Prussia

The original inhabitants of Prussia were the Slavi or Sarmatae, in the east and north-east ; the Vandals on the shores of the Bal ic, or the north of Pomerania, and the Suevi in the remainder of the kingdom. (Vide Murray's ILstory of European Languages, § Suevi et Sartnaticae.) These people, particularly the first, have been represented as extremely savage and barbarous, insomuch that they used to drink the blood of the lower animals ; were igno rant of the art of constructing huts, and lived in caves or under the shade of trees. Such rude tribes cannot be ex pected to afford materials for history ; and hence little certain is known respecting them till the thirteenth cen tury, when the territories which they occupied were wrest ed from them by the knights of the Teutonic order. This celebrated fraternity must be known to every reader. The Germans, after the death of Barbarossa, behaved with so much bravery in the Holy Land, that Henry, King of Jerusalem, the patriarch, and other princes, rewarded their valour by conferring on them certain privileges. The order in question was thus instituted. The persons belonging to it were originally called the knights of St. George; they afterwards were denominated Equites i\Ja riani, or Knights of St. Mary. In 1190, they elected Henry Walpol their first grand-master, a German, who had dis tinguished himself for wisdom and bravery ; and in the sub sequent year the Pope (Celestine III.) confirmed to them the privileges they already enjoyed, and conferred on them the title of Knights of the Teutonic Order; an appellation by which they afterwards became so famous, and which they obtained from the name by which Germany, their native country, was called. Having, by donations and other means, become opulent, and, consequently, powerful, and having been expelled, with the other Christians, from the Holy Land by Saladin, they were first introduced (1227) into the territories which we are considering by Conrade, Duke of Masovia, w ho, in opposing the pretensions of his uncle Boleslaus V. to the throne of Poland, availed himself of their assistance in the attempt. Conrade being unsuc cessful, and peace being restored, the Teutonic Knights had the province of Culm assigned them. But they were of too ambitious and warlike a character either to remain long in peace, or to be contented with the limited territory which had been given them. No sooner indeed was peace concluded with Boleslaus, than they began to extend their dominions over the neighbouring districts, towards the north, and ere long obtained possession of Dantzick ; a city even then of importance, and the inhabitants of which they butchered in the most cruel and savage manner. The cruelty thus shown so terrified the neighbouring cities and provinces, that they, without almost any ex ception, tamely submitted to their ruthless invaders. The increasing power, and the unrelenting tyranny of the Knights, awakened the fears and the displeasure of the church ; and, accordingly, they were commanded by the Pope to renounce their conquests. They were now, how ever, become too powerful to yield even to this high authority, and submitted to be excommunicated rather than profess obedience, and resign the extensive acqui sitions they had acquired. But the Pope was not the only enemy they had to encounter. Uladislaus, King of Poland, marched against them; and his armies were found to be more formidable than the anathemas of the see of Rome. After a bloody and desperate engagement, they suffered a complete defeat, though they were reinforced by the forces of the Dukes of Masovia and Brandenburg ; the latter being involved in these hostilities, as he had presumed to sell the right of certain lands to the Teutonic Knights. Had Uladislaus availed himself of the advantages this victory afforded him, he might have exterminated his enemies, and delivered that quarter of Europe from a class of men, who, for nearly three centuries, involt, cd it in slaughter and blood, and who seemed to sacrifice every worthy principle to their own ambition and aggrandize ment. But, instead of pushing his advantages, he con cluded a peace with them, under the mediation of the kings of Bohemia and Ilung,aty. The Knights, however, wero not of a character to keep a treaty of peace long inviolate, however fair and desirable its conditions might be. In a few months, they not only refused to evacuate Pomerania, according to their stipulations, but endeavoured to extend their usurpations in all directions. The Polish monarch, forced to march against them a second time, gained so decisive a victory, that 4000 Knights were slain on the field of battle, and 30,000 auxiliaries either killed or taken prisoners. Uladislaus was still influenced by the sante feelings with regard to the Knights as formerly, and, instead of extirpating them, he granted them peace, on the condition of the provinces which occasioned the war being ceded to him. Hostilities a third time broke out between Poland and the Knights; but through the good conduct and bravery of Plawen, their grand-master, an advantageous peace was again granted them. The Knights, notwithstanding the long series of wars in Al hich they had been engaged with Poland, and the resistance made by the native tribes whom they attacked, were now (in addition to Culm, their first territory) in possession of Samogitia, Masovia, Silesia, and Pomerania, and the provinces now denominated East and West Prussia. The original inha bitants of these countries were, of course, superseded by Germans, who, in a great degree, introduced new customs, new laws, and a new language. But the power of the Teutonic Knights