Samogitian Uprising (Wars with the Teutonic Knights)

Timeline

1. 1401–1404Samogitia · SamogitiaAfter the 1398 Treaty of Salinas, the Teutonic Knights moved into Samogitia, detaining some five hundred hostages and building castles. On March 13, 1401, the local people rose up, burning newly built fortresses on the Nevėžis and Dubysa rivers and capturing Teutonic soldiers to exchange for hostages. Vytautas initially did not openly support them, but in 1402 captured the fortress of Gottwerder; on May 22, 1404, the Peace of Raciąż confirmed the Treaty of Salinas, with Vytautas promising to help suppress the rebellion and hand over Samogitia.
2. 1409Samogitia · SamogitiaFamine in 1408 intensified popular discontent; on May 26, Samogitia rose again, capturing fortresses such as Kristmemel, Friedburg, and Dobiesneburg, with only Klaipėda (Memel) holding out. Vytautas secretly supported the rebels and sent commanders such as Rimgaudas Valimantaitis; after Teutonic Grand Master Ulrich von Jungingen seized Jogaila's relief grain ships, Vytautas openly declared war. In August the Teutonic Knights declared war on Poland, and the Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War broke out in full; on September 8 the two sides signed a truce.
3. 1422Lake Melno · CulmlandThe 1411 Treaty of Toruń only temporarily returned Samogitia to Lithuania, and Vytautas and the Teutonic Knights disputed the border on the north bank of the Neman River for years. After Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund issued a ruling unfavorable to Lithuania, in July 1422 Jogaila and Vytautas jointly invaded Prussia, capturing Gollub and other places; Teutonic Grand Master Paul von Rusdorf was powerless to resist. After a truce on September 17, representatives negotiated by Lake Melno, and on September 27 signed the Treaty of Melno, in which the Teutonic Knights permanently renounced all territorial and missionary claims to Samogitia, establishing a stable Prussia–Lithuania border.