Balga Castle

(54.552526, 19.968113)

The construction of the castle was connected with the capture of Prussian fortress Honeda, located on the bank of the Frisches Haff in 1239. The fortress was called Balga and was used as a springboard for further expansion into the Prussian territories. However, its main disadvantage was the lack of water flow for the functioning of the mill. Consequently, it was built and fortified only on the stream at Lindenberg Hill, about 5 km away from the castle.

In 1242, Balga became the seat of the Order’s convention. That was also the time when William of Modena, the papal legate, stayed here, and discussed the foundation of bishoprics on territories conquered by the Order in Prussia.

The founding of Balga was crucial to the consolidation of the region, but the process was not swift. The early years of the 13th century were not easy for the Teutonic Order, as the Prussians revolted and enlisted the support of the Pomeranian duke Svyatopolk. In the spring of 1242, an alliance between the Pomeranian duke Svyatopolk and the Prussians was forged, and in the summer a rebellion broke out, during which the Order lost nearly everything it had won in previous years. The Order’s brothers were only able to keep hold of the strong forts of Elbingand Balga in the north.

In 1250 Balga became the seat of the Order’s court and the seat of the commander. The castle soon became a base for king Ottokar II of Bohemia, who arrived in Prussia in 1254 with his army to help the Order. This military expedition resulted in the foundation of the castle of Königsberg (modern — Kaliningrad) in 1255.

After suppressing the second Prussian rebellion and reaching the Lithuanian border, the reconstruction of the castle, caused by the military need, started. It was completed approximately in 1290.

In 1300–1320, the Commander of Balga settled the area, built new castles, settlements, and churches. The Balga Order’s castle became very influential, and its commanders held the highest offices of the Order. In 1350, during the height of the Order’s prosperity, the commander of Balga was also the bailiff of Natangia. Several Grandmasters-to-be had previously held this position.

After the defeat at the Battle of Grunwald (Tannenberg) in 1410, Balga was one of the castles, which did not surrender to the Polish crown. Its new commander, Friedrich von Zollern, refused to acknowledge himself as a Polish vassal, for which he was later elected the High Commander.

Following the defeat in the 1409–1410 war and subsequent unsuccessful battles, the Order had serious financial difficulties. As a result, additional taxes were imposed, causing discontent in the town. Taking advantage of the Order’s weakening, the towns formed the Prussian Confederation, headed by Danzig and Thorn. The Prussian Confederation, seeking aid from the Polish king, confronted the Order in 1454. The Thirteen Years’ War dragged on. Throughout this war the castle was never conquered, although Siegfried Flach von Schwarzburg was taken prisoner in 1457. By the end of the Thirteen Years’ War the position of Balga had become rather precarious. The garrison had been weakened and lacked food and ammunition. On the 31st of July 1466, the commander of Balga received news that the towns had united to besiege Balga and Fischhausen and attempt to capture them. He therefore appealed to the bishop of Sambia to help with gunpowder supplies. The castle eventually remained under the Order’s control.

In 1520, during another war with Poland, the castle succeeded in repelling all attacks with artillery. In 1525, during the secularization of the Teutonic order and its transformation into a secular duchy, Balga was granted to the first evangelical bishop, Georg von Polenz, with all revenues until his death. All heads of the Amt and their assistants were located in Balga. The heads of the amt were in charge of the police and the court. They were also responsible for the economy of the amt.

Since 1560 the castle had begun to crumble due to lack of funds for repairs. Waves of the bay and ice drift eroded the foundations of the danzker. Large cracks widening due to frost in 1584 led to its collapse, along with part of the castle walls. Subsequently, the castle, nevertheless, continued to play an important role in the political history of the region. It was used as one of the bases by Swedish King Gustav Adolf.

In 1927 the castle began to function as a museum of local history, but after World War II it completely fell into ruins.

Balga 1 site