was not always to continue. In the fifteenth century, after a series of discomfitures, they were completely subdued by Casimir IV. and obliged to sur render the territories of Culm, Pomerania, and other places to the Poles, on the condition that they should retain Prussia, (now East Prussia,) and that the grand master of their order should have a seat in the Polish senate, and take an oath of allegiance and fidelity to Casimir and the republic. These conditions were too severe to be easily acquiesced in by this turbulent and enterprising people; and, accordingly, they endeavoured, though unsuccessfully, to throw off their vassalage to Poland. The last grand-master of the order was Albert, elector of Brandenburg, and nephew to Sigismund 1. King of Poland. He was elected to this dignity in hope that, by his affinity to Sigismund, he might obtain the restoration of parts of the territories forfeited to Poland, and might accomplish the removal of the vassalage they now were obliged to pay to that power. But these hopes were completely frustrated. Albert, in the first place, instead of using interest with his uncle for the restitution of the lost privileges of the Teutonic Knights, refused to do him homage, and endeavoured not merely to throw off his allegiance, but to recover, by force of arms, the pro vinces which his predecessors had surrendered to Poland. In the exhausted and dispirited state in which this order was then placed, the result of so imprudent an attempt may easily be conjectured. Albert was defeated at every step of his enterprise, and was at length compelled to resign the office and dignity of grand-master; in return for which, however, Sigismund conferred on him the title of Duke, and the province he had enjoyed as grand master. Previously to this change of title and of rank, he had to consent to lay aside the habit and the tenets of the order over which he presided,to embrace Lutheranism. and to consent to hold his dominions as a fief of Poland. The title and possessions were to descend (on the same conditions as those by which he held them) to his heir, male, and upon failure of his direct lineage, to revert to his brother or his male issue. This event took place in 1531, neati% three centuries after the time the Teutonic Knights obtained the grant of the territory of CuInt. Albert, now interested in expelling this fraternity from his dominion.,, did not rest till he had accomplished this object. The Knights transferred their chapter to Marien

dal in Franconia ; and though once so powerful and so celebi ated, they gradually sunk into an obscure and unim portant people ; and at this day little more than their name now remains. • Albert being descended of the house of Brandenburg, and being the founder of a dynasty which has 110W attained to such eminence, it may not be improper to turn back and give a brief account of the family to which he be longed, and of which the present sovereign of Prussia is the representative. This family, (Hohen Zollern,) which is one of the oldest in Europe, had its origin in the south west of Germany. From the earliest periods, they pos sessed a petty principality in Suabia, and occasionally held the office of burg-grave, or governor of the castle of Nuremburg. They seem, even in that rude age, to have been distinguished for prudence, economy, and a well regulated desire of improving their hereditary importance. They found means to render the office of burg-grave here ditary in their family; in 1248, they obtained the princi palities of Bayreuth and Anspach, in Franconia; and, in 1415, Frederick, burg-grave of Nuremburg, purchased the margraviate of Brandenburg, for the sum of 400,000 ducats.* Frederick was now raised to the dignity of elector, and arch-chamberlain of the holy Roman empire ; and the purchase of Brandenburg was, two years after it was made, sanctioned and confirmed to him and his family at the diet of Constance. But he was not possessed of the full extent of Brandenburg; the New Mark being in the hands of the Teutonic Knights.t Frederick, instead of adhering to the feudal practice of leaving his whole possessions to his oldest son, at the expense of his other children, divided his territories among .his children, nearly in an equal degree. The spirit of the feudal times was soon, however, resorted to ; and in 1473, it was agreed that the electorate of Brandenburg should from that date remain undivided, and should descend to the nearest heir male. Frederick was succeeded as elector by his second son of the same name ; the oldest having been disinherited because he had applied hiMself too ardently in endeavour ing to find out the philosopher's stone. Frederick, the second elector, was a man of uncommon merit, prudence, and equity. He refused, for example, the crown of Poland, when offered him by the people, because, as he conceived Casimir, son of the late king, to have a prior claim, he declared he would not accept of it unless that prince refused it. This generosity was not without its advan tages. The states of Lower Lusatia, admiring his conduct, made to him a voluntary surrender of their country. Lusatia, however, being a fief of Bohemia, war was imme diately declared to recover it. This attempt was not entirely successful, for though the Bohemian king re covered Lusatia, he was obliged, by a treaty concluded in 1462, to yield the perpetual sovereignty of other states to the elector. Frederick having thus augmented his do minions, and having purchased the New Mark from the Teutonic Knights for 100,000 florins, lie resigned his crown to his son Albert, of whom we have already spoken, as grand-master of the Teutonic order.

