latviski
We have substituted translations for the original Latin, indicated by the dotted vertical bar in the margin. The original is preserved in the footnotes.
LETTER III.
The Swedes Invade and subdue Couronia, Anno Christi 862. Beginnings of Christianity in Muscovy. Pretensions of the Emperor to the whole Habitable World. The Bishop of Livonia’s Dependency from the Empire, erects an Order of Knighthood, called Ensiferi. Of the Templars. King Waldemar II. of Denmark Conquers great part of Livonia, loses it by Accident. The Ensiferi unite with the Teutonick-Marian Order, &c.
SIR,
I would not interrupt your more serious Affairs with too many stories of those dark and ancient Times; yet we may justly gather from the Premisses, that they have been a Powerful, and Considerable People, whom their own Enemies, the Swedes and Danes, between whom they were continually forced to stand to their Arms, allow to be so; by their most Ancient Authors and continued Traditions, 26
But to come nearer our Times, Rimbertus↗ Archbishop of Hambourgh, in Hift. s. Ansgarii, whose successor he was in that see, writes, that Anno Christi 862. the Courlanders or Curonians who had freed themselves from under the subjection of the Swedes, after they had overcome a strong Fleet of the Danes, who came to Attack them, by taking many of their ships, and dispersed the rest, were again reduced under the Power of the Swedish Crown by King Oloff↗: The very Terms and Conditions of subjection are set down by the same Author, and are as follows.
Rimbert, who was first a deacon and afterwards archbishop of the people of Hamburg, and who lived in the ninth century, in the Life of St. Ansgar, chapter 27, records the following about the Curonians:
“There is a certain people living far from them, called the Chori (Curonians), who had formerly been subject to the rule of the Swedes; but by that time it had long been the case that, having rebelled, they disdained to be subject to them.”
Then, after relating the defeat of the Danes, he adds:
“When the aforesaid king Oleph (Olaus the Second of that name) and the Swedish people heard of this, wishing to win for themselves the renown of accomplishing what the Danes had not done—and because the Curonians had formerly been subject to them—they gathered an innumerable army and went to those regions. First indeed, coming unexpectedly to a certain town of their kingdom called Seeburg, in which there were seven thousand warriors, they utterly laid it waste and burned it.”
“Encouraged by this in spirit, leaving their ships, they set out on a five-day march and hastened with fierce determination to another of their towns, which was called Apulia. In that town there were fifteen thousand fighters.”
“After a severe siege, the Curonians made surrender on these terms:
First, ‘Whatever we gained from the plunder of the Danes in the previous year in gold and weapons, we give to you as a gift of alliance.
Next, for each person dwelling in this town we offer half a pound of silver.
Moreover, we shall pay the tribute which we were formerly accustomed to give you;
and, having given hostages, from henceforth we wish to be subject and obedient to your rule, just as we were
And he farther assures us, That there were in Courland at that very time, five well fortified Towns2, whereof he mentions two, viz. Seeburg and Apulia; this is set down by so Ancient, Foreign, and Unquestionable an Author, Eight hundred thirty odd years ago. Dionysius Fabritius, an irrefragable3 IAuthor, says expresly, That Livonia had in Old Times, before the German Conquest, two Kings of their own, of which one had his Residence in Courland, the other in Estland, 18 And there are still at this time some of the Natives call’d Courish Kings, but are kept in subjection.
Anno Ch. 948.Did Ericus sirnamed Segerfel, King of Sweden bring all Livonia under his Power, and kept it whilst he lived; after whose Death they recovered again their Liberty.
Anno Ch. 989. Now begins the Christian Epocha of Muscovy, for in that Year Prince Woledimir in Russia married Anna, sister to the Emperor of Constantinople, Basilicus Porphyrogenetes, whereby the first Foundation was laid there for Christianity. Anno Ch. 1075.This Country was again Attack’d by Canutus, King Sueno’s son of Denmark, yet the Esthii gave him such an Entertainment, that he was forced to retire with great loss.
Anno Ch. 1077. But soon after, when he himself came to the Danish Crown, he resolved to continue the War begun by him, and to bring them not only under his Power, but under that soft and gentle Yoke of Christianity, which by degrees he endeavoured to effect; making all Livonia Tributary to the Crown of Denmark, and at the same time assumed the Title of Duke of Esthonia in Liefland, which Title the Kings of Denmark 29 bore for a long while, untill King Woldemar the Third, his time.
