Background
Nicholas von Renys was born in Rhein (Ryn) near Lötzen (Giżycko) in Prussia, within the komturship of Balga.
Nicholas von Renys was born in Rhein (Ryn) near Lötzen (Giżycko) in Prussia, within the komturship of Balga.
The Knights blamed him as a scapegoat for their defeat in the Battle of Grunwald, and he was beheaded without trial in 1411. January Długosz described him as a German (Nicolaus dictus Niksz, nacione Swewus) in his Banderia Prutenorum. Historian Stephen Turnbull identified him as a "secular knight of Polish descent.
During the Battle of Grunwald in 1410, von Renys carried the banner of the Culmerland troops for the Teutonic Order, described in the Latin Banderia Prutenorum.
lieutenant was alleged that he was unwilling to fight against Poland due to his previous efforts for peace, that he lowered the banner, considered a signal for retreat, and contributed to the defeat of the Knights. In violation of the terms of the Peace of Thorn (1411), which prohibited persecution of traitors after the battle, the Order beheaded him in Graudenz (Grudziądz) in May 1411 and had all his male descendants killed.
Of the clan Rogala", although noted Polish-American heraldic expert Leonard Suligowski doubts whether he was actually a member of the Rogala clan.