The Secret Council of the Prussian Confederation, comprised of representatives from various Prussian towns and regions, formally expressed its disobedience to the Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, an act reflecting deep-seated grievances against the Knights' oppressive rule. During this period, the Teutonic Knights, a powerful military order, controlled significant territories in Prussia, exerting heavy taxes and enforcing strict regulations on the populace. The document of disobedience outlined the Confederation's demands for greater autonomy and respite from knightly control, driven by the burgeoning sense of national identity among the Prussian cities and nobility.

This act was not merely a rejection of authority; it was a catalyst for change. The Prussian Confederation's decision was motivated by economic hardships, political manipulation, and the desire for self-governance. The formal act surfaced in a time of growing discontent particularly among the towns of Danzig (now Gdańsk) and Toruń, which had long pinched under the feudal system put forth by the Knights. Moreover, the Confederation sought support from Poland, a long-standing rival of the Teutonic Order, clearly showing that local concerns had international repercussions.

The act's impact was immediate, igniting the Thirteen Years' War, a conflict that would see significant military engagements, shifting alliances, and the eventual decline of the Teutonic Knights' power in the region. This disobedience set the stage for broader societal changes in Prussia, leading to a war that would reshape the landscape of political authority in central Europe.