But the glory of Conquering and
Converting these Nations entirely, was
reserved to that unparallell’d Warlike
Nation, the Germans. For about the
Year of our Lord 1158, when Fridericus
Barbarossa held the Reins of the Empire, it happened that some Merchants
belonging to the Town of Bremen, set
out with several well rigged ships for
Wisby, in those Days a most flourishing
Town of Trade, in the isle of Gotland,
and were by a violent storm driven to
that shore, where the Duna falls into
the sea; there they first Traded by
agreement with the Natives, and by
degrees settled, and finding it a commodious and profitable Country, sent
Colonies thither, as well soldiers as
Monks, both to exhort ’em and afright
’em to Conversion, according to the
Popish way in all Ages; but this violent
30
way of proceeding, did more hurt
than good; for during the absence of
their first Bishop, Meinhard, who was
a good, pious, and virtuous Man;
those new Christians, to shew their dislike to the rude Conversion of those
he left behind him; would swim in running Waters, to wash off, as they
said, their Baptism; however the succeeding Bishiops endeavoured to do all
by force. And since there was such a
respect left in the World for the Roman Empire, that whatever the Germans did Discover or Conquer, in partibus infidelium,
*Vid. Conring. & Hartkn. in
Prussia.
4
they did sub auspiciis Romani Imperii. * For that extravagant
Opinion, as if Rome had been Terrarum
Dea gentiumq; and the Romans, Rerum
Domini, or Lords of the Universe,
was propagated down many Ages.
| That the conquering Roman possessed the whole world, |
| wherever sea and land lie, wherever the sun runs its faithful course. |
| & |
| Rome, the head of the world, guides the reins of the round globe. 5 |
so that the succeeding Christian Emperors fansied themselves Orbis Dominos, no less than their Predecessors; principally when the flattering Clergy alledged 31 Authority from the Scriptures for it, wherein the Roman Empire, according to the usual stile of those Days is called τὴν Οἰκουμένην, which signifies the [Inhabited] World, whereby the Authors of the 11th, 12th, and 13th Centuries carried it so far, as to declare all those were Hereticks, that did not believe the Emperor to be Lord over all the World; yet ’tis well known, that the Romans in their greatest Lustre, had but the least part of it, being bounded to the North by the Danube, and to the East by Euphrates.
Albertus↗ the Third Bishop of Liefland↗, led on, not only by the fore-mentioned general Notion, but expecting Aid and Assistance from the Empire, acknowledged Livonia a Fief of the Emperor Henry VI.↗ and obtained it jure Feudi Anno 1200, as also Jus cudende monetæ, or the Power to Coin Money, &c. he built the Town of Riga Anno 1202. Riga quasi nova side Rigata. This is farther confirm’d by two Copies of Concessions, come to my Hands; which I send hereby, that you may consider whether they bear the true Marks of Antiquity, and contain only what I mentioned before. 32
HENRY, by the grace of God King of the Romans and ever Augustus, to all the faithful of the Empire to whom the present writing shall be shown—his favor and every good thing.
We wish it to be known to all that, at the request of our beloved and faithful Hermann, the venerable Bishop of Dorpat, we establish one march (a frontier principality) throughout his entire bishopric, namely through these provinces: Ugenois, Waigels, Sobolits, Saccale, Moike, Alumbus, Narmegunde; and we have granted to him that principality with the same right as other princes possess.
We grant to him authority to coin money and to found a city at Tarbato (Dorpat) and in other places where it shall be fitting that such be established.
And if in those places a vein of any metal, or a hidden treasure, should be discovered, in these and similar matters we have entrusted our special right to his loyalty, by the counsel of our princes.
Therefore we command, and by royal authority firmly order, that in all jurisdictions and nations pertaining to the royal jurisdiction answer shall be made to the oft-named bishop, and that he be obeyed in all things; knowing that we sincerely love him as a beloved prince of the Empire, and since through him the imperial borders are being extended and, with the Lord’s favor, the unbelief of the barbarians is being brought under the yoke of Christ, we will omit nothing that may conduce to his advantage and honor.
