Ordensburg

Ordensburg (plural Ordensburgen) is a German term meaning a "castle of a (military) order". It is used specifically for the fortified structures built by crusading German military orders during the Middle Ages.

Medieval Ordensburgen

Ordensburgen were originally constructed by the Livonian Brothers of the Sword and later by the Teutonic Order to fortify territory in Prussia and Livonia captured from the native populations – Old Prussians, Lithuanians and native peoples of what is now Latvia and Estonia. Later, Ordensburgen were used to attack Lithuania.

Since they were built and used by religious military orders, the Ordensburgen often resembled monasteries. While they were considerably larger than those in the Holy Roman Empire, they were much scarcer in the Monastic state of the Teutonic Knights.

While a normal castle in the Reich would control about 38 km², a castle would control 370 km² in Prussia and 789 km² in Livonia, Courland and Estonia. The few small castles are considered to be of vassals, while the larger ones might have served as arsenals and strongholds during the Northern Crusades. They were purpose-built to colonize the respective countries and peoples by capturing and holding territory.

Most Ordensburgen were rectangular, even quadratic in form, built from red brick and lacking a Bergfried (a type of keep). Many castles had no towers at all, as the bailey (a mighty quadrangle) was considered sufficient for defence.

List of medieval Ordensburgen

Adsel (Gaujiena, Latvia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a commandery
Allenstein (Olsztyn, Poland)
Alschwangen (Alsunga, Latvia) - a genuine Ordensburg
Altona (Altene, Latvia)
Angern (Angerja, Estonia) - vassal castle
Angerburg (Węgorzewo, Poland)
Arensburg (Kuressaare, Estonia) - a bishop's castle
Arrasch (Āraiši, Latvia)
Ascheraden (Aizkraukle, Latvia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a commandery
Ass (Kiltsi, Estonia) - vassal castle
Bäslack (Bezławki, Poland)
Balga (Balga, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia)
Barten (Barciany, Poland)
Bauske (Bauska, Latvia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a bailiff
Bebern
Berson (Bērzaune, Latvia)
Birgelau (Bierzgłowo, Poland)
Borkholm (Porkuni, Estonia) - a bishop's castle
Brandenburg (Ushakovo, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia)
Burtneck (Burtnieki, Latvia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of lower officials
Bütow (Bytów, Poland)
Caymen (Zarechye, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia)
Danzig (Gdańsk, Poland)
Dibau (Podgórz, Poland)
Doblen (Dobele, Latvia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a commandery
Domnau (Domnovo, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia)
Dondangen (Dundaga, Latvia) - a bishop's castle
Dorpat (Tartu, Estonia) - a bishop's castle
Dünaburg (Daugavpils, Latvia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a commandery
Dünamünde (Daugavgrīva, Latvia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a commandery
Durben (Durbe, Latvia)
Eckersburg (Okartowo, Poland)
Edwahlen (Ēdole, Latvia) - a bishop's castle
Engelsburg (Pokrzywno, Poland)
Elbing (Elbląg, Poland)
Erlaa (Ērgļi, Latvia)
Ermes (Ērģeme, Latvia)
Falkenau (Kärkna, Estonia) - monastery
Fellin (Viljandi, Estonia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a commandery
Fickel (Vigala, Estonia) - vassal castle
Georgenburg (Mayovka, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia)
Goldingen (Kuldīga, Latvia)
Gollub (Golub-Dobrzyń, Poland)
Graudenz (Grudziądz, Poland)
Grobin (Grobiņa, Latvia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a bailiff
Groß Roop (Lielstraupe, Latvia) - a bishop's castle
Hapsal (Haapsalu, Estonia) - a bishop's castle
Hasenpoth (Aizpute, Latvia)
Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński, Poland)
Helmat (Helme, Estonia) - a genuine Ordensburg
Hochrosen (Augstroze, Latvia)
Hofzumberg (Tērvete, Latvia)
Holme (Mārtiņsala, Latvia)
Insterburg (Chernyakhovsk, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia)
Jaschnitz (Nowy Jasiniec, Poland)
Johannisburg (Pisz, Poland)
Kalzenau (Kalsnava, Latvia)
Kandau (Kandava, Latvia)
Karkus (Karksi, Estonia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a bailiff
Kirrumpäh (Kirumpää, Estonia) - a bishop's castle
Königsberg (Kaliningrad, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of the grand gaster
Kokenhusen (Koknese, Latvia) - a bishop's castle
Kremon (Krimulda, Latvia) - a bishop's castle
Kyda (Kiiu, Estonia) - vassal castle
Labiau (Polessk, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia)
Lais (Laiuse, Estonia) - a genuine Ordensburg
Lamgraben (Grabno, Poland)
