Ordensburg (plural Ordensburgen) is a German term meaning a "castle of a (military) order". It is used specifically for the fortified structures built by crusading German military orders during the Middle Ages.
Medieval Ordensburgen Ordensburgen were originally constructed by the Livonian Brothers of the Sword and later by the Teutonic Order to fortify territory in Prussia and Livonia captured from the native populations – Old Prussians, Lithuanians and native peoples of what is now Latvia and Estonia. Later, Ordensburgen were used to attack Lithuania.
Since they were built and used by religious military orders, the Ordensburgen often resembled monasteries. While they were considerably larger than those in the Holy Roman Empire, they were much scarcer in the Monastic state of the Teutonic Knights.
While a normal castle in the Holy Roman Empire would control about 38 km2, a castle would control 370 km2 in Prussia and 789 km2 in Livonia, Courland and Estonia. The few small castles are considered to be of vassals, while the larger ones might have served as arsenals and strongholds during the Northern Crusades. They were purpose-built to colonize the respective countries and peoples by capturing and holding territory.
Most Ordensburgen were rectangular, even quadratic in form, built from red brick and lacking a Bergfried (a type of keep). 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 Ordensburg, seat of a commandery Allenstein (Olsztyn, Poland) Alschwangen (Alsunga, Latvia) - a genuine Ordensburg Altona (Altene, Latvia) Angern (Angerja, Estonia) - vassal castle Angerburg (Węgorzewo, Poland) Arensburg (Kuressaare, Estonia) - a bishop's castle Arrasch (Āraiši, Latvia) Ascheraden (Aizkraukle, Latvia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a commandery Ass (Kiltsi, Estonia) - vassal castle Bäslack (Bezławki, Poland) Balga (Balga, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) Barten (Barciany, Poland) Bauske (Bauska, Latvia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a bailiff Bebern Berson (Bērzaune, Latvia) Birgelau (Bierzgłowo, Poland) Borkholm (Porkuni, Estonia) - a bishop's castle Brandenburg on Frisches Haff (Ushakovo, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) Burtneck (Burtnieki, Latvia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of lower officials Bütow (Bytów, Poland) Caymen (Zarechye, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) Danzig (Gdańsk, Poland) Dibau (Podgórz, Poland) Doblen (Dobele, Latvia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a commandery Domnau (Domnovo, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) Dondangen (Dundaga, Latvia) - a bishop's castle Dorpat (Tartu, Estonia) - a bishop's castle Dünaburg (Daugavpils, Latvia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a commandery Dünamünde (Daugavgrīva, Latvia) - a genuine order castle, seat of a commandery Durben (Durbe, Latvia) Eckersburg (Okartowo, Poland) Edwahlen (Ēdole, Latvia) - a bishop's castle Engelsburg (Pokrzywno, Poland) Elbing (Elbląg, Poland) Erlaa (Ērgļi, Latvia) Ermes (Ērģeme, Latvia) Falkenau (Kärkna, Estonia) - monastery Fellin (Viljandi, Estonia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a commandery Fickel (Vigala, Estonia) - vassal castle Georgenburg (Mayovka, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) Goldingen (Kuldīga, Latvia) Gollub (Golub-Dobrzyń, Poland) Graudenz (Grudziądz, Poland) Grobin (Grobiņa, Latvia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a bailiff Groß Roop (Lielstraupe, Latvia) - a bishop's castle Hapsal (Haapsalu, Estonia) - a bishop's castle Hasenpoth (Aizpute, Latvia) Heilsberg (Lidzbark Warmiński, Poland) Helmat (Helme, Estonia) - a genuine Ordensburg Hochrosen (Augstroze, Latvia) Hofzumberg (Tērvete, Latvia) Holme (Mārtiņsala, Latvia) Insterburg (Chernyakhovsk, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) Jaschnitz (Nowy Jasiniec, Poland) Johannisburg (Pisz, Poland) Kalzenau (Kalsnava, Latvia) Kandau (Kandava, Latvia) Karkus (Karksi, Estonia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a bailiff Kirrumpäh (Kirumpää, Estonia) - a bishop's castle Königsberg (Kaliningrad, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order Kokenhusen (Koknese, Latvia) - a bishop's castle Kremon (Krimulda, Latvia) - a bishop's castle Kyda (Kiiu, Estonia) - vassal castle Labiau (Polessk, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) Lais (Laiuse, Estonia) - a genuine Ordensburg 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's castle Lochstädt (Baltiysk, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) Loxten (Lokstene, Latvia) Ludsen (Ludza, Latvia) - a genuine Ordensburg Lyck (Ełk, Poland) Marienburg (Alūksne, Latvia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a commandery Marienburg (Malbork, Poland) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of the grand master Marienwerder (Kwidzyn, Poland) Mehlsack (Pieniężno, Poland) Memel (Klaipėda, Lithuania) - a genuine Ordensburg Mewe (Gniew, Poland) Mohrungen (Morąg, Poland) Mojahn (Mujāni, Latvia) Narwa (Narva, Estonia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a bailiff Neidenburg (Nidzica, Poland) Nessau (Nieszawa, Poland) Neuenburg (Jaunpils, Latvia) - a genuine Ordensburg Neuermühlen (Ādaži, Latvia) Neuhausen (Guryevsk, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) Neuhausen (Valtaiķi, Latvia) Neuhausen (Vastseliina, Estonia) - a bishop's castle Neu Kirchholm (Salaspils, Latvia) Neuschloß (Vasknarva, Estonia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a bailiff Oberpahlen (Põltsamaa, Estonia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of bailiff Odenpäh (Otepää, Estonia) - a bishop's castle Ortelsburg (Szczytno, Poland) Ossiek (Osiek, Poland) Osterode (Ostróda, Poland) Padis (Padise, Estonia) - monastery Papau (Papowo Biskupie, Poland) Pernau (Pärnu, Estonia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a bailiff Peude (Pöide, Estonia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a bailiff Pilten (Piltene, Latvia) Pöddes (Kalvi, Estonia) - vassal castle Preußisch Holland (Pasłęk, Poland) Preußisch Mark (Przezmark, Poland) Ragnit (Neman, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) Rastenburg (Kętrzyn, Poland) Reval (Tallinn, Estonia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a commandery Rheden (Radzyń Chełmiński, Poland) Rhein (Ryn, Poland) Riesenburg (Prabuty, Poland) Riga (Riga, Latvia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of the master of the Livonian Order Rössel (Reszel, Poland) Rodenpois (Ropaži, Latvia) Roggenhausen (Rogóźno-Zamek, Poland) Ronneburg (Rauna, Latvia) - a bishop's castle Rosenberck (Susz, Poland) Rositten (Rēzekne, Latvia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a bailiff Rujen (Rūjiena, Latvia) Saalau (Żuława, Poland) Salis (Salacgrīva, Latvia) - a bishop's 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, Latvia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of the Selburg (near modern Vecsēlpils, Latvia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a bailiff Sesswangen (Cesvaine, Latvia) Smilten (Smiltene, Latvia) Soldau (Działdowo, Poland) Sonnenburg (Maasi, Estonia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a bailiff Strasburg (Brodnica, Poland) Stuhm (Sztum, Poland) Tapiau (Gvardeysk, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) Taplaken (Talpaki, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) Tarwast (Tarvastu, Estonia) - a genuine Ordensburg Terweten (Tērvete, Latvia) Tolsburg (Toolse, Estonia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a bailiff Thorn (Toruń, Poland) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a commandery Treyden (Turaida, Latvia) - a bishop's castle Trikaten (Trikāta, Latvia) Tuchel (Tuchola, Poland) Tuckum (Tukums, Latvia) Türpsal (Järve, Estonia) - vassal castle Uexküll (Ikšķile, Latvia) Villack (Viļaka, Latvia) - a bishop's castle Wack (Vao, Estonia) - vassal castle Waldau (Nizovye, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia) Warbeck (Uue-Kastre, Estonia) - a bishop's castle Weißenstein (Paide, Estonia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a bailiff Welsas (Wieldządz, Poland) Wenden (Cēsis, Latvia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of the Landmeister in Livland Werder (Virtsu, Estonia) - vassal castle Wesenberg (Rakvere, Estonia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a bailiff Windau (Ventspils, Latvia) - a genuine Ordensburg, seat of a commander Wolkenburg (Volkenberga, Latvia) Wolmar (Valmiera, Latvia) Zlotterie (Złotoria, Poland)
See also NS-Ordensburgen List of castles in Estonia List of castles in Latvia List of castles in Lithuania List of castles in Poland
References