The witnesses of this our concession are the venerable archbishops of Salzburg and Trier, the bishops of Passau and Estade; the dukes of Austria, Saxony, Bavaria, and Carinthia; the landgrave of Thuringia, and many other counts, nobles, and ministerials of the Empire.
HENRY, by the grace of God King of the Romans and ever Augustus, to all the faithful of the Empire to whom these letters shall come—his favor and every good thing.
At the petition of Albert, the venerable Bishop of Livonia, we establish one march throughout his entire bishopric, namely through Livonia and Lettia, Lehale, and the Maritime Lands; and we have granted to him that principality, by royal munificence and with the same right as other princes possess.
We grant to him authority to coin money and to found a city at Riga and in other places where it shall be fitting that such be established.
And if in those regions a vein of any metal, or a hidden treasure, should be discovered, in matters of this kind we have entrusted our special right to his loyalty, by the counsel of our princes.
We therefore decree and, under threat of our displeasure, firmly command that to the aforesaid bishop full answer be made concerning all jurisdictions and revenues pertaining to the royal jurisdiction, and that he be obeyed in all things; knowing that we sincerely love him as a beloved prince of the Empire.
And since through him the imperial borders are being extended and, with the Lord’s favor, the unbelief of the barbarians is being subjected to Christian worship, we will omit nothing that may conduce to his advantage and honor.
The witnesses of this our concession are the archbishops of Trier and Salzburg; the bishops of Augsburg, Bamberg, Passau, and Estade; the dukes of Austria, Saxony, Bavaria, and Carinthia; the landgrave of Thuringia, and many other princes, nobles, and ministerials of the Empire.
At the same time the Emperor gave him Authority to institute a New Order of German Knighthood, for defence of this New Acquisition, which was effectually initiated in the Year 1204; and confirmed by Pope Innocent III according to the Rules of the Knights Templars.
Their first Great Master was Vinno a Rohrbach↗; their Habit a White Cloak with two swords Gules in sautoir8, and a Red star. The Master or sovereign of the Order, did thrice strike the Knight with a sword upon his soulder, saying;
Zu schuttzen Gottes und Parien Land.
That is,
To fight for God, and Mary’s Land9
for this New Province was dedicated to the Holy Virgin. Their Institution was often to hear Mass, not to Marry, but to lead a sober Chaste Life; to fight against the Infidels, and to defend the Holy see. For these services they were received by the Pope into the Protection 36 on of God and all the saints; and were to have and enjoy whatever they Conquered from the Pagans, to themselves and their Order for ever.
Though this New Order resembled almost in every thing that of the Templars, and were by some called Templarii; yet were they a different Order, their proper Name was Ensiferi, from their great swords; and since we are mentioning that once famous Order of the Templars, whose History alone would fill a large Volume; I’ll give you a very short Account of it.
This Order of Knights of Jerusalem, or Templars, took its Rise Anno 1128. resided first at Jerusalem, and their chief Office was to convoy Pilgrims thither, and to defend that Holy City. Though the intent of the Institutors was pious and good, yet as it is common with all such Orders, they degenerated mightily after their Acquisitions, and Donatives in Germany, France, and other Kingdoms; falling into Luxury, Pride, and Perfidy, whereof this is one instance, Anno Christi 1229, those Knights endeavoured to betray the Emperor Frederick to the Sultan, with whom he had already concluded Peace: They informed 37 him by a Letter, that the Emperor would go with a small Company such a Day, to view that place of Jordan, where our Saviour was Baptized, and there he easily might either take or kill him; which abominable Treachery the Sultan himself did abhor, insomuch that he sent that very Letter to the Emperor.
Yet did this Order stand for near Two hundred Years, till Anno 1311 Pope Clement the V. did utterly extirpate it, The most likely reason of it, Pomarius10 sets down in his Chronicle saying, that he himself had seen the Letter, wherein that Pope to the Bishop of Magdeburg expresses himself in these Terms, Erat enim voluntatis nostræ intentio, Templariorum bona ad Cameram nostram transferre [For it was the intention of our will to transfer the goods of the Templars to our treasury.], so that their greatest Crime at that time, for which they suffered, was their vast Wealth, and their Fidelity to the Patriarch of Jerusalem, whom they owned above the Pope.
