Two small Prussian lands face the Chełmno land and Masovia: the Lubawa land (Latin terra Lubovia) between the Drwęca and the Osa east of the Chełmno land, and Sasna (Sassen) to its east, round modern Olsztynek, Działdowo and Nidzica.
The Lubawa land is the first Prussian land given to the Church: two baptised nobles, Warpoda and Surwabuno, give their lands to Bishop Christian, confirmed by the pope about 1216 (later). In 1200 both are pagan lands under their own nobles.
Who holds it
- Name
- None named for 1200
- Title
- the nobles and elders of the land, with the assembly of its free men
- Since
- not applicable
- Born
- not applicable
- Family
- Kin-groups of nobles; no ruling family is known.
- Confidence
- low
en.wikipedia (Old Prussians and the land's article); Peter of Dusburg as reported there.
Overlord
None. Polish dukes claim tribute from the nearer lands when they can enforce it (Casimir II, 1191-1194); no tribute is being paid that winter.
What it holds
- Lubawa and the Drwęca country
- Sasna round Olsztynek, Działdowo and Nidzica
How things stand that morning
Free and pagan. Across the Drwęca, the Masovian Chełmno land and Michałów country; south, the Masovian castles of the Wkra (maz).
Wealth
Farming, forest produce; plunder from raids across the Drwęca.
Military
Free levies; hillforts. No numbers.
Threats
- Polish expeditions along the Drwęca (Casimir II, 1191-1193)
Law and courts
No written law. Each land's free men meet in assembly under their nobles, who lead in war and judge disputes by custom; blood feud and compensation settle killings. The Treaty of Christburg (1249) shows nobles, free men and unfree servants, bride purchase, polygamy, funeral priests and the burning of the dead with horses, servants and arms.
What the year holds
What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.
In 1200
- During 1200 (nothing dated)No event in this land is recorded for 1200.
Later, on the likely course
- About 1216 (after this year)The nobles Warpoda and Surwabuno give their lands to Bishop Christian.Depends on: Christian's mission Stopped by: pagan reaction
Places of note
- Lubawa: Centre of the Lubawa land (later the bishops of Chełmno's castle).
Where the sources disagree
- Peter of Dusburg's list of Prussian lands does not include Lubawa or Sasna; they appear in 13th-century charters. The Warpoda and Surwabuno grants are given from general accounts, not checked here.
Evidence: No written source of 1200 describes this land; its bounds and strongholds come from the 13th-century conquest (Peter of Dusburg) and archaeology.
On the map: The bounds are a reconstruction from 13th-century evidence and modern maps; in 1200 lands were separated by forest, not lines.
Primary sources for The Prussians
Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.
- Chronicle of the Poles, by Master Vincent (Wincenty Kadłubek), Wincenty Kadłubek (about 1190 to 1208). Book 4 is a contemporary's account of the fight for the senior throne of Kraków. Read online
- The annals of the Kraków chapter and the other Polish annals (kept from the 11th century; the Kraków chapter annals continued to 1266). Short dated entries that fix the chronology Kadłubek blurs: the deaths of dukes and bishops, Mieszko the Old's captures of Kraków, Prussian raids on Masovia, church consecrations. Read online
Sources and studies
- Wikipedia: Christian of Oliva
- Wikipedia: Old Prussians
- Wikipedia: Chełmno Land
- Peter of Dusburg, Chronicon terrae Prussiae (1326), as summarised in Wikipedia: Peter of Dusburg
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.