Nadruvians

Nadruvia or Nadruva was the homeland of a pagan Prussian tribe known as Nadruvians in the first few centuries of the 2nd millenium AD. It was the location of the sacred center of Baltic pagan religion, Romuva, according to Peter of Dusburg, writing in 1326. From Romuva, the chief priest, Krive, ruled over the religion of the pagan Balts in all the pagan lands. Nadruvia therefore became a target for the Order of Teutonic Knights, who had dedicated themselves to Christianizing the Baltic lands.

Related Topics:
Prussian - Baltic - Romuva - Peter of Dusburg - Order of Teutonic Knights - Christianizing

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Nadruva was located just to the east of Samland in a region that was later settled by Lithuanians (and others) and became "Lithuania Minor". The Skalvians on the River Nemunas were just to the north, the Sudovians to the east, and other Prussian tribes to the south and west.

Related Topics:
Samland - Lithuania Minor - Skalvians - River Nemunas - Sudovians

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After the initial Prussian defeats by the Teutonic Order, most of the Prussian tribes came to terms with the Order. They were biding their time. In 1242 the Barti, Notangi and Varmi repudiated any former arrangements and went to war against the order. They lost and were punished severely. In 1260 the Nadruvians made a stand and lost. This time the order acted without mercy, killing the entire population of Nadruvia in 1274 and leaving it unpopulated for a time. After this disaster, from which they never recovered, only 170,000 Old Prussian speakers remained.

Related Topics:
Barti - Notangi - Varmi

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