Anno 1206. came Wilhelmus Bishop of Modena as Popish Legat into Livonia, where he settled the Territories of that new acquired Province between the Ensiferi and the Bishops, so that the Knights were to possess one third of all the Lands then taken, or that should be conquered 38 by them hereafter; but the main design of the Legat, was to sell the Popes Benedictions, Indulgencies and Pardons for ready Money, and as soon as he had filled his Purse he departed.
Anno Ch. 1219.King Woldemar II. of Denmark, came with a great Fleet into Livonia, fought a victorious Battel against the Esthii, Lettii, Lithowanians and Russians. Pontanus writes, That at the beginning of this Fight, the Danes lost their great Ensign representing an Eagle, which disheartened the soldiers; but the King by his address gave them new Courage, in making them believe, that at the same instant another Eagle fell from Heaven, red coloured with a white Cross (which perhaps had been sent him by the Pope) and so he won the Battel. This King Woldemar conquered Courland, where he established the Bishoprick of Pilten, and fubdued the Island Oefel, built the Town of Revel; and his Captains after his departure, the Town of Narva; and several other Places were built by them Anno 1223. This King having conquered most of that Province, and left it in a good posture, lost it all by an unlucky accident: For as he was diverting himself with the Countess of Swerin, in the absence of the Count 39 Henry her Husband, Swerin surprised the King, and took him Prisoner, where he kept him Three Years, till he paid a Ransom of 45000 Marks in silver: In which time the Bishops and the Knights took the opportunity to seize upon all the Danish Provinces, and drive the Danes out of them; they took Revel, Estonia, and all that belonged to them in Livonia. Notwithstanding these Ensiferi did behave themselves as brave Men, yet were their Enemies too numerous and too powerful for them, and Volquin Schenck↗, their second and last Master being killed by the Lithuanian Infidels in a great Battel↗, Anno 1238.11 they immediately proposed to join with that great and most famous Teutonick Order. Who at the same time, being overcome by the Saracens12; and having lost all they had formerly got in Palestine, readily embraced the offer, in hopes to make up their Losses in the North, which happened beyond their Expectation; thereupon the Livonian Order of the Ensiferi, after Thirty five Years duration, under two Masters, was quite extinguished, and entirely united with the Teutonicks or German Knights; and this Union was solemnized at Rome in the Pope’s Presence, 1238, with several 40 Ceremonies, where the great Master of the Teutonick Order, gave previous Assurances, that he would restore to the King of Denmark the Town of Revel, with several other Districts, which that King’s Ministers earnestly insisted on as his Right.
This Combination made them so powerful, that after they had made themselves sovereigns of all Livonia, and Prussia, they forgot the Vertues of the Ancient Knights, and fell into Luxury, Idleness, Pride, Ambition and Covetousness; so that they grew formidable to Princes, burdensom to their subjects, and troublesom to their Neighbours; till the Poles, under the Conduct of their brave Leader King Vladislaus Jagello, broke their vain Designs, in the Year 1410, in a pitch’d Battel at Tannenberg.
Anno Ch. 1454.These states of Prussia submitted to Casimirus IV. King of Poland’s Protection, they groaning under the Oppression and Tyrannical Government of the Knights: And the whole Country had Revolted, had not the Pope, by his Mediation, interceeded that seventy Towns and Castles should be delivered to that King, and the remaining part of Prussia to be held by that Order, as a Fief, or 41 Dependency of the Crown of Poland; and this part was afterwards called Prussia Ducalis.
And thus Prussia ever since depended on Poland, till 1657. when all that Tract we call now Ducal Prussia, was with sovereign Power transferred to the Elector of Brandenburg, Frideric William. This Order had no better success in Livonia, than in Prussia, for having perpetual Quarrels with their Bishops concerning the Regions and Jurisdictions; it grew incurable under William of Furstenberg their great Master, and William, Marquis of Brandenburg, Archbishop of Riga; and though besides this inward Fire, the Muscovites Incursions from abroad threatened them, yet could they never agree, but rather divided from their late great Master Gotthard Kettler, who after the Northern part of Livonia had submitted to the King of Sweden, persuaded the other Provinces thereof to chuse the King of Poland’s Protection, 1562. reserving for himself the Dutchies of Courland and Semigallia, which his Posterity enjoys to this Day. 42
Thus, Sir, I have given you a general Idea of those things which I design to make more clear in my next; and I shall think my Time happily employed if I can gather any thing that may conduce to your Satisfaction.
