Battle of Wopławki

Such major battles during the Lithuanian Crusade were rare.[4] As reported by Russian historian Aleksiy Khoteev in On the Hundred Years' War of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, military operations were generally confined to raids aimed at causing economic damage to the enemy as much as possible through the devastation of lands, seizure of property and taking local residents captive,[5] as repeatedly attested and thoroughly reported in the Order's chronicles such as Chronicon terrae Prussiae (Latin for The Chronicle of the Prussian Land) by Peter of Dusburg, the eponymous The Chronicle of Prussia by Nikolaus von Jeroschin and Chronica nova Prutenica (Latin for New Prussian Chronicle) by Wigand of Marburg.

On 3 April 1311, at the head of a force of 4,000 men (according to The Chronicle of the Prussian Land by Peter of Dusburg and The Chronicle of Prussia by Nikolaus von Jeroschin) Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytenis invaded Warmia, which was inhabited by baptized Warmians and German immigrants. His army totally looted and destroyed the lands of Warmia, killing most of local Christians and captured 1,200 people (according to Peter of Dusburg) or 1,300 (according to Nikolaus von Jeroschin[6]).

Vytenis decided to return through the lands of Bartia.[7] On 6 April, having reached the area near Woklauken, the Lithuanian army set up a camp on the hill, encircling it with abatis.[8]

In the meantime, the Teutonic Order gathered an army under the command of Grosskomtur Heinrich von Plötzke[9] and sent it to chase Vytenis.[10] The army consisted of Teutonic Knights numbering 80 according to Nikolaus von Jeroschin[11] or 150 according to Peter of Dusburg.[12] Reporting on the number of the Teutonic Knights themselves, however, neither Peter of Dusburg nor Nikolaus von Jeroschin provides any data on the number of Sariantbrothers, i.e. not knighted members of the Order, who used to make up the bulk of the Order’s army at the time (including lances fournies). Peter of Dusburg just confines his report to "many men,"[13] as well as Nikolaus von Jeroschin mentions "many other valiant heroes" and "many skilled and tested bold warriors."[14]

Another chronicler of the Order, Wigand of Marburg, provides in Chronica nova Prutenica the titles of the units led by Heinrich von Plötzke: the Banner of the Commandery of Ragnit, the Banner of the Commander of Insterburg, the Banner of Saint George, the Banner of Saint Mary and the Banner of Preußisch Holland.[15] Besides, according to Konrad Gesselen (who translated into Low German the aforementioned Chronica nova Prutenica), a part of the army was composed of Prussian militiamen.[16] However, none of these authors provides the number of the not knighted crusaders or the Prussian militiamen.

The vanguard led by Komtur of Christburg Günther von Arnstein[17] was dispatched ahead. On 7 April, having reached Vytenis’ camp, the vanguard immediately attacked the Lithuanians[18]

The first storming was successfully repulsed by the Lithuanians. Taking advantage of the camp’s location, showering the crusaders with arrows and javelins, the Lithuanians forced them to retreat.[19] At that time the main part of the army led by von Plötzke had arrived and formed up for battle. Joined by the vanguard, the main body launched a new assault on the camp.[20] This time, the Lithuanian warriors were unable to withstand the onslaught.[21] Being overcome with panic, the Lithuanian fighters began to retreat in disorder,[22] and then the battle turned into a mass slaughter.[23]

All the captured Christians were released, according to Nikolaus von Jeroschin.[24]

The victory at Wopławki allowed the Teutonic Knights to gain a foothold on the border with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania by building the castle of Christmemel, as attested in the abovementioned chronicles both by Peter of Dusburg[30] and Nikolaus von Jeroschin[31] In 1315, Vytenis tried to capture Christmemel but did not succeed.[32]

• Lithuanian Crusade
• Northern Crusades