Duchy of Pomerania

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Not to be confused with Duchy of Eastern Pomerania.
Duchy of Pomerania
Herzogtum Pommern (German)
Księstwo pomorskie (Polish)
1121–1160
1264–1295
1478–1531
1625–1637
Flag of Pomerania
Flag
Coat of arms (1530–1637) of Pomerania
Coat of arms (1530–1637)
Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden
1630
• Death of Duke Bogislaw XIV
March 10, 1637
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Duchy of Poland
Pomerania-Demmin
Pomerania-Stettin
Pomerania-Wolgast
Pomerania-Stolp
Pomerania-Stargard
Pomerania-Barth
Pomerania-Wolgast-Stolp
Pomerania-Rügenwalde
Pomerania-Demmin
Pomerania-Stettin
Pomerania-Wolgast
Pomerania-Wolgast-Stolp
Margraviate of Brandenburg
Swedish Pomerania
Today part ofPoland
Germany

The Duchy of Pomerania (German: Herzogtum Pommern; Polish: Księstwo pomorskie; Latin: Ducatus Pomeraniae) was a duchy in Pomerania on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea, ruled by dukes of the House of Pomerania (Griffins). The country existed in the Middle Ages between years 1121–1160, 1264–1295, 1478–1531, and 1625–1637.

The duchy originated from the realm of

Slavic Pomeranian duke, and was extended by the Lands of Schlawe and Stolp in 1317, the Principality of Rügen in 1325, and the Lauenburg and Bütow Land in 1455. During the High Middle Ages, it also comprised the northern Neumark and Uckermark areas as well as Circipania and Mecklenburg-Strelitz
.

The Duchy of Pomerania was established as a

Margraves of Brandenburg
).

Most of the time, the duchy was ruled by several

List of Reichstag participants
.

History

Main article: Pomerania during the High Middle Ages

In the 12th century, Poland, the Holy Roman Empire's Duchy of Saxony and Denmark variously conquered Pomerania, ending the tribal era.[1]

House of Pomerania (Griffins)

Main article:
House of Pomerania
The Pomeranian Griffin

The Stolp (

House of Pomerania
) until the Danish occupation and extinction of the Ratiboride branch in 1227.

The areas stretching from Kolberg (

House of Pomerania, also called Griffins, of which he was the first ascertained ancestor) until the 1630s.[1]
The terms of surrender after the Polish conquest were that Wartislaw had to accept Polish sovereignty, convert his people to Christianity, and pay an annual tribute to the Polish duke.

Poland

Poland with Pomerania during the rule of Bolesław III Wrymouth
See also: List of Polish campaigns in Pomerania

In several expeditions mounted between 1102 and 1121, most of Pomerania had been conquered by the Polish duke Bolesław III Wrymouth.[2]

From 1102 to 1109, Boleslaw campaigned in the Noteć and Parsęta area.[3] The Pomeranian residence in Białogard was taken already in 1102.[2] From 1112 to 1116, Boleslaw subdued all of Pomerelia.[3] From 1119 to 1122, the area towards the Oder were subdued.[3] Szczecin was taken in the winter of 1121–1122.[3]

The conquest resulted in a high death toll and devastation of vast areas of Pomerania, and the Pomeranian dukes were forced to become vassals of Boleslaw III, King of Poland.[4][5][6]

Poland's influence vanished in the next decade.[7] In 1135, Bolesław had accepted overlordship of Holy Roman Emperor Lothair III and in turn received his Pomeranian gains as well as the still undefeated Principality of Rügen as a fief.[8][9] Wartislaw I also accepted the Emperor as his overlord.[9] With Bolesław's death in 1138 and the fragmentation of Poland, Polish overlordship ended,[10] triggering competition of the Holy Roman Empire and Denmark for the area.[9]

Westward expansion of Wartislaw I

In the meantime, Wartislaw managed to conquer vast territories west of the

Oder Lagoon and Peene river. Most notably Demmin, the Principality of Gützkow and Wolgast were conquered in the following years.[7]