| 1 |
Rimbertus qui Diaconus primum & deinde Archiepiscopus Hamburgensium fuit, vixitq; seculo nono, in vita st. Ansgarii cap. 27. de Curlandis haec memoriæ prodit: Gens quædam ab eis longe posita, vocata Chori, sueonum Principatui olim subjecta fuerat; sed jam tunc diu erat, quod rebellando eis subjici dedignabatur. Deinde narrata Danorum Clade, addit; quod audiens pradictus Rex Oleph: (Olaus ejus nominis secundus;) populusq; sueonum, volentes sibi Nomen acquirere, quod facere possent, quæ Dani non secerant, & quia sibi etiam antea subjecti fuerant, innumerabili congregato exercitu illas adierunt partes, & primo quidem improviso ad quandam urbem Regni ipsorum 27 vocatam Seeburg, in qua erant septem Millia pugnatorum, devenientes, penitus illam vastando succenderunt. Exinde confortati animo, dimissis navibus, iter quinq; dierum arripientes, ad aliam urbem ipsorum, Appulia dicebatur, effero corde properabant. Erant autem in illa urbe quindecim millia bellatorum; Post gravem oppugnationem, his legibus deditionem faciunt Curones: Primo quidem quicquid ex spoliis Danorum preterito anno in auro & armis acquisivimus, vobis pro munere fæderis damus. Deinde pro unoquoq; hominum in hac urbe, constitutorum, dimidiam libram argenti offerimus, & insuper censum quem antea solebamus vobis dare, persolvemus, & datis obsidibus, ab hinc subjecti & Obedientes, sicuti antea fuimus, vestro imperio esse volumus. Notes on translation:
|
| 2 | we only have academic speculation for the location of three of the five |
| 3 | indisputable |
| 4 | Vid. Conring & Hartkn. in Prussia refers to early modern historical authorities who compiled and interpreted northern European and Baltic history. Hermann Conring↗ (1606–1681), a German jurist and historian, wrote on the history and legal-political organization of the Germanic lands, including references to missionary activity and commerce in the Baltic region. Christoph Hartknoch↗ (1644–1687), in his Alt und Neues Preussen (1684), provides a detailed account of the colonization of Livonia, the establishment of early bishoprics, and the efforts of missionaries such as Meinhard↗. Hartknoch’s work draws on medieval sources (including annals and letters from Bremen) and was widely cited by 17th‑century authors as an authoritative narrative of early German-Baltic interactions. |
| 5 |
Orbem quod totum victor Romanus haberet,
Quà mare qua terra, qua fidus currit utrumq;
&
Roma Caput Mundi, regit Orbis frena rotundi.
Notes on translation:
|
| 6 |
Copia Investituræ Hermanni Dorpatensium
Primi Episcopi, ab eodem Henrito
Romanorum Rege.
HENRICUS Dei Gratia Romanorum Rex; & semper Augustus, Universis Imperii fidelibus, quibus præsens scriptum ostensum fuerit gratiam suam & omne bonum; Notum esse volumus universis, quod nos ad petitionem dilecti fidelis nostri Hermanni, venerabilis Torbatensis Episcopi, Marchiam unam per totum ejus Episcopatum per has videlicet provincias, Ugenois, Waigels, sobolits, saccale, Moike, Alumbus, Narmegunde constituimus; & eundem ei principatum jure aliorum Principum concessimus; Dantes ei auctoritatem monetam faciendi, ac fundandi Civitatem in Tarbato & in locis aliis in quibus eas fieri oportet. si autem in illis locis vena metalli cujus libet, vel Thesaurus absconditus fuerit repertus; in his & hujus modi jus nostrum speciale de Consilio Principum noftrorum, ipfius fidei commisimus, mandantes itaq; & Regia Authoritate firmiter præcipientes, ut de omnibus justiciis & Nationibus ad Regalem Jurisdictionem pertinentibus sæpe fato Episcopo respondeatur & per omnia obediatur; scituri, quod nos ipsum tanquam dilectum 33 Imperii Principem sincere diligimus, & cum per ipsum Imperiales Termini dilatentur & annuente Domino, barbarorum in fidelitas jugo Christi subjugetur; nihil eorum omittere volumus, que ipsius commodo conducere poterunt, & Honori. Hujus autem nostre Concessionis Testes sunt venerabiles salceburgensis & Trevirensis, Patzaviensis & Estadensis Episcopi; Austrie, saxonia, Bavaria & Carinthie Duces; Langravius Thuringiæ & Alii quam plures Comites, Nobiles & Imperii Ministeriales. Datum apud Norinbergum Calendis Decembr. Anno Domini Incarnationis, 1224. |
| 7 |
Copia Investituræ Alberti Livonorum
Tertii Episcopi ab Henrico Friderici II. Romanorum Imperatoris Filio; Romanorum Rege collata in Comitiis Norinbergensibus, 1226 juxta
Computationem Helvici.
