''Ordensburg'' (plural ''Ordensburgen'') is a

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

term meaning "

castle A castle is a type of fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by military orders. Scholars debate the scope of the word ''castle'', but usually consider it to be the private fortified r ...

fortress A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...

es of (military) orders", and is used specifically for such fortified structures built by crusading

military orders during the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

Medieval Ordensburgen

The Ordensburgs were originally constructed by the

Livonian Brothers of the Sword The Livonian Brothers of the Sword ( la, Fratres militiæ Christi Livoniae, german: Schwertbrüderorden) was a Catholic military order established in 1202 during the Livonian Crusade by Albert, the third bishop of Riga (or possibly by Theoderi ...

and later the

Teutonic Knights The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem, commonly known as the Teutonic Order, is a Catholic religious institution founded as a military society in Acre, Kingdom of Jerusalem. It was formed to aid Christians o ...

to fortify territory in

Prussia Prussia, , Old Prussian: ''Prūsa'' or ''Prūsija'' was a German state on the southeast coast of the Baltic Sea. It formed the German Empire under Prussian rule when it united the German states in 1871. It was ''de facto'' dissolved by an e ...

and

Livonia Livonia ( liv, Līvõmō, et, Liivimaa, fi, Liivinmaa, German and Scandinavian languages: ', archaic German: ''Liefland'', nl, Lijfland, Latvian and lt, Livonija, pl, Inflanty, archaic English: ''Livland'', ''Liwlandia''; russian: Ли ...

captured from the native populations -

Old Prussians Old Prussians, Baltic Prussians or simply Prussians ( Old Prussian: ''prūsai''; german: Pruzzen or ''Prußen''; la, Pruteni; lv, prūši; lt, prūsai; pl, Prusowie; csb, Prësowié) were an indigenous tribe among the Baltic peoples that ...

Lithuanians Lithuanians ( lt, lietuviai) are a Baltic ethnic group. They are native to Lithuania, where they number around 2,378,118 people. Another million or two make up the Lithuanian diaspora, largely found in countries such as the United States, Unite ...

and native peoples of what is now

Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika, links=no, ltg, Latvejas Republika, links=no, liv, Leţmō Vabāmō, links=no), is a country in the Baltic region of ...

and

Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, an ...

. Later, Ordensburgs were used to attack

Lithuania Lithuania (; lt, Lietuva ), officially the Republic of Lithuania ( lt, Lietuvos Respublika, links=no ), is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea. Lithuania ...

. Since they were built and used by religious military orders, the Ordensburgs often resembled

cloister A cloister (from Latin ''claustrum'', "enclosure") is a covered walk, open gallery, or open arcade running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle or garth. The attachment of a cloister to a cathedral or church, commonly against ...

s. While they were considerably larger than those in the

Holy Roman Empire The Holy Roman Empire was a political entity in Western, Central, and Southern Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its dissolution in 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars. From the accession of Otto I in 962 unt ...

, they were much scarcer in the Monastic state of the Teutonic Knights. While a normal castle in the Reich would control about 38 km², a castle would control 370 km² in Prussia and 789 km² in Livonia,

Courland Courland (; lv, Kurzeme; liv, Kurāmō; German and Scandinavian languages: ''Kurland''; la, Curonia/; russian: Курляндия; Estonian: ''Kuramaa''; lt, Kuršas; pl, Kurlandia) is one of the Historical Latvian Lands in western Latvia ...

and

. The few small castles are considered to be of

vassal A vassal or liege subject is a person regarded as having a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch, in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. While the subordinate party is called a vassal, the dominant party is called a suzerai ...

s, while the larger ones might have served as

arsenal An arsenal is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, or issued, in any combination, whether privately or publicly owned. Arsenal and armoury (British English) or armory (American English) are mostl ...

s and strongholds during the

Northern Crusades The Northern Crusades or Baltic Crusades were Christian colonization and Christianization campaigns undertaken by Catholic Christian military orders and kingdoms, primarily against the pagan Baltic, Finnic and West Slavic peoples around th ...