And Albert, in niany respects, was not unworthy of being elevated to so eminent an office among this warlike and brave people. His name stood as high as that of any monarch in Europe. Ile had routed and taken prisoner Louis, duke of Bavaria. Ile had gained no fewer than eight battles against the Nureniburgers. At the siege of Greifenburg he had performed prodigies of valour, having leaped from the walls into the town, and defended himself till his men forced the gates and came to his assistance. He had also, it seems, gained the prize at seventeen tour naments; and so high and indisputable were his merits, that the emperor entrusted to him almost the whole direc tion of the empire. It was a person thus distinguished that the Teutonic Knights raised to the dignity of grand master of their order. Notwithstanding, however, all the confidence they showed towards him, he disappointed their hopes, and did not in any sense sustain the high character he had before acquired. The result has aheady been mentioned, The interests of the order were betrayed and destroyed ; and having become protestant, and promised allegiance to Poland, he obtained the title of Duke, and the sovereignty of Prussia, for himself and descendants. The Prussian annals are barren and uninteresting for a considerable time after this date. John Sigismund, elector of Brandenburg, who married Anne, daughter of Albert, duke of Prussia, died in 1619, and was succeeded by his son Frederick William. It was during this reign hos tilities commenced between the Catholics and Protestants, which is commonly called the thirty years' war. George William acted a very weak and fluctuating part, and though a protestant, would not have hesitated to sacrifice his principles, and abandon the cause which he had espoused, had it more thoroughly promoted his safety, or secured his aggrandizement. He was succeeded on his death, in 1640, by his son Frederick William, usually denominated the Great ; a prince of great decision of cha racter, of great military talents, and eminent personal bravery ; and, though only twenty years of age on his accession, began to repair the losses and destruction occasioned by the wars in which his father.had been en gaged. He concluded a treaty of peace with Gustavus Adolphus, of Sweden, who agreed to evacuate the terri tories of Prussia which he had seized upon. By treaties also made with the Hessians and Dutch, he added con siderably to the extent of his dominions ; and, in the meanwhile, continued to adhere steadfastly to the Pro testant cause. The powers of Europe, however, wished to bring to a termination a war which had raged so long with the most unrelenting severity, and which was ex hausting the resources of their several dominions, without acquiring them any solid advantage in return. A treaty was, therefore, concluded in 1647, commonly called the peace of Westphalia, by which, among other arrangements, the bishoprics of Minden, Halberstadt, Magdeburg, and Cumin, and the lordships of llochenstein and Richenstein wet e ceded to the Duke of Pt ussia. Prussia, however, was not destined to remain lung at peace. The Swedes having invaded Pomerania, part of which had been assign ed Prussia by the treaty of Westphalia, Frederick William marched to oppose them ; defeated them with great slaughter, and ultimately carried his victorious arms into Sweden, where the enemy experienced several signal defeats, and might have been almost extirpated, had an interposition not been made in their favour by the cele brated generals of France, Turenne and Conde. Peace was in consequence agreed upon by the contending parties; and it was stipulated, that the Duke of Prussia should possess the customs in all the ports of Further Pomerania, with the cities of Gamin, Goma, Greifenburg, and Wilde!). bruck. With this treaty, which was called the peace of St. Germains, terminated the military career of Frederick William, who passed the remainder of his days in tran quillity, and in promoting the best interests of his domini ons. Few sovereigns ever attained to greater celebrity, or enjoyed more deeply the affections of their subjects, and the respect of foreign countries. An embassy was sent him by the Chant of the Tartars, craving his alliance. The Protestants, who, in 1685, fled from France, took refuge, as we formerly mentioned, in Brandenburg, where they were received with affection and kindness. The duke died in 1688, carrying to the grave the love and regret of his subjects. Prussia, before his time, was held as a fief of the Polish monarchs; but, in 1656, he com pelled the king of Poland to declare it an independent state. The great Puffendorf thought the life of this duke a subject not unworthy of his pen ; and Frederick the Great, in his Memoirs of the House of Brandenburg, regards him as the chief founder of the power of that family.