The Wendish Crusade (German: Wendenkreuzzug) was a military campaign in 1147, primarily undertaken by German and Danish crusaders against the Polabian Slavs (often referred to as Wends) inhabiting the lands east of the Elbe River in present-day eastern Germany. It was part of the broader Northern Crusades and occurred concurrently with the Second Crusade to the Holy Land.
Background
- The Wends: The Polabian Slavs, including tribes like the Obodrites, Lutici, and Pomeranians, were polytheistic peoples who had long resisted Christianization and assimilation into the Frankish and later German realms. They frequently raided neighboring Christian territories, and there was a long history of conflict along the Elbe frontier.
- German Expansion (Ostsiedlung): German rulers and nobles had a long-standing interest in expanding their territories eastward, a process known as Ostsiedlung (Eastern Settlement). This involved both military conquest and the colonization of lands with German settlers.
- The Second Crusade: In 1146, Pope Eugene III issued the papal bull Quantum praedecessores, calling for a Second Crusade to the Holy Land. Bernard of Clairvaux, a prominent Cistercian abbot, vigorously preached the crusade.
Papal Sanction
In 1147, at the Diet of Frankfurt, German princes and nobles expressed their reluctance to join the distant crusade to the Holy Land, preferring to fight closer to home against the Wends. Bernard of Clairvaux, after consultation with the Pope, granted the same spiritual indulgences to those who would crusade against the pagan Wends as were offered to those fighting in the Levant. The papal legate, Anselm of Havelberg, confirmed this. The primary condition was "no peace with the Wends until they are either converted to Christianity or utterly destroyed" (Latin: aut convertantur aut deleantur).
The Campaign of 1147
The Wendish Crusade comprised several distinct campaigns:
- Saxon and Northern German Contingents: Led by figures such as Albert the Bear, Henry the Lion (Duke of Saxony), and various bishops, these forces primarily targeted the Obodrite and Lutician territories. They besieged the strongholds of Dobin and Demmin. While Dobin held out, the defenders eventually agreed to a baptism of the garrison and the release of Danish prisoners. Demmin also resisted fiercely, with little lasting success for the crusaders in terms of territorial gain or widespread conversion.
- Danish Contingent: The Danish kings Canute V and Sweyn III led a naval expedition targeting the Obodrite and Pomeranian lands. They attempted to seize the city of Stettin (Szczecin), but found it already Christian, complete with a bishop and priests. The crusaders were reportedly embarrassed and dispersed, leading to limited impact.
- Polish Contingent: Mieszko III Old, Duke of Greater Poland, participated in the crusade, targeting areas of Pomerania, where Polish influence was already strong.
Outcomes and Legacy
The immediate results of the Wendish Crusade were mixed and largely disappointing for the crusaders:
- Limited Conversions: While some forced baptisms occurred, many Wends reverted to their traditional beliefs once the crusader armies departed. The spiritual goal of mass conversion was largely unmet.
- Modest Territorial Gains: Some existing German control over certain border areas was solidified, but there were no significant, immediate territorial annexations.
- Increased Pressure: The crusade did, however, significantly increase the pressure on the Polabian Slavs. It weakened their military capacity and paved the way for more sustained German expansion in subsequent decades.
- Long-term Christianization and Germanization: In the long run, the Wendish Crusade is seen as a pivotal event in the eventual Christianization and Germanization of the lands east of the Elbe. Over the following centuries, through continuous military pressure, colonization, and missionary efforts, the indigenous Slavic populations were gradually absorbed or displaced, and their languages and cultures largely faded, except for the Sorbs in Lusatia.
- Shift in Baltic Power: The crusade also highlighted the increasing involvement of Danish and German powers in the Baltic region, setting the stage for future conflicts and territorial changes in the area.