and were purpose-built to colonize the respective countries and peoples by capturing (and holding) territory. Most Ordensburgs were rectangular, even quadratic in form, built from

red brick A brick is a type of block used to build walls, pavements and other elements in masonry construction. Properly, the term ''brick'' denotes a block composed of dried clay, but is now also used informally to denote other chemically cured cons ...

and lacking a

Bergfried ''Bergfried'' (plural: ''bergfriede''; English: ''belfry''; French: ''tour-beffroi''; Spanish: ''torre del homenaje'') is a tall tower that is typically found in castles of the Middle Ages in German-speaking countries and in countries under Germ ...

. Many castles had no towers at all, as the bailey, a mighty quadrangle, was considered sufficient for defence.

List of medieval Ordensburgen

* Adsel (Gaujiena, Latvia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a commandery *

Allenstein Olsztyn ( , ; german: Allenstein ; Old Prussian: ''Alnāsteini'' * Latin: ''Allenstenium'', ''Holstin'') is a city on the Łyna River in northern Poland. It is the capital of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, and is a city with county rights. ...

(Olsztyn, Poland) * Alschwangen (Alsunga, Latvia) - a genuine order castle * Altona (Altene, Latvia) * Angern (Angerja, Estonia) - vassal castle * Angerburg (Węgorzewo, Poland) * Arensburg (Kuressaare, Estonia) - bishop castle * Arrasch (Āraiši, Latvia) *

Ascheraden Aizkraukle (german: Ascheraden) is a town in Vidzeme region in Latvia, the administrative centre of Aizkraukle Municipality on the right bank of the Daugava River. The population in 2020 was 7,018. History In the second half of the 14th century ...

(Aizkraukle, Latvia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a commandery *

Ass Ass most commonly refers to: * Buttocks (in informal American English) * Donkey or ass, ''Equus africanus asinus'' **any other member of the subgenus ''Asinus'' Ass or ASS may also refer to: Art and entertainment * ''Ass'' (album), 1973 albu ...

(Kiltsi, Estonia) - vassal castle * Bäslack (Bezławki, Poland) * Balga (Balga, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) * Barten (Barciany, Poland) *

Bauske Bauska () is a town in Bauska Municipality, in the Zemgale region of southern Latvia. Bauska is located from the Latvian capital Riga, 62 km (38.5 mi) from Jelgava and from the Lithuanian border on the busy European route E67. ...

(Bauska, Latvia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a bailiff * Bebern * Berson (Bērzaune, Latvia) * Birgelau (Bierzgłowo, Poland) * Borkholm (Porkuni, Estonia) - bishop castle *

Brandenburg Brandenburg (; nds, Brannenborg; dsb, Bramborska ) is a state in the northeast of Germany bordering the states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Saxony, as well as the country of Poland. With an area of 29,480 squ ...

(Ushakovo, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) * Burtneck (Burtnieki, Latvia) - a genuine order castle, seat of lower officials * Bütow (Bytów, Poland) * Caymen (Zarechye, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) * Danzig (Gdańsk, Poland) * Dibau (Podgórz, Poland) *

Doblen Dobele (; german: Doblen) is a town in the cultural region Zemgale in Latvia, and is located near the center of Latvia on the banks of the river Bērze. It received town rights in 1917 whilst being a part of the German occupied Courland Gover ...

