Treaty of Christburg The Treaty of Christburg ( modern Dzierzgoń in Poland ) was a peace treaty signed on 2 February 1249 between the pagan Prussian clans , represented by a papal legate , and the Teutonic Knights . It is often cited as the end of the First Prussian Uprising , but it was not adhered to or enforced , especially after the Battle of Krücken in November of 1249 , where Prussians massacred and tortured to death 54 knights who had surrendered . The treaty guaranteed personal rights to all Prussians who converted to Christianity , but it did nothing to establish peace as many Prussians did not wish to convert and the Knights swore to root out paganism . It is one of the few documents from the period that survive in full to this day . It provides a useful insight into the life and religious tensions in pagan Prussia . It also offers a small glimpse into the Prussian mythology and traditions . Background . In 1230 the Teutonic Knights , a Roman Catholic religious order , settled in the Chełmno Land and began their crusade against the pagan Prussians . By 1241 five of the seven major Prussian clans had surrendered to the Knights . Then the First Uprising broke out . Prussians forged an alliance with Świętopełk II of Pomerania , a Polish duke who quarreled with the knights over the succession in Pomerania . At first the rebels were successful , and the Knights were reduced to just five of their strongest castles . However , Świętopełk lost several battles and was forced to make peace . Substantial reinforcements , encouraged by the pope , arrived from Germany to help the Knights and eventually the uprising was subdued . By 1246 , Pope Innocent IV had appointed his chaplain , Jacob of Liège , the future Pope Urban IV , to mediate in the conflict and produce a peace treaty . However , he was not able to achieve much until 1248 . In September , Świętopełk agreed to a truce and signed the final peace treaty on 24 November 1248 . The Prussians , left without their greatest supporter , had to agree to negotiations . Since the pope considered himself to be the suzerain of the Prussians , his legate signed the treaty in his name and that of the Prussians . Although only Pomesanians agreed to the treaty , it was also signed in the name of the Warmians and the Natangians . The treaty was signed in Christburg ( now Dzierzgoń ) which the Knights built on the site of a major Pomesanian fortress that they had captured on the Christmas Eve of 1247 . Terms . The preamble emphasized that the Teutonic Knights had broken their promises to previous popes to respect the newly converted locals and guarantee their freedom . The treaty did not address the political situation , but only guaranteed personal rights of the converts and demanded they embrace Christianity . They could inherit , acquire , and exchange real and personal property . Sales of real estate were possible only between people of the same nationality , but the Knights were entitled to a portion of the proceeds . This provision tried to prevent the seller escaping to the enemies . Property could be bequeathed not only to sons , as before , but also to daughters and other relatives . The amount of attention paid to property rights suggests that the Knights were often violating them . The converts were also promised opportunities to become priests or monks , and those of noble origins could even hope at becoming a knight , a real brother of the Teutonic Knights . Converts also had a right to sue and be sued in the secular and religious courts according to Polish law . The rights were guaranteed only as long as the person observed Christian rites and had not committed a sin , which provided sufficient possibility of abuse by the Knights . Prussians were forbidden to wed to more than one wife , and only a marriage with a proper Christian ceremony at a church was legal . Selling or buying women in marriage was forbidden as was marrying stepmothers , sisters - in - law , or wives of deceased relatives within four generations . Some other pagan rituals were expressively forbidden : worship of Curche , the god of harvest and grain ; maintaining pagan priests ( " Tulissones vel Ligaschones " ) , who performed certain rituals at funerals ; cremation of the dead with horses , persons , arms , or any other property . The Prussians were required to build and supply with land , livestock , and other necessities thirteen churches in Pomesania , six in Warmia , and three in Natangia within half a year . The churches were to be so beautiful that pagans would rather pray inside them than in the forests . Prussians were also required to pay an annual tithe in grain and participate in the Teutonic campaigns armed with their own weapons and provided with their own food . Alliances against the Knights were forbidden . Aftermath . As the treaty did not address the needs of those who did not wish to convert , and fighting soon broke out again . In November of 1249 , the Teutonic Knights suffered a great defeat at Krücken , which earned Prussians the reputation as an uncivilized people with no honor . Further fighting followed and Świętopełk offered his help . War ended in 1253 , and some cite this date as the end of the First Uprising . The treaty was then superseded and remained only as an interesting historical document .