Treaty of Labiau
 Labiau castle | |
| Type | Legal status of the Duchy of Prussia |
|---|---|
| Signed | 20 November 1656 |
| Location | Labiau castle (now Polessk) |
| Signatories |
|
| Parties | |
| Language | Latin |
The Treaty of Labiau was a
Background
When the
Following Swedish military successes, including an invasion of Prussia,[4] Frederick William I was forced to take Prussia as a fief from the Swedish king in the Treaty of Königsberg[5] on 7 January (O.S.) / 17 January (N.S.) 1656.[6] Before, Frederick William I had held that duchy as a fief of the Polish king.[5] In Königsberg, the "Great Elector" further had to meet the Swedish demands for Pillau and Memel, promise financial and military aid, and surrender half of the port duties to Sweden.[4]
On 15 June (O.S.) / 25 June (N.S.) 1656, Charles X Gustav and Frederick William I concluded a formal alliance in the Treaty of Marienburg after Swedish advances in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth had stalled.[7] Sweden offered conquered Polish territories, and Frederick William I went to support Charles X Gustav with his newly formed army in the Battle of Warsaw on 28–30 July, which marked "the beginning of Prussian military history".[8]
Though victorious, the subsequent entry into the war of the Russian tsar, the Holy Roman Emperor and the Dutch navy left Sweden in an unfavourable condition, and dependent on further Brandenburgian support.[7] This enabled Frederick William I to raise the price for remaining a Swedish ally, and Charles X Gustav met his demands in the treaty of Labiau.[8]
Terms
Charles X Gustav granted Frederick William I full souvereignity in the
Sweden further relinquished her rights to collect custom dues in Prussian ports,
In addition to these terms, the treaty also included secret articles: therein, Frederick William I accepted Swedish claims to the Baltic coastal areas between Prussia and Swedish Livonia, namely Courland, Lithuania, Samogitia and Semigallia.[12]
Consequences
After the treaty, Frederick William I first continued his military support for Charles X Gustav by detaching some forces to join the latter's Polish campaigns in early 1657.[7] However, after Denmark entered the war and Charles X Gustav left the Polish theater to campaign in Denmark, Frederick William I withdrew his forces from Poland and entrenched them in his Prussian territories.[7]
When an envoy of
The terms of Wehlau was confirmed by the Treaty of Bromberg in November, after which Brandenburg actively campaigned against Sweden.[14] Frederick William I also gave his vote to the Habsburg candidate, after the emperor on 29 February 1658 agreed to another treaty providing Frederick William I with 10,000 forces to support his campaign in Swedish Pomerania.[14]
On 18 January 1701, based on the sovereignty of the Prussian duchy, Frederick I of Prussia crowned himself "King in Prussia."[15]
See also
Sources
References
- ^ Quaritsch (1986), p. 85
- ^ a b c Sturdy (2002), p. 215
- ^ a b Shennan (1995), pp. 19-20
- ^ a b Shennan (1995), p. 20
- ^ a b c Vierhaus (1984), p. 169
- ^ a b c Evans (1997), p. 54
- ^ a b c d e f g Shennan (1995), p. 21
- ^ a b Holborn (1982), p. 57
- ^ Quaritsch (1986), pp. 85, 86
- ^ Quaritsch (1986), p. 86
- ^ Roberts (1988), p. 41
- ^ Roberts (2003), p. 139
- ^ a b Wilson (1998), p. 36
- ^ a b Wilson (1998), p. 37
- ^ Holborn (1982), p. 104
Bibliography
- Evans, Malcolm (1997). Religious liberty and international law in Europe. Cambridge studies in international and comparative law. Vol. 6. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-55021-1.
- Holborn, Hajo (1982). A History of Modern Germany: 1648-1840. A History of Modern Germany. Vol. 2. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-00796-9.
- Quaritsch, Helmut (1986). Souveränität. Entstehung und Entwicklung des Begriffs in Frankreich und Deutschland vom 13. Jh. bis 1806. Schriften zur Verfassungsgeschichte (in German). Vol. 38. Duncker & Humblot. ISBN 3-428-06118-7.
- Roberts, Michael (1988). Swedish diplomats at Cromwell's court, 1655-1656: the missions of Peter Julius Coyet and Christer Bonde. Camden fourth series. Vol. 36. Royal Historical Society. ISBN 0-86193-117-3.
- Roberts, Michael (2003). From Oxenstierna to Charles XII. Four Studies. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-52861-5.
- Shennan, Margaret (1995). The Rise of Brandenburg-Prussia. Routledge. ISBN 0-415-12938-9.
- Sturdy, David J. (2002). Fractured Europe, 1600-1721. Blackwell history of Europe. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 0-631-20513-6.
- Vierhaus, Rudolf (1984). Deutschland im Zeitalter des Absolutismus (1648-1763). Deutsche Geschichte (in German). Vol. 6 (2 ed.). Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. ISBN 3-525-33504-0.
- Wilson, Peter Hamish (1998). German armies. War and German politics, 1648-1806. Warfare and history. Routledge. ISBN 1-85728-106-3.
External links
- Bain, Robert Nisbet (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 10 (11th ed.). p. 928.
- Scan of the treaty of Labiau at ieg-mainz.de (Institut für Europäische Geschichte Mainz), 27 pages