The shoemaker of Rudau

#OTD in 1370 (or the following day) yet another battle was fought between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and some Western military order types. On this occasion the battle was fought at Rudau, north of Königsberg, and the military types were the Teutonic Knights.

Not much is known of the battle, except the Knights won and probably exaggerated the scale of the victory. Both sides suffered heavy casualties, though the Lithuanians had to retreat to a hastily built barricade inside a forest. Despite the loss, they were still capable of military action in the following years.

The battle inspired a local legend that an apprentice shoemaker, Hans von Sagan, picked up the Teutonic banner after the standard-bearer had been killed. He then rallied the Knights and led them to victory. When asked what he would like for a reward, Hans requested that the burghers of Kneiphof receive annual beer from Königsberg Castle. This beer, traditionally granted on Ascension Day, became popularly known through Königsberg as 'Schmeckbier'.

According to Wiki, Hans probably didn't exist, but was based on the real-life Duke Balthasar of Żagań. He was a Polish nobleman who served in the Teutonic Knights and was eventually starved to death by his brother. Which is nice.