(Dobele, Latvia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a commandery * Domnau (Domnovo, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) * Dondangen (Dundaga, Latvia) - a bishop castle * Dorpat (Tartu, Estonia) - bishop castle * Dünaburg (Daugavpils, Latvia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a commandery * Dünamünde (Daugavgrīva, Latvia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a commandery *

Durbe Durbe (; german: Durben, lt, Durbė, pl, Dorbiany, russian: Дурбе ''Durbe''/Дурбен ''Durben'') is a town in Latvia. Durbe was first noted in 1260, when the Battle of Durbe occurred near Lake Durbe. As of 2020, the population was 492. ...

n (Durbe, Latvia) * Eckersburg (Okartowo, Poland) * Edwahlen (Ēdole, Latvia) - a bishop castle * Engelsburg (Pokrzywno, Poland) * Elbing (Elbląg, Poland) * Erlaa (Ērgļi, Latvia) * Ermes (Ērģeme, Latvia) *

Falkenau Falkenau is a village and a former municipality in the district of Mittelsachsen, in Saxony, Germany. Since 1 October 2011, it is part of the town Flöha Flöha () is a town in the district of Mittelsachsen, in Saxony, Germany. Flöha is s ...

(Kärkna, Estonia) - monastery *

Fellin Viljandi (, german: Fellin, sv, Fellin) is a town and municipality in southern Estonia with a population of 17,407 in 2019. It is the capital of Viljandi County and is geographically located between two major Estonian cities, Pärnu and Tartu ...

(Viljandi, Estonia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a commandery * Fickel (Vigala, Estonia) - vassal castle * Georgenburg (Mayovka, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) *

Goldingen Goldingen is a former municipality in the ''Wahlkreis'' (constituency) of See-Gaster in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland. On 1 January 2013 the former municipalities of Goldingen and St. Gallenkappel merged into the municipality of Esc ...

(Kuldīga, Latvia) * Gollub (Golub-Dobrzyń, Poland) * Graudenz (Grudziądz, Poland) * Grobin (Grobiņa, Latvia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a bailiff * Groß Roop (Lielstraupe, Latvia) - a bishop castle * Hapsal (Haapsalu, Estonia) - bishop castle * Hasenpoth (Aizpute, Latvia) * Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński, Poland) * Helmat (Helme, Estonia) - a genuine order castle * Hochrosen (Augstroze, Latvia) * Hofzumberg (Tērvete, Latvia) * Holme (Mārtiņsala, Latvia) *

Insterburg Chernyakhovsk (russian: Черняхо́вск) – known prior to 1946 by its German name of (Old Prussian: Instrāpils, lt, Įsrutis; pl, Wystruć) – is a town in the Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia, where it is the administrative center of C ...

(Chernyakhovsk, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) * Jaschnitz (Nowy Jasiniec, Poland) *

Johannisburg Pisz (pronounced , previously also ''Jańsbork'', german: Johannisburg) is a historic town in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship in northern Poland, with a population of 19,466 (2016). It is the seat of Pisz County. Pisz is situated at the juncti ...

(Pisz, Poland) * Kalzenau (Kalsnava, Latvia) * Kandau (Kandava, Latvia) * Karkus (Karksi, Estonia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a bailiff * Kirrumpäh (Kirumpää, Estonia) - bishop castle *

Königsberg Königsberg (, ) was the historic Prussian city that is now Kaliningrad, Russia. Königsberg was founded in 1255 on the site of the ancient Old Prussian settlement ''Twangste'' by the Teutonic Knights during the Northern Crusades, and was ...

(Kaliningrad, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) - a genuine order castle, seat of Grand Master *

Kokenhusen Koknese () is a town in Aizkraukle Municipality in the Vidzeme region of Latvia, on the right bank of the Daugava River. It has a population of nearly 3,000. According to the provisions of the 2021 Latvian administrative reform, Koknese gained c ...

(Koknese, Latvia) - a bishop castle * Kremon (Krimulda, Latvia) - a bishop castle * Kyda (Kiiu, Estonia) - vassal castle * Labiau (Polessk, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) * Lais (Laiuse, Estonia) - a genuine order castle * Lamgraben (Grabno, Poland) * Leal (Lihula, Estonia) - built and held jointly by order and bishop * Lemsal (Limbaži, Latvia) * Leipe (Lipienek, Poland) * Lennewarden (Lielvārde, Latvia) - a bishop castle * Lochstädt (Baltiysk, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) * Loxten (Lokstene, Latvia) * Ludsen (Ludza, Latvia) - a genuine order castle * Lyck (Ełk, Poland) * Marienburg (Alūksne, Latvia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a commandery * Marienburg (Malbork, Poland) - a genuine order castle, seat of Grand Master *

Marienwerder Kwidzyn (pronounced ; german: Marienwerder; Latin: ''Quedin''; Old Prussian: ''Kwēdina'') is a town in northern Poland on the Liwa River, with 38,553 inhabitants (2018). It is the capital of Kwidzyn County in the Pomeranian Voivodeship. Geog ...

