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Chronicon Terrae Prussiae (Chronicle of the Prussian Land)/Book 4 · Tercia pars: De bellis fratrum domus Theutonice contra Pruthenos
Chapter 125ChrP.4.125

De edificacionec castri Starkenbergk et morte plurium Cristianorum.

The Building and Completion of Starkenbergk

Brother Anno commands the Teutonic Order to build a castle on the Prussian border; the first attempt ends in a massacre of laborers, but through God's grace the master later completes the fortress, naming it Starkenbergk and garrisoning it.

At this time Brother Anno, master general of the Teutonic Order, commanded the master and brothers of Prussia to build a castle on the borders of the dioceses of Kulm and Pomesania, above the Ossa, for he himself wished to supply the garrison soldiers abundantly with necessities. To build it, the master summoned a great number of people, and while each one labored there at the task assigned to him, the army of the Prussians came upon them unexpectedly and killed that entire multitude. But long afterward the master again summoned the people, and then, through the grace of God, he completed the building of the aforementioned castle, calling it Starkenbergk, which in Latin means 'strong mountain,' and he assigned many brothers and men-at-arms to its defense.

Read the original Latin

Hoc tempore frater Anno magister generalis ordinis domus Theutonice mandavit magistro et fratribus de Prussia, ut castrum in terminis Colmensis et Pomesaniensis diocesium super Ossam edificarent, ipse enimd castrensibus vellet abundanter in necessariis providere. Ad cujus edificacionem magister multum populum convocavit, et dum quilibet ibi in officio sibi injuncto laboraret, supervenit exercitus Pruthenorum improvise, et totam illam multitudinem interfecit. Sed longe postea iterum magister populum convocavit, et tune edifica cionem dicti castri per dei graciam consummavit, vocans ipsum Starkenbergk, quod latine dicitur fortis mons, et multos fratres et armigeros ad ejus custodiam deputavit.

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