Heinrich von Plötzke

Pomerelia (Pommerellen) and Danzig while part of the monastic state of the Teutonic Knights.

Heinrich von Plötzke (c. 1264 in Płock, Masovia, Poland – 27 July 1320 in Medininkai, Lithuania) was an officer of the Teutonic Order during the late 13th and early 14th centuries. Born in Płock (Plotzk) in the independent Duchy of Masovia, (now Poland), he was a descendant of the hereditary dukes of Plock but never took the formal title due to the conflict of his family with the ruling Piast dynasty of Poland.

Heinrich was the Komtur of Altenburg in 1286 and of Halle in 1287, after which he was transferred to Prussia. He became the Komtur of Balga in 1294. Heinrich served as the Landmeister in Prussia from 1307–1309, and he was based in Elbing.

Hochmeister Siegfried von Feuchtwangen, Heinrich (and a relative of Gunther von Schwarzburg of the same name) led the Order's forces which relieved Brandenburg's siege of Danzig in 1308, but refused to relinquish the city to King Władysław I the Elbow-high of Poland who did not offer enough reimbursement for the Order's expenses. This led to the Teutonic takeover of Danzig. By the Treaty of Soldin of 1309, Heinrich purchased Brandenburg's claims on Pomerelia for the Order, which then held Danzig and Pomerelia until 1466.^[1] In 1314 he attached Navahrudak Castle.

Heinrich invaded Lithuania in 1320 and was defeated. He and 29 of his knights lost their lives in the Battle of Medininkai held on 27 July 1320.^[2]

References

1. William Urban. The Teutonic Knights: A Military History. Greenhill Books. London, 2003. ISBN 1-85367-535-0
2. "The History of Prussia: From the Earliest Times to the Present Day" by Walter James Wyatt, published in 1876.