Leal (Lihula, Estonia) - built and held jointly by order and bishop
Lemsal (Limbaži, Latvia)
Leipe (Lipienek, Poland)
Lennewarden (Lielvārde, Latvia) - a bishop's castle
Lochstädt (Baltiysk, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia)
Loxten (Lokstene, Latvia)
Ludsen (Ludza, Latvia) - a genuine Ordensburg
Lyck (Ełk, Poland)
Marienburg (Alūksne, Latvia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a commandery
Marienburg (Malbork, Poland) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of the grand master
Marienwerder (Kwidzyn, Poland)
Mehlsack (Pieniężno, Poland)
Memel (Klaipėda, Lithuania) - a genuine Ordensburg
Mewe (Gniew, Poland)
Mohrungen (Morąg, Poland)
Mojahn (Mujāni, Latvia)
Narwa (Narva, Estonia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a bailiff
Neidenburg (Nidzica, Poland)
Nessau (Nieszawa, Poland)
Neuenburg (Jaunpils, Latvia) - a genuine Ordensburg
Neuermühlen (Ādaži, Latvia)
Neuhausen (Guryevsk, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia)
Neuhausen (Valtaiķi, Latvia)
Neuhausen (Vastseliina, Estonia) - a bishop's castle
Neu Kirchholm (Salaspils, Latvia)
Neuschloß (Vasknarva, Estonia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a bailiff
Oberpahlen (Põltsamaa, Estonia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of bailiff
Odenpäh (Otepää, Estonia) - a bishop's castle
Ortelsburg (Szczytno, Poland)
Ossiek (Osiek, Poland)
Osterode (Ostróda, Poland)
Padis (Padise, Estonia) - monastery
Papau (Papowo Biskupie, Poland)
Pernau (Pärnu, Estonia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a bailiff
Peude (Pöide, Estonia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a bailiff
Pilten (Piltene, Latvia)
Pöddes (Kalvi, Estonia) - vassal castle
Preußisch Holland (Pasłęk, Poland)
Preußisch Mark (Przezmark, Poland)
Ragnit (Neman, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia)
Rastenburg (Kętrzyn, Poland)
Reval (Tallinn, Estonia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a commandery
Rheden (Radzyń Chełmiński, Poland)
Rhein (Ryn, Poland)
Riesenburg (Prabuty, Poland)
Riga (Riga, Latvia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of the master of the Livonian Order
Rössel (Reszel, Poland)
Rodenpois (Ropaži, Latvia)
Roggenhausen (Rogóźno-Zamek, Poland)
Ronneburg (Rauna, Latvia) - a bishop's castle
Rosenberck (Susz, Poland)
Rositten (Rēzekne, Latvia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a bailiff
Rujen (Rūjiena, Latvia)
Saalau (Żuława, Poland)
Salis (Salacgrīva, Latvia) - a bishop's castle
Schaaken (Nekrasovo, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia)
Schlochau (Człuchów, Poland)
Schönberg (Skaistkalne, Latvia)
Schönsee (Kowalewo Pomorskie, Poland)
Schwanenburg (Gulbene, Latvia)
Schwetz (Świecie, Poland)
Seehesten (Szestno, Poland)
Segewold (Sigulda, Latvia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of the Land Marshal [de]
Selburg (near modern Vecsēlpils, Latvia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a bailiff
Sesswangen (Cesvaine, Latvia)
Smilten (Smiltene, Latvia)
Soldau (Działdowo, Poland)
Sonnenburg (Maasi, Estonia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a bailiff
Straßburg (Brodnica, Poland)
Stuhm (Sztum, Poland)
Tapiau (Gvardeysk, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia)
Taplaken (Talpaki, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia)
Tarwast (Tarvastu, Estonia) - a genuine Ordensburg
Terweten (Tērvete, Latvia)
Tolsburg (Toolse, Estonia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a bailiff
Thorn (Toruń, Poland) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a commandery
Treyden (Turaida, Latvia) - a bishop's castle
Trikaten (Trikāta, Latvia)
Tuchel (Tuchola, Poland)
Tuckum (Tukums, Latvia)
Türpsal (Järve, Estonia) - vassal castle
Uexküll (Ikšķile, Latvia)
Villack (Viļaka, Latvia) - a bishop's castle
Wack (Vao, Estonia) - vassal castle
Waldau (Nizovye, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia)
Warbeck (Uue-Kastre, Estonia) - a bishop's castle
Weißenstein (Paide, Estonia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a bailiff
Welsas (Wieldządz, Poland)
Wenden (Cēsis, Latvia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of the Landmeister in Livland
Werder (Virtsu, Estonia) - vassal castle
Wesenberg (Rakvere, Estonia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a bailiff
Windau (Ventspils, Latvia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a commander
Wolkenburg (Volkenberga, Latvia)
Wolmar (Valmiera, Latvia)
Zlotterie (Złotoria, Poland)

References

Krahe, Friedrich-Wilhelm (2000). Burgen des deutschen Mittelalters. Grundriss-Lexikon (in German). Flechsig. ISBN 3-88189-360-1.

Medieval Ordensburgen

List of medieval Ordensburgen

See also

References