Brandenburg Castle in Ushakovo

Its foundation was driven by military and economic necessity. Balga, which played an important strategic role could be cut off as it was not a port. Neither was the nearby Lenzburg Castle. According to Peter of Duisburg’s Chronicle of the Land of Prussia, the castle was founded by the margrave of Brandenburg (Otto III) and was thus named this way in 1266, during the second Prussian uprising. The first commander was Friedrich von Holdenstäte, who was also a marshal. The same chronicle mentions the Order’s brother Hermann von Lichtenburg, who was in this castle and pledged to wear the chainmail on his bare body as a vow.

Shortly after the wooden fortifications were erected, it was burnt down between 1267 and 1269 during the Prussian uprising. There is a legend that when Otto III von Brandenburg left the castle, one Prussian woman fled from it and approached Glappo, one of the Prussian «duxes», reporting that the castle was unprotected. Therefore, the castle was conquered and later burnt down.

Otto III subsequently rebuilt it. After the suppression of the uprising, the castle had been rebuilt in stone by the end of the 13th century. It played an important role in administering the lands and was the centre of a large commandery. A fragment of the Cross on which Jesus was crucified was kept in the castle. There is a tale of a brother of the Order, Count von Massow, who was imprisoned in one of the towers of the castle for neglecting relics. It was here where the former Master Heinrich von Plauen was imprisoned between 1415 and 1422. Brandenburg had its own convention, which numbered 30 friars and two priests, for example, in 1468.

During the Thirteen Years’ War the castle was briefly occupied by the supporters of the Prussian League, but reverted to the Teutonic Order. The Commander lost its economic position during this period. In 1520, this time as a result of a new conflict, it was temporarily occupied by Polish troops, and after Albrecht of Brandenburg had adopted the secular title of duke, it was secularised.

D. I. Veber

PHOTOS

Tags: castles and fortresses, 13 century, 16 century, Teutonic Order (Prussia), The ways of the Teutonic knights: Prussia in the 13th century, Teutonic knights