(Kwidzyn, Poland) * Mehlsack (Pieniężno, Poland) * Memel (Klaipėda, Lithuania) - a genuine order castle * Mewe (Gniew, Poland) * Mohrungen (Morąg, Poland) * Mojahn (Mujāni, Latvia) * Narwa (Narva, Estonia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a bailiff * Neidenburg (Nidzica, Poland) * Nessau (Nieszawa, Poland) * Neuenburg (Jaunpils, Latvia) - a genuine order castle * Neuermühlen (Ādaži, Latvia) * Neuhausen (Guryevsk, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) * Neuhausen (Valtaiķi, Latvia) * Neuhausen (Vastseliina, Estonia) - bishop castle * Neu Kirchholm (Salaspils, Latvia) * Neuschloß (Vasknarva, Estonia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a bailiff * Oberpahlen (Põltsamaa, Estonia) - a genuine order castle, seat of bailiff * Odenpäh (Otepää, Estonia) - bishop castle * Ortelsburg (Szczytno, Poland) * Ossiek (Osiek, Poland) * Osterode (Ostróda, Poland) * Padis (Padise, Estonia) - monastery * Papau (Papowo Biskupie, Poland) * Pernau (Pärnu, Estonia) - a genuine order castle, seat of bailiff * Peude (Pöide, Estonia) - a genuine order castle, seat of bailiff *

Pilten Piltene (; pl, Piltyń, german: Pilten) is a town in northwestern Latvia. The population in 2020 was 909. The ruins of Piltene Castle are located in Piltene. Population Population (Year): 40,000 (1795) History *1220: King Valdemar II of Den ...

(Piltene, Latvia) * Pöddes (Kalvi, Estonia) - vassal castle *

Preußisch Holland Preußisch is the German language adjective for "Prussian". Preußisch may refer to: ;Places in Germany *Preußisch Oldendorf, town in North Rhine-Westphalia ;Places outside of Germany *Preußisch Eylau, now Bagrationovsk, Russia *Preußisch F ...

(Pasłęk, Poland) *

Preußisch Mark Przezmark is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Elbląg, within Elbląg County, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, in northern Poland. It lies approximately north-east of Elbląg and north-west of the regional capital Olsztyn. N ...

(Przezmark, Poland) *

Ragnit Neman (russian: Не́ман; german: Ragnit; lt, Ragainė; pl, Ragneta), is a town and the administrative center of Nemansky District in Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia, located in the historic region of Lithuania Minor, on the steep southern ba ...

(Neman, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) * Rastenburg (Kętrzyn, Poland) * Reval (Tallinn, Estonia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a commandery * Rheden (Radzyń Chełmiński, Poland) *

Rhein Rhein may refer to: Places * Rhine, a major river in Europe (german: Rhein, link=no) * Rhein, a village in the municipality of Morsbach in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany * Rhein (Ostpreussen), a former name of the town Ryn in Poland Ships * SM ...

(Ryn, Poland) *

Riesenburg Prabuty (german: Riesenburg) is a town in Kwidzyn County within the Pomeranian Voivodeship of northern Poland. Before World War I, the town belonged to the German province of West Prussia. It was ceded to Poland in 1945. Between 1975 and 1998, ...

(Prabuty, Poland) *

Riga Riga (; lv, Rīga , liv, Rīgõ) is the capital and largest city of Latvia and is home to 605,802 inhabitants which is a third of Latvia's population. The city lies on the Gulf of Riga at the mouth of the Daugava river where it meets the ...

