De vastacione cujusdam partis terre Sambie.
The Year of the Raid
The chronicle sets the date of the events at 1283.
In the year 1283.
The Lithuanian Incursion into Sambia
Eight hundred mounted Lithuanians cross the Neman in winter, ravage two districts of Sambia, kill a hundred and fifty Christians, and withdraw unopposed.
Eight hundred Lithuanian men — mounted knights — came in winter across the Neman River at Courland and entered the land of Sambia. They ravaged two of its districts, Abenda and Pubeta, by fire and plunder, killing a hundred and fifty Christians. With no one to resist them, they all returned safely.
The Failed Defense and Its Consequence
The Teutonic master and brothers, having waited in vain for the Lithuanians, disperse due to the long delay, and the very next day the enemy enters Sambia unopposed and carries out the devastation.
This is believed to have happened, without any doubt, for the following reason: the master and the brothers, knowing beforehand that the Lithuanians were coming, had awaited them with an army for several days. But at last, worn down by the long delay — longer than usual for that road — they scattered and went back to their own homes. The following day, however, the Lithuanians entered Sambia and, meeting no resistance, accomplished what was described above.
Read the original Latin
Anno Du. mcclxxxiii octingenti viri de Lethowia equites tempore hyemali per Neriam Curoniensem intraverunt Sambiensem terram et duo territoria ejus scilicet Abendam et Pubetam per incendium et rapinam vexaverunt, occidentes cl homines Cristianos, et nullo eis resistente omnes salvi redierunt. Hoc ideo accidisse creditur indubitanter, quia magister et fratres prescientes ipsos Lethowinos venturos, expectabant eos cum exercitu per dies aliquot, tandem attediati de longa mora, quam in via ultra solitum contraxerantc, dispersi re dierunt ad propria. Sequenti autem die Lethowini intraverunt Sambiam, et sine aliquo defensionis obstaculo fecerunt, quod superius est premissum.
Chronicon Terrae Prussiae (Chronicle of the Prussian Land) companion
Keep reading the sources for yourself
The full 428-chapter chronicle — and 78+ other historic works — readable daily in the free Chosen Portion iOS app
The knights kept fixed daily hours of prayer alongside their campaigns; Chosen Portion keeps the fixed daily reading and drops the campaigning.
- The complete chronicle in modern English, in portions under 5 minutes
- Pericope headings that let you navigate 428 chapters by theme
- A daily reading habit that outlasts the 5-week course