HENRICUS Dei Gratia Romanorum Rex, & semper Augustus, Universis Imperii Fidelibus, ad quos hæ Literæ pervenerint Gratiam suam & omne bonum. Ad petitionem Alberti venerabilis Livoniensis Episcopi, Marchiam unam per totum ejus Episcopatum, per Livoniam videlicet & Lettiam, Lehale & Terras Maritimas 34 instituimus & eundem ipsi Principatum jure aliorum Principum, munificentia Regali concessimus; Dantes ei potestatem faciendi monetam & fundandi Civitatem in Riga & in Locis aliis in quibus eas fieri oportet. si autem in partibus illis vena metalli cujuslibet sive Thesaurus absconditus manifestatus fuerit, in hujus modi jus nostrum speciale ipsius fidei de consilio Principum nostrorum commisimus: statuimus igitur & sub interminatione Gratia nostra firmiter præcipimus, quatenus Episcopo prænominato de omnibus justitiis & rationibus ad Regalem Jurisdictionem pertinentibus plene respondeatur & per omnia intendatur, scituri quod ipsum tanquam dilectum Principem Imperii sincere diligimus. Et cum per eum Imperiales Termini dilatentur & Barbarorum Infidelitas annuente Domino Christiano cultui subjugetur, nihil eorum omittere volumus, quæ commodo suo conducere poterunt & honori. Hujus nostræ Concessionis Testes sunt Trevirensis & salceburgensis Archiepiscopi, Augustensis, Bambergensis, Patzaviensis, & Estadiensis Episcopi; Austriæ, saxoniæ, Bavariæ & Carinthiæ Duces, Landgravius Thuringiæ & alii quam plures Principes, Nobiles & Imperii Ministeriales. Datum apud Norenbergam Calendis Decembr. Indictione XIV. 35 This charter mirrors the 1224 Dorpat grant above, elevating the bishop of Riga/Livonia to the rank of imperial prince (Reichsfürst):
|
| 8 | two red swords crossed diagonally |
| 9 | The Livonian Order and the bishops regularly called the country Marienland/ Terra Mariana; the author clarified “Parien Land” meaning “fatherland” as referring to Livonia. |
| 10 | Pomarius – Thomas Pomarius (German Thomas Baumgart/Baumgarten, c. 1540–1608), Lutheran pastor at Königsberg and one of the principal early modern historians of Prussia and Livonia. His chief work, commonly cited as the “Chronicon Prussiae”↗ or “Chronica Prutenica”, was composed in Latin in the later sixteenth century and printed in the early seventeenth. Pomarius did not write as an eyewitness to medieval events, but as a humanist compiler, drawing extensively on earlier sources such as Peter of Dusburg↗, the Livonian Rhymed Chronicle, episcopal letters, and the archives of the Teutonic and Livonian Orders. Seventeenth-century authors valued him for preserving traditions and documents otherwise difficult to consult, particularly concerning the first missionaries to Livonia, the foundation of Riga, and the campaigns of the Military Orders. His work reflects the learned historiography of Königsberg and must be read as an interpretive synthesis rather than a primary medieval chronicle. |
| 11 | correct year for the Battle of Saule is 1236, based on Volkwin's death |
| 12 | medieval term for Arab Muslims |
↗