(Riga, Latvia) - a genuine order castle, seat of Grand Master * Rössel (Reszel, Poland) * Rodenpois (Ropaži, Latvia) * Roggenhausen (Rogóźno-Zamek, Poland) * Ronneburg (Rauna, Latvia) - a bishop castle * Rosenberck (Susz, Poland) * Rositten (Rēzekne, Latvia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a bailiff * Rujen (Rūjiena, Latvia) * Saalau (Żuława, Poland) * Salis (Salacgrīva, Latvia) - a bishop castle * Schaaken (Nekrasovo, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) * Schlochau (Człuchów, Poland) * Schönberg (Skaistkalne, Latvia) * Schönsee (Kowalewo Pomorskie, Poland) * Schwanenburg (Gulbene, Latvia) * Schwetz (Świecie, Poland) * Seehesten (Szestno, Poland) *

Segewold Sigulda (; german: Segewold, pl, Zygwold, russian: Сигулда) is a town in the Vidzeme region of Latvia, from the capital city Riga. Overview Sigulda is on a picturesque stretch of the primeval Gauja river valley. Because of the reddish D ...

(Sigulda, Latvia) - a genuine order castle, seat of Land Marshal * Selburg (near modern

Vecsēlpils Vecsēlpils ("old Sēlpils", formerly Sēlpils; german: Selburg) is a village in Sēlpils Parish, Jēkabpils Municipality in the Selonia region of Latvia, on the location of the ancient Selonian town of Sēlpils. The ruins of the ancient Sēlpi ...

, Latvia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a bailiff * Sesswangen (Cesvaine, Latvia) * Smilten (Smiltene, Latvia) * Soldau (Działdowo, Poland) * Sonnenburg (Maasi, Estonia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a bailiff * Straßburg (Brodnica, Poland) * Stuhm (Sztum, Poland) * Tapiau (Gvardeysk, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) * Taplaken (Talpaki, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) * Tarwast (Tarvastu, Estonia) - a genuine order castle * Terweten (Tērvete, Latvia) * Tolsburg (Toolse, Estonia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a bailiff *

Thorn Thorn(s) or The Thorn(s) may refer to: Botany * Thorns, spines, and prickles, sharp structures on plants * ''Crataegus monogyna'', or common hawthorn, a plant species Comics and literature * Rose and Thorn, the two personalities of two DC Comic ...

(Toruń, Poland) - a genuine order castle, seat of a commandery * Treyden (Turaida, Latvia) - a bishop castle * Trikaten (Trikāta, Latvia) * Tuchel (Tuchola, Poland) * Tuckum (Tukums, Latvia) * Türpsal (Järve, Estonia) - vassal castle *

Uexküll Uexküll (also Üxküll or Yxkull) is the historic German name of Ikšķile, a town in Latvia. It is also the name of a Baltic-German noble family. Uexküll was originally a Bremen noble family whose lineage can be traced to several places, the ...

(Ikšķile, Latvia) * Villack (Viļaka, Latvia) - a bishop castle *

Wack WACK (1420 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a full service format and licensed to Newark, New York, United States. The station is owned by Waynco Radio, Inc., and features programming from CNN Radio and Westwood One. WACK is the station wh ...

(Vao, Estonia) - vassal castle * Waldau (Nizovye, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) * Warbeck (Uue-Kastre, Estonia) - bishop castle * Weißenstein (Paide, Estonia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a bailiff * Welsas (Wieldządz, Poland) * Wenden (Cēsis, Latvia) - a genuine order castle, seat of Grand Master * Werder (Virtsu, Estonia) - vassal castle * Wesenberg (Rakvere, Estonia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a bailiff * Windau (Ventspils, Latvia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a commander * Wolkenburg (Volkenberga, Latvia) * Wolmar (Valmiera, Latvia) * Zlotterie (Złotoria, Poland)

References

* {{Fortifications

Medieval Ordensburgen

List of medieval Ordensburgen

See also

References