Treaty of Königsberg (Samogitia ceded)¶

What the chronicles say [Historical record]¶

Signed at Königsberg on 30 January 1384: Vytautas promised to become the Order’s vassal and ceded Samogitia up to the Nevėžis, including Kaunas (Wikipedia, Treaty of Königsberg). The Dubysa line was a different promise, Jogaila’s of 31 October 1382 at Dubysa, which was never ratified. In February 1384 several Samogitian districts acknowledged Vytautas and the Knights; the Order began New Marienwerder near Kaunas in May and Vytautas renewed the treaty there in the summer (14 June or 16 July, sources differ). Vytautas was baptised at Tapiau as Wigand on 21 October 1383.

Treaty of Königsberg (Samogitia ceded)


Type	event
Years	1384-01-30
Status	Historical record
Book	I · The Wolf’s Exile
Note	Treaty of Königsberg: Vytautas signs away Samogitia to secure Teutonic military aid.

Where: Königsberg (Karaliaučius) (on the map)

What really happened [The saga’s invention]¶

The Amber Debt comes due. Samogitia, the land of the Hidden Groves, goes to the Iron Saint’s servants on a piece of parchment. The Order gives its new vassal a Neman castle that he does not hold except on paper: the keys are carried by the Order’s vaitas. Ona and the children are lodged at Königsberg as honoured guests.

Consequences¶

Caused by the Tapiau baptism; it leads to the burnings of 1384 when he turns the Order’s own fortress against it.

Dramatisation¶

Not dramatised. Book I ch. 19 “Velnio Sandėris” (Vytautas, autumn 1383; Ona and children at Königsberg) leads up to it; ch. 22 “Naujapilis” opens by recalling it (“sausio šaltyje”, the January frost) and moves on to the construction of Naujapilis. Winter.

Relations

Caused by: Vytautas baptised ‘Wigand’ (a lie)

Causes: Vytautas burns Order castles; turns on the Order

Location: Königsberg (Karaliaučius)

Connections¶

graph LR
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  ev_konigsberg["Treaty of Königsberg (Samogitia ceded)"]
  ev_tapiau_baptism["Vytautas baptised 'Wigand' (a lie)"]
  konigsberg["Königsberg (Karaliaučius)"]
  ev_konigsberg -->|Location| konigsberg
  ev_konigsberg -->|Causes| ev_burnings_1384
  ev_tapiau_baptism -->|Causes| ev_konigsberg
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