Fischhausen Castle in Primorsk

(54.727553, 20.009111) 

The construction of the castle reflects the rich political history of the 13^th century in this region. Originally the lands belonged to the Order, but they were given to Bishop Heinrich von Strittberg by virtue of the agreement of 1264 in exchange for Lochstedt Strait, where Lochstedt Castle was subsequently erected.

In 1266, Schonewikwas erected, first mentioned in 1268 (castrum nostrum Schonewik). However, a mention of it also appears as Fischhausen (castrum Vischhausen) in 1326.

During the Prussian uprising, the Prussians attacked and approached the castle, which had not yet been completed and had no garrison. It is still unknown for what reason, but the Prussians retreated and the castle was not taken. A legend has survived, that the gate was locked with a latch and the Prussians could have easily opened it with a belt suspended outside, but were struck blind and retreated. The uprising was soon suppressed by Johannes Sachse, commander of Königsberg. In 1268, five vassals settled near the castle, obliged to defend it in emergencies. Late chronicles indicate 1269 as the year of construction of the castle, but this must have been a period of reconstruction and additional fortification, because as early as the previous year, the settlement of several vassals obliged to defend the castle was mentioned.

Around 1270, the bishop returned to Thuringia, giving up control of the Order for two years. After his death, he was succeeded by Christian von Mühlhausen, who built a cathedral church in the castle, but he was a member of the Teutonic Order. He also founded the Sambia cathedral chapter, the first members of which were also members of the clerical-chivalric corporation. Construction of the castle in stone began in the 80s of the 13th century. The settlement around the castle received town privileges in 1305.

After the defeat at Grunwald in 1410, the part of Sambia bishopric remained loyal to the Order. During the Thirteen Years’ War, the position of the local bishop fluctuated. At first, he supported the Prussian union and the Polish crown, but after Heinrich Reuss von Plauen had sent a ship with a band of knights from Brandenburg to Lochstedt, he switched over to the side of the Order again.

Leaving a small garrison at the castle, the band left the city and headed to Königsberg to take Kneiphof. In 1456, the town suffered an attack from Danzig (modern-day Gdańsk), but the castle remained intact. A similar situation repeated in 1462, when the town was sacked but the castle was not seriously damaged. In the events of 1458, Fischhausen castle is mentioned when envoys including a Danish king visited the castle to persuade the magistrate to make peace but the negotiations were not held.

The last bishop of Sambia was Georg von Polenz, who, at the time of the Reformation, transferred the bishopric and power to the Duke of Prussia, and the bishop’s residence became the ducal domain. On June 8 of the same year, von Polenz married Katharina Truchses von Wetzhausen and left his castle for Neuhausen. The castle was settled by the governor of the Hauptamt of Fischhausen. In June 1526, Dorothea, daughter of Danish king Friedrich, arrived at the castle, accompanied by 11 ships. She was married here in the castle chapel to duke Albrecht. Albrecht visited the castle while moose hunting in the nearby woods. He lived here with his young wife in the spring of 1527 and their first daughter Anne Sophia was born here. Duke Albrecht’s sickly son and heir, Friedrich, moved into the castle in 1567. After the death of Albrecht the Elder, the regents ruled in place of his son who was unwell. Albrecht Friedrich himself remained in the castle for the rest of his life, where he died in 1618.

In November 1525, the Amber and Coastal Court, which consisted of a prosecutor and six assessors, was set up in the castle. The Municipal Court of Fischhausen with its large powers also had its seat in the castle, and the square in front of the southern wing served as a place of execution. In the late 17th century, for example, several death sentences were handed down because of accusations of witchcraft.

In 1770, the court was transformed into the justice department of the domain, and this department was reformed again in 1847 and the domain treasury was housed in the castle. Later all these courts were abolished.

During the Seven Years’ War, Fischhausen was occupied by Russian troops and after the defeat of Napoleon in 1807 by French troops.

The building was rebuilt several times, for example, a tenant’s house was built and surrounded by a beautiful park in the beginning of the 19th century. However, parts of the buildings were preserved as historical monuments and were under the protection of the Prussian Ministry of Agriculture.

In April 1945, some parts of the buildings were demolished. Fishing cooperative was located in the surviving buildings and a part of the buildings was used as a smokehouse for fish. Some of the buildings were used as fish smokehouse. At the beginning of the 21st century only the ruins of the southern wing of the castle have remained, and the foundations of the defensive walls can be seen along the perimeter of the castle.

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D. I. Veber

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