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:''You may also be looking for the Battle of Allenstein.'' The Siege of Allenstein or the Siege of Olsztyn took place from January 1521 to February 1521, during the Polish–Teutonic War (1519–21). The town of Olsztyn (''Allenstein'') was defended by Polish forces against those of the German Monastic Order of the Teutonic Knights. The defense of the town was successfully organized and coordinated by Polish astronomer and scholar Nicolaus Copernicus.〔〔Marcus Hellyer, "The scientific revolution: the essential readings", Wiley-Blackwell, 2003, pg. 47, ()〕 The Poles successfully resisted the German knights, who eventually had to lift the siege.〔 By the end of 1521 the Teutonic Knights were forced to ask for an armistice and in 1525 the Grand Master of the Order, Albrecht Hohenzollern paid homage to the Polish king, Sigismund the Old.〔 == Background == In the 13th century, during the Northern Crusades, the region of the pagan old Prussians had been conquered by the Monastic Order of the Teutonic Knights. In the 15th century, due to discontent with the Order's conduct, the Prussians revolted against them. In the Second Peace of Thorn, Royal Prussia became part of the Kingdom of Poland, although with special local privileges. Royal Prussia included the Prince-Bishopric of Warmia (Ermeland), which was surrounded on three sides by the Monastic state. The Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, who was also a canon (clerical administrator), had been an administrator at Allenstein (Olsztyn) from 1516 to 1519〔 and was a "mainstay of resistance" to the Teutonic Knights there.〔Patrick Moore, "The Great Astronomical Revolution: 1534-1687 and the Space Age Epilogue", Horwood Publishing, 1994, pg. 68-70, ()〕 In 1519, he left for Frombork (German: ''Frauenburg''). In 1511, Albrecht Hohenzollern became the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order. Like some of the previous Masters, he tried to avoid having to pay homage to the King of Poland of whom he was a vassal. As a result, in 1519 war broke out between the Teutonic Knights and the Kingdom of Poland, with the region of Warmia as a major scene of conflict.〔 Teutonic order troops invaded Warmia in December 1519 with around 5,000 soldiers.〔 In January 1520, they besieged Frauenburg, and eventually burned the whole town, including the houses of the canons (clerical administrators of Warmia) and that of Copernicus.〔 The late arrival of Polish troops saved the town's cathedral from destruction.〔 As a result, Copernicus was forced to move to Olsztyn where he was put in charge of organizing the defense of the city against the expected attack. He improved the fortifications and stockpiled food and supplies,〔 in the hope that the city could hold out long enough for reinforcements from the king of Poland to arrive. He sent letters to the Polish king asking for extra soldiers to strengthen the 100-man garrison.〔 As a further precaution, he also sent letters to Elbląg (Elbing) with a request for additional supplies and 20 cannons.〔Owen Gingerich, James H. MacLachlan, "Nicolaus Copernicus: making the Earth a planet", Oxford University Press US, 2005, pg. 88-90, ()〕 The letter to the Polish king was intercepted by the knights. Sigismund, however, learned of the threat through other channels〔 and the garrison of the town was expanded to 200 when a unit of infantry, under the leadership of the Czech commander Henryk Peryk of Janowice arrived.〔 Another 700 cavalry under Rotmistrz Zbigniew Slupecki showed up soon after.〔Tomasz Kurs, "Jak Kopernik obronił Olsztyn przed Krzyżakami" (How Copernicus defended Allenstein against the Teutonic Knights), ''Gazeta Wyborcza'', 2008-07-30, ()〕 Further supplies from Elbing, consisting of lead, salt and 16 more artillery pieces arrived in early February.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Siege of Allenstein」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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