DURBE HILLFORT TRAIL

This path leads along the hillfort and the local pond. The hillfort has a memorial stone commemorating the victory of the Samogitians over the crusades. It was brought from Samogitia to the hillfort in honour of the 750th anniversary of the victory in 1259. The win over the Germans also led to a rebellion among Semigallians. Order Master Hornhusen gathered a large military force of drafted home guards from the Estonian, Curonian and Ancient Prussian tribes, as well as from Germany. The Samogitians learned that the Germans were planning to attack Lithuania, so they invaded Kurzeme and won a great booty, including a number of prisoners of war. The two armies met at the place where the Trumpe River flows into Lake Durbe, and before the battle, the Curonians demanded the Order master the return of women, children and property that had been captured by the Samogitians if they were to triumph in battle. When the Order master refused to agree to this, the Curonians and Estonians withdrew from the battlefield, and the Samogitians defeated the German Order. The master himself fell, as did some 150 knights, as well as numerous Danish vassals who had been brought in from Estonia to help with the fight. After the battles at Durbe, the Order had to conquer Kurzeme anew.