| Königsberg |
Königsberg, or "King's Mountain", was founded in 1254 by the Teutonic Knights and named for
King Ottokar II of Bohemia, one of their Northern Crusaders. Originally the capital of Samland,
Königsberg eventually became a member of the Hanseatic League and an important port for the
southeastern Baltic region, trading goods throughout Prussia, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the
Kingdom of Poland. When western Prussia was transferred to Poland in 1466, Königsberg became
the capital of the Teutonic Knights' reduced monastic state.
King Ottokar II of Bohemia, one of their Northern Crusaders. Originally the capital of Samland,
Königsberg eventually became a member of the Hanseatic League and an important port for the
southeastern Baltic region, trading goods throughout Prussia, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the
Kingdom of Poland. When western Prussia was transferred to Poland in 1466, Königsberg became
the capital of the Teutonic Knights' reduced monastic state.
In 1525, the Hohenzollern Grand Master Albert of Brandenburg
secularised the Teutonic Knights' remaining territories in Prussia and by
paying feudal homage to King Sigismund I of Poland, he became the
first duke of the new Duchy of Prussia, a fief of Poland, its capital
being Königsberg. German Königsberg became one of the biggest
German port cities of the Prussian region and had considerable
autonomy with a separate parliament and currency. From 1618, the
Duchy of Prussia and Königsberg were ruled by the Electors of
Brandenburg, the rulers of Brandenburg-Prussia.
secularised the Teutonic Knights' remaining territories in Prussia and by
paying feudal homage to King Sigismund I of Poland, he became the
first duke of the new Duchy of Prussia, a fief of Poland, its capital
being Königsberg. German Königsberg became one of the biggest
German port cities of the Prussian region and had considerable
autonomy with a separate parliament and currency. From 1618, the
Duchy of Prussia and Königsberg were ruled by the Electors of
Brandenburg, the rulers of Brandenburg-Prussia.
The Hohenzollern dynasty negotiated the release of the Duchy of Prussia from Polish sovereignty in
1660. After the First Partition of Poland, Königsberg became the capital of the newly-created
province of East Prussia in 1773. The city also served as the capital of the Province of Prussia from
1824 to 1878.
1660. After the First Partition of Poland, Königsberg became the capital of the newly-created
province of East Prussia in 1773. The city also served as the capital of the Province of Prussia from
1824 to 1878.
The beautiful Albertina University founded by Albert of Prussia in 1544 made Königsberg a
respected center of education. The first printed books in the Lithuanian language were published in
Königsberg and it remained the center of Lithuanian publishing. Königsberg was the home of
philosopher Immanuel Kant and other figures of greatness throughout her history. It was here in
1736 that mathematician Leonhard Euler used the arrangement of bridges and islands at Königsberg
as the basis for the "Seven Bridges of Königsberg Problem" which led to the mathematical branches
of topology and graph theory. Nearby was the Palaestra Albertina, established in 1898 for sports, the
Academy of Art with a large painting collection of the Italian and Dutch Masters. There was also a
magnificent Exchange, a Bahnhof, a famous Observatory fitted up by astronomer Friedrich Bessel, a
Botanical Garden, Zoological Museum and the "Physikalisch which housed botanic and
anthropological collections and prehistoric antiquities. Lastly, Königsberg's most notable structure, the
magnificent palace with its high gothic tower, formerly a seat of the Teutonic Order. The west wing
contained the Schloßkirche where Frederick I of Prussia was crowned in 1701, and Wilhelm I as
King of Prussia in 1861.
respected center of education. The first printed books in the Lithuanian language were published in
Königsberg and it remained the center of Lithuanian publishing. Königsberg was the home of
philosopher Immanuel Kant and other figures of greatness throughout her history. It was here in
1736 that mathematician Leonhard Euler used the arrangement of bridges and islands at Königsberg
as the basis for the "Seven Bridges of Königsberg Problem" which led to the mathematical branches
of topology and graph theory. Nearby was the Palaestra Albertina, established in 1898 for sports, the
Academy of Art with a large painting collection of the Italian and Dutch Masters. There was also a
magnificent Exchange, a Bahnhof, a famous Observatory fitted up by astronomer Friedrich Bessel, a
Botanical Garden, Zoological Museum and the "Physikalisch which housed botanic and
anthropological collections and prehistoric antiquities. Lastly, Königsberg's most notable structure, the
magnificent palace with its high gothic tower, formerly a seat of the Teutonic Order. The west wing
contained the Schloßkirche where Frederick I of Prussia was crowned in 1701, and Wilhelm I as
King of Prussia in 1861.
By 1800, the city was approximately five miles in circumference and had 60,000 inhabitants and
after the abolition of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, Königsberg remained the capital of East
Prussia, even though it was outside the formal borders of Germany. In 1871 it was incorporated into
the German Empire and it flourished with an extensive local railway network which by 1860
connected the city to German cities such as Breslau and Berlin as well as others sush as St.
Petersburg. By 1900 the city's population had grown to almost 200,000. By 1945 it was all gone.
after the abolition of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, Königsberg remained the capital of East
Prussia, even though it was outside the formal borders of Germany. In 1871 it was incorporated into
the German Empire and it flourished with an extensive local railway network which by 1860
connected the city to German cities such as Breslau and Berlin as well as others sush as St.
Petersburg. By 1900 the city's population had grown to almost 200,000. By 1945 it was all gone.
1939
1948
German families fleeing
Monument to the Soldier
King,
Gumbinnen
King,
Gumbinnen
Gumbinnen Later
The Communists blowing up the Königsberg Schloss
