Type of castle built by German Crusaders
The Ordensburg Marienburg , c. 1900, during the German Empire A map of Ordensburgen of the Teutonic Order in Prussia 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 cloisters . 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 . 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 order castle, seat of a commanderyAllenstein (Olsztyn, Poland)Alschwangen (Alsunga, Latvia) - a genuine order castleAltona (Altene, Latvia) Angern (Angerja, Estonia) - vassal castleAngerburg (Węgorzewo, Poland)Arensburg (Kuressaare, Estonia) - bishop castleArrasch (Āraiši, Latvia) Ascheraden (Aizkraukle, Latvia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a commanderyAss (Kiltsi, Estonia) - vassal castle Bäslack (Bezławki, Poland)Balga (Balga, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia)Barten (Barciany, Poland)Bauske (Bauska, Latvia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a bailiffBebern Berson (Bērzaune, Latvia)Birgelau (Bierzgłowo, Poland)Borkholm (Porkuni, Estonia) - bishop castleBrandenburg (Ushakovo, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia)Burtneck (Burtnieki, Latvia) - a genuine order castle, seat of lower officialsBütow (Bytów, Poland)Caymen (Zarechye, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) Danzig (Gdańsk, Poland)Dibau (Podgórz, Poland)Doblen (Dobele, Latvia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a commanderyDomnau (Domnovo, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia)Dondangen (Dundaga, Latvia) - a bishop castleDorpat (Tartu, Estonia) - bishop castleDünaburg (Daugavpils, Latvia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a commanderyDünamünde (Daugavgrīva, Latvia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a commanderyDurben (Durbe, Latvia)Eckersburg (Okartowo, Poland)Edwahlen (Ēdole, Latvia) - a bishop castleEngelsburg (Pokrzywno, Poland)Elbing (Elbląg, Poland)Erlaa (Ērgļi, Latvia)Ermes (Ērģeme, Latvia)Falkenau (Kärkna, Estonia) - monasteryFellin (Viljandi, Estonia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a commanderyFickel (Vigala, Estonia) - vassal castleGeorgenburg (Mayovka, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia)Goldingen (Kuldīga, Latvia)Gollub (Golub-Dobrzyń, Poland)Graudenz (Grudziądz, Poland)Grobin (Grobiņa, Latvia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a bailiffGroß Roop (Lielstraupe, Latvia) - a bishop castleHapsal (Haapsalu, Estonia) - bishop castleHasenpoth (Aizpute, Latvia)Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński, Poland)Helmat (Helme, Estonia) - a genuine order castleHochrosen (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 order castle, seat of a bailiffKirrumpäh (Kirumpää, Estonia) - bishop castleKönigsberg (Kaliningrad, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) - a genuine order castle, seat of Grand MasterKokenhusen (Koknese, Latvia) - a bishop castleKremon (Krimulda, Latvia) - a bishop castleKyda (Kiiu, Estonia) - vassal castle Labiau (Polessk, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia)Lais (Laiuse, Estonia) - a genuine order castle 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 castleLochstädt (Baltiysk, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia)Loxten (Lokstene, Latvia) Ludsen (Ludza, Latvia) - a genuine order castleLyck (Ełk, Poland) Marienburg (Alūksne, Latvia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a commanderyMarienburg (Malbork, Poland) - a genuine order castle, seat of Grand MasterMarienwerder (Kwidzyn, Poland)Mehlsack (Pieniężno, Poland)Memel (Klaipėda, Lithuania) - a genuine order castleMewe (Gniew, Poland) Mohrungen (Morąg, Poland)Mojahn (Mujāni, Latvia) Narwa (Narva, Estonia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a bailiffNeidenburg (Nidzica, Poland)Nessau (Nieszawa, Poland)Neuenburg (Jaunpils, Latvia) - a genuine order castleNeuermühlen (Ādaži, Latvia)Neuhausen (Guryevsk, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia)Neuhausen (Valtaiķi, Latvia)Neuhausen (Vastseliina, Estonia) - bishop castleNeu Kirchholm (Salaspils, Latvia)Neuschloß (Vasknarva, Estonia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a bailiffOberpahlen (Põltsamaa, Estonia) - a genuine order castle, seat of bailiffOdenpäh (Otepää, Estonia) - bishop castleOrtelsburg (Szczytno, Poland)Ossiek (Osiek, Poland)Osterode (Ostróda, Poland)Padis (Padise, Estonia) - monasteryPapau (Papowo Biskupie, Poland)Pernau (Pärnu, Estonia) - a genuine order castle, seat of bailiffPeude (Pöide, Estonia) - a genuine order castle, seat of bailiffPilten (Piltene, Latvia)Pöddes (Kalvi, Estonia) - vassal castlePreußisch Holland (Pasłęk, Poland)Preußisch Mark (Przezmark, Poland)Ragnit (Neman, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia)Rastenburg (Kętrzyn, Poland)Reval (Tallinn, Estonia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a commanderyRheden (Radzyń Chełmiński, Poland)Rhein (Ryn, Poland)Riesenburg (Prabuty, Poland)Riga (Riga, Latvia) - a genuine order castle, seat of Grand Master Rössel (Reszel, Poland)Rodenpois (Ropaži, Latvia)Roggenhausen (Rogóźno-Zamek, Poland)Ronneburg (Rauna, Latvia) - a bishop castleRosenberck (Susz, Poland)Rositten (Rēzekne, Latvia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a bailiffRujen (Rūjiena, Latvia)Saalau (Żuława, Poland)Salis (Salacgrīva, Latvia) - a bishop castleSchaaken (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 order castle, seat of Land MarshalSelburg (near modern Vecsēlpils , Latvia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a bailiffSesswangen (Cesvaine, Latvia)Smilten (Smiltene, Latvia)Soldau (Działdowo, Poland)Sonnenburg (Maasi, Estonia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a bailiffStraßburg (Brodnica, Poland)Stuhm (Sztum, Poland)Tapiau (Gvardeysk, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia)Taplaken (Talpaki, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia)Tarwast (Tarvastu, Estonia) - a genuine order castleTerweten (Tērvete, Latvia)Tolsburg (Toolse, Estonia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a bailiffThorn (Toruń, Poland) - a genuine order castle, seat of a commanderyTreyden (Turaida, Latvia) - a bishop castleTrikaten (Trikāta, Latvia)Tuchel (Tuchola, Poland)Tuckum (Tukums, Latvia)Türpsal (Järve, Estonia) - vassal castleUexküll (Ikšķile, Latvia)Villack (Viļaka, Latvia) - a bishop castleWack (Vao, Estonia) - vassal castle Waldau (Nizovye, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) Warbeck (Uue-Kastre, Estonia) - bishop castleWeißenstein (Paide, Estonia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a bailiffWelsas (Wieldządz, Poland)Wenden (Cēsis, Latvia) - a genuine order castle, seat of Grand MasterWerder (Virtsu, Estonia) - vassal castleWesenberg (Rakvere, Estonia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a bailiffWindau (Ventspils, Latvia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a commanderWolkenburg (Volkenberga, Latvia) Wolmar (Valmiera, Latvia)Zlotterie (Złotoria, Poland)
See also
References Krahe, Friedrich-Wilhelm (2000). Burgen des deutschen Mittelalters. Grundriss-Lexikon (in German). Flechsig. ISBN 3-88189-360-1 .