Kaliningrad has had a long and involved history since it was founded in 1255 by Teutonic knights as they battled their way through Prussia. It was originally given the name K'sberg after King Otakar II who came to assist the knights in their supposed 'Northern Crusade'. German colonization of the area led to a slow extermination of Baltic Prussians but at the same time lent the area a rich, cultural and architectural influence.