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The construction of the Teutonic Castle in Dzierzgoń began in 1248, as ordered by the national champion Heinrich von Wida. At its location there was chosen towering hill over the area, where previously was a fortified city of Prussia, to protect the settlement lying at its feet. The fort was the seat of the Commander of Dzierzgoń, who also held the function of the Quatermaster (Obersttrappier) in the Order of the Teutonic Knights. During the heyday of the Teutonic Order Dzierzgon castle was considered to be in possession of the largest arsenal of weapons comparing to Malbork castle and the second largest Brodnica granary.
During the war of Polish and Teutonic Knights between 1409-1411, the the Dzierzgoń's monks took part in the battle of Grunwald, under the leadership of Commander Albrech von Schwarzburg. Their commander was killed in combat.
By the way of Polish forces at Malbork, the Polish King Władysław Jagiełło entered Dzierzgon and stayed at the castle. Here the King received a delegation from the Prussian towns, including Elbląg, which gave him a tribute of fidelity. In 1411 the castle was conquered by the Teutonic Knights. 42 Commanders served their role at the Dzierzgoń castle, among many of them later became the great masters of Teutonic Order. The Poles burned down the castle in Dzierzgoń twice during the war with the Teutonic Knights in 1410 and 1414. Under the peace treaty of Toruń in 1466, the castle was returned to Poland, becoming the seat of the mayor and the municipal court.
References:Angelokastro is a Byzantine castle on the island of Corfu. It is located at the top of the highest peak of the island"s shoreline in the northwest coast near Palaiokastritsa and built on particularly precipitous and rocky terrain. It stands 305 m on a steep cliff above the sea and surveys the City of Corfu and the mountains of mainland Greece to the southeast and a wide area of Corfu toward the northeast and northwest.
Angelokastro is one of the most important fortified complexes of Corfu. It was an acropolis which surveyed the region all the way to the southern Adriatic and presented a formidable strategic vantage point to the occupant of the castle.
Angelokastro formed a defensive triangle with the castles of Gardiki and Kassiopi, which covered Corfu"s defences to the south, northwest and northeast.
The castle never fell, despite frequent sieges and attempts at conquering it through the centuries, and played a decisive role in defending the island against pirate incursions and during three sieges of Corfu by the Ottomans, significantly contributing to their defeat.
During invasions it helped shelter the local peasant population. The villagers also fought against the invaders playing an active role in the defence of the castle.
The exact period of the building of the castle is not known, but it has often been attributed to the reigns of Michael I Komnenos and his son Michael II Komnenos. The first documentary evidence for the fortress dates to 1272, when Giordano di San Felice took possession of it for Charles of Anjou, who had seized Corfu from Manfred, King of Sicily in 1267.
From 1387 to the end of the 16th century, Angelokastro was the official capital of Corfu and the seat of the Provveditore Generale del Levante, governor of the Ionian islands and commander of the Venetian fleet, which was stationed in Corfu.
The governor of the castle (the castellan) was normally appointed by the City council of Corfu and was chosen amongst the noblemen of the island.
Angelokastro is considered one of the most imposing architectural remains in the Ionian Islands.