Prussia

If you're looking for the Teutonic Order, or Royal Prussia, you've come to the right place. 
Prussia, officially the Duchy of Prussia, was a Germanic vassal state of Poland located on the southern Baltic Sea coast. Previously known as the State of the Teutonic Order, the state was renamed in 1525 when they embraced the Protestant Reformation. 
== The State of the Teutonic Order ==
{before series TBA}
=== The Crusade of Varna (1443-1446) ===
As an external branch of the Holy Roman Empire, the Teutonic Order was required to send their support when other Christian kings launched a crusade against the Ottoman Empire, which was successful.
=== The First Baltic War ===
In August 1506, the Livonian territories broke away to form the Livonian Confederation. No sooner did the Teutons threaten to reconquer Livonia, than the Teutonic state was itself invaded by Poland and Lithuania, with support from Livonia and Hungary. The invaders reached Königsberg in only a few months, and the Teutons surrendered, but a Kalmar intervention would drag the war on for another year, until the Treaty of Riga was signed. The Teutonic state lost Memel (Klaipeda) to Lithuania, lost Pomerelia and Danzig (Gdansk) to Poland, and left the war as a Polish vassal state.
== Prussia and Royal Prussia ==
=== Embracing the Reformation ===
As a Polish vassal, the Teutonic state would experience internal pressure due to their defeat, particularly in the western territory of Warmia, where the nobility were particularly disappointed. In 1525, they demanded that their territory became a part of Poland. Hence, the Danzig Agreement was signed in October, which saw a land exchange whereby the Teutons gave up Warmia to Poland, but recovered Memel from Lithuania. Then they decided to embrace the Protestant Reformation, and on December 10th, 1525, they declared an end to the State of the Teutonic Order, and the formation of the Duchy of Prussia, which remained a Polish vassal for now. Meanwhile in Poland, Warmia, Pomerelia and Danzig were unified into Royal Prussia, an autonomous territory of the Polish crown.
=== Reconquering Royal Prussia ===
By 1561, the War of the Leagues had been going on for 5 years, and exactly 36 years after embracing Lutheran Protestantism, Prussia finally declared independence from Poland on December 10th. The next year (1562) was spent preparing their forces, before Prussia launched a full-scale invasion of Royal Prussia, which fell in just over a month, and was annexed by the Duchy in January 1563. In this time, they briefly lost Memel to the Lithuanians. 
=== Samogitian Campaign ===
Prussia then prepared to invade Lithuania itself, as the Swedes invaded from Courland, and the two armies would meet halfway between Prussia and Courland. In 1565, Prussia retook Memel and advanced into Lithuania, just as Poland had mustered enough troops to invade southern Prussia. The Russian entry into the war distracted the Poles and Lithuanians, so the Polish offensive against Prussia came to a halt in early 1566. It wasn't until early 1567 that Prussia pushed Poland out of the heartland, whilst also joining the Swedes in their offensives in Lithuania. Together, Sweden and Prussia reached and besieged Vilnius. 
=== The Final Four Years ===
Prussia's Hungarian ally was distracted by a new frontline in November 1567, meaning Polish and Lithuanian morale had recovered. Hence, the Siege of Vilnius only lasted two years until the city was relieved in January 1569, and the Swedes and Prussians were pushed back. Prussia's frontline with Poland reached a stalemate, all the way until February 1571, when news reached Königsberg that nearly all of Europe had left the war. Prussia now stood alone against the Poles and Lithuanians, who breezed through the weakened country, and reached Königsberg in late March. Prussia therefore surrendered, and was annexed completely into Poland on April 5th, with no autonomy.
Category:Varna Countries