (Ilfing) Elbing River (nowElbląg River) had already been founded byHanseatic tradesmen from Lübeck. The arrival of the Teutonic Order marked the beginning of thecrusade for Pogesanians, as the Knights sought to fulfill the contracts to convert the Prussians to Christianity and to govern the region ofPrussia, which was given to them as their property. Pogesanians soon destroyed the city, but the Knights rebuilt it. Elbing remained as one of the Teutonic strongholds and grew to become a port and center of commerce. The city served as the base for further incursions into the Prussian territory. Pogesanians joined other Prussian clans in theFirst Prussian Uprising (1242–1249). However, they did not sign theTreaty of Christburg and the fighting continued until 1251 or 1252. The Pogesanians were forced to surrender to strong Teutonic reinforcements from German states.

During theGreat Prussian Uprising (1260–1274), the Pogesanians electedAuktume as their leader and joined the fights. They were able to capture some smaller Teutonic castles, but the stronghold at Elbing remained a serious threat. A major battle occurred in 1271, when joint forces ofBartians led byDiwanus and Pogesanians led by Linka organized a raid into theChełmno Land. TheBattle of Pagastin saw twelve knights and 500 other Teutonic soldiers killed. The Prussians immediately assaulted Christburg (nowDzierzgoń) and almost captured it. However, soon cavalry from Elbing arrived and the Prussians were forced to escape. Pogesanians were the last clan standing in the uprising. They made a surprise raid into Elbing and ambushed its garrison. In 1274 the Knights made a great expedition to revenge this raid. They captured a stronghold at Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński), the rebel headquarters, and the uprising ended.

Pogesanians soon rose again. In 1276 news spread thatSkomantas, leader ofSudovians, successfully raided Teutonic lands and, with help fromLithuanians, collected 4,000 for a raid into the Chełmno Land. However, other Prussian clans did not join the Third Uprising. Pogesanians were soon suppressed, and some of their survivors relocated to theGrand Duchy of Lithuania. The last attempt at freedom was made in 1286, when Pogesanians and Bartians conspired to invite Duke ofRügen, grandson ofŚwiętopełk II of Pomerania, to free them from the Knights. Many of the natives were turned intoserfs and the Knights invitedGerman colonists to repopulate the land. As time passed Germans andPoles outnumbered the Prussians, and after centuries of assimilation Prussian identity ceased to exist. In 1454, the region along with the city ofElbląg was incorporated by KingCasimir IV Jagiellon to theKingdom of Poland, which was confirmed after the subsequentThirteen Years' War, the longest of all Polish–Teutonic wars, in 1466.^[1]

According to Georg Gerullis, the name of the clan is derive from thePrussian wordPagudian:pa, meaningnear, andgudde, meaningbush. The Latin name, also widely used today in English, is derived from Polish namepogedzańe. InPrussian mythology, each of the ten original lands of Prussia is named after one of the sons of KingWidewuto; but only a few of the sons' names are actually given. Thus, the Germans createdfolk etymology for the land (in German commonly calledHockerland orHoggerland) traced to a King Hoggo. Pogesania was said to trace to his daughter, Pogesana. His other daughter, Cadina, lent her name to the town of Cadinen (nowKadyny).

Simas Sužiedėlis, ed. (1970–1978). "Pagudė".Encyclopedia Lituanica. Vol. IV. Boston, Massachusetts: Juozas Kapočius. pp. 149–150.LCCN 74-114275.