About 750 years ago the people of Old Prussia were converted from Paganism to the Roman Catholic (Christian) faith. With the peace treaty concluded 1) 7 February 1249 the Old Prussians submitted to the will of the Catholic Church, thereby officially giving up their Pagan Religion and heathen culture. Although the Old Prussians had become Christians, many continued to practice their heathen customs.
In this treaty the Deutscher Orden [Teutonic Knights] through the confession of individual heathens, gave the Convert the right to buy and own property and to leave property to their Descendenten, Ascendenten and Cognaten 2)of both sexes. As heathens, only sons could inherit. This change in the rules of ownership at death meant that their real estate and other personal property would go to the Orden or to its gentlemen, if they did not maintain order over it. The new Christian Convert could make a will that included personal property and real estate. This was a limited power, however given under the condition that if they did not bequeath their real estate to a church or a clergyman the inheritor must sell the property within a period of one year of inheriting, otherwise the property fell to the ownership of the Orden. In Old Prussia, no church other than the Roman Catholic Church could acquire real estate. The Orden had power over the country and controlled the church as if it was the lien holder of both.
The "new" Christian could sell their property as Germans, Prussians and Pommerians, however they must place bail, which guaranteed the Orden that they would not flee after the sales "to the heaths or the Orden enemies".
The Orden allowed Old Prussians the "according-to-law marriage ceremony" acting as a trustee and in equality with the court in certification of the marriage. An Old Prussian may now rise in status to knighthood under the condition that they were born of a "noble origin". These Old Prussian knights received all of the personal liberties under the condition that they subordinate themselves to the Roman Catholic Church and stayed obedient to the Orden.
In the contract, the Old Prussians decided for the Polish right, but it is not by judgement "on glowing iron" nor against its application in times to come, equally all articles of the Polish right remain to be impossible against God, the Roman Church and the churches liberties without a courts judgement, of these personal rights their personal property could not be taken away by the Orden.
The New Convert, particularly of Pomesanien, Ermland and Natangen, promised to give up their heathen customs. They could no longer bury their dead ones with horses, other humans (!), and weapons, nor burn or bury dresses or other precious things. The convert had to agree to burial in a cemetery with Christian ceremony, giving up the idol Curche 3) of sacrifice which was an established routine of once annually from sheaves and other Gods. In addition they had to give up Tulissonen and league care 4), which before-lie to see the dead persons with horse and weapons in that world as priests with funerals to hold more.
The purchase and sale of woman, to include their daughters was forbidden and stepmothers could no longer be married. On the other hand gifts were permitted to the bride, dowry and morning gifts could be given to the relatives.
The Prussians promised to obey the church laws concerning the family relationships of marriage, to leave property only to children of the marriage, children not to suspend any longer or to kill (!), but to be baptized within eight days of birth and to give them, if necessary, baptism in the event of impending death. All of the people, who were not yet baptized had to be baptized within a month. Those who do not become Christians within this period are lost and will be driven out leaving their personal goods behind.
The Pomesianer will build 13 churches to Whitsuntide: to Pozolove or Rutiz, to Pastelina, Lingues, Lyopicz, Comor St. Adalberti, Bobus, 2 in Geria, Prozile, Resia, old Christian castle, Raydez and new Christian castle, the Ermen in the same period 6: in the village, where Jedun lives, in Surimis, Bandadis, Slinia, Wuntenowe and Busebergue, the Natanger 3: equip it to Labegow, in the neighbourhood of Tummo's and to Suitwiert 5) and with church device. If the churches are not established within this period, the Orden may draw on the necessary means and build thus the churches themselves.
Within one year the Orden will assign the churches priests and will supply these with the necessary lands for obtaining their living expenses. Each church will keep eight hooves 6) , 4 fields and 4 forests, the tenth from 20 hooks 6) ,2 oxens,1 cow and 1 horse provisional. If a tenth of all harvests for whatever reasons cannot be paid, then the vicar will receive instead, grain for baking and beer brewing, for the field and for the sowing. If the living conditions improved after the signing of the peace treaty, then the amount that the vicars take is to be increased. The Tenth is to be deliveblack into the Orden barn.
The "new" Christians promised to go to church on Sundays and church holidays. In addition they had to go to the church at least one time of the year to confess and at Easter to receive the communion. In the chamfering time they could not eat "meat and milk foods" and on Fridays could eat no meat.
The Old Prussians promised to permit no betrayal of the Orden. If they went to war they must carry out all actions at their own expense. If they become imprisoned, the Orden promises to release them.
This peace treaty was sworn to by both parties and by the Vicelandmeister, the Convent of Balga and the marshal of Prussia sealed it.
1)
Dr. M. Perlbach: Preussische Regesten bis zum Ausgange des dreizehnten Jahrhunderts (Königsberg 1876) (Prussian Regests until the end of the 13th century) published in german©
Copyright 1999 bei Hans Pettelkau, D-41379 Brüggen