The major stage of the westward expansion into Lutici territory occurred between Otto of Bamberg's two missions, 1124 and 1128. In 1128, Demmin, the County of Gützkow and Wolgast were already incorporated into Wartislaw I's realm, yet warfare was still going on.[11] Captured Lutici and other war loot, including livestock, money, and clothes were apportioned among the victorious.[12] After Wartislaw's Lutician conquests, his duchy lay between the Bay of Greifswald to the north, Circipania, including Güstrow (Ostrów), to the west, Kolobrzeg in the east, and possibly as far as the Havel and Spree rivers in the south.[13]

These gains were not subject to Polish over lordship,

Pomeranian dukes consolidated their power in the course of the 12th century, yet the preceding warfare had left these territories completely devastated.[8]

Conversion and the Pomeranian diocese

Main articles:
Conversion of Pomerania and Bishopric of Cammin
Kammin diocese

A first attempt to convert the Pomeranians was made following the subjugation of Pomerania by

Boleslaw III of Poland. In 1122, Spanish monk Bernard (also Bernhard) travelled to Jumne (Wolin), accompanied only by his chaplain and an interpreter. The Pomeranians however were not impressed by his missionary efforts and finally threw him out of town.[5][18]

Bernard was later made the first

bishop of Lubusz in Poland.[5]

After Bernard's misfortune, Boleslaw III asked Otto of Bamberg[19] to convert Pomerania to Christianity, which he accomplished in his first visit in 1124–25.[20] Otto's strategy severely differed from the one Bernard used: While Bernard travelled alone and as a poor and unknown priest, Otto, a wealthy and famous man, was accompanied by 20 clergy of his own diocese, numerous servants, 60 warriors supplied to him by Boleslaw, and carried with him numerous supplies and gifts. After arriving in Pyritz, the Pomeranians were assured that Otto's aim was not the gain of wealth at the expense of the Pomeranian people, as he was wealthy already, but only to convert them to Christianity, which would protect the Pomeranians from further punishment by God, as which the devastating Polish conquest was depicted. This approach turned out to be successful, and was backed by parts of the Pomeranian nobility that in part was Christian raised already, like duke Wartislaw I, who encouraged and promoted Otto's mission. Many Pomeranians were baptized already in Pyritz and also in the other burghs visited.[5][21][22][23]

St. Nicholas, Wolin

Otto of Bamberg returned in 1128,

Protestant Reformation.[25]

Kamien Pomorski

In 1140, one year after Otto of Bamberg's death, a

Roman Catholic Diocese of Kammin, while before it was addressed as Pomeranian diocese.[30]

In 1248, the

Pomeranian dukes successfully forestalled these ambitions,[32] and immediacy was granted only temporarily in 1345.[31]

Denmark and the Holy Roman Empire

Sweden
  Denmark
  Conquered by Denmark in 1219 (Pomerania conquered in 1219, lost in 1227. Ösel purchased in 1559, lost in 1645)
  Livonia before 1343

In the West, bishops and dukes of the

Imperial flag and the title "Duke of Slavinia".[36]

From the North, Denmark attacked Pomerania. Several campaigns throughout the 12th century (in 1136, 1150, 1159 and throughout the 1160s) culminated in the defeat of the

Bogislaw I, Duke of Pomerania a Danish vassal.[35] These campaigns were mounted by Valdemar's son and successor for the Danish throne, Canute VI of Denmark. In the Duchy of Pomerania the Danish period lasted until Valdemar II of Denmark lost the Battle of Bornhöved on 22 July 1227.[35] Danish supremacy prevailed until 1325[37] in the Rugian principality.[38]

At that time, the duchy was also referred to as Slavinia (German: Slawien), a term also applied to several Wendish areas such as Mecklenburg and the Principality of Rügen.[39]

German settlement (Ostsiedlung)

Further information: Ostsiedlung

Starting in the 12th century, Pomerania was settled with Germans in a process termed Ostsiedlung, that affected all medieval East Central and Eastern Europe. Except for the Pomerelian Kashubians and the Slovincians, the Wends were assimilated. Most towns and villages date back to this period.

Rural settlement

Before the Ostsiedlung, Pomerania was rather sparsely settled. Around 1200, a relatively dense population could be found on the islands of

Hohenkrug and other German villages, and the merchant's settlement near the Stettin burgh. In contrast, the monasteries were almost exclusively run by Germans and Danes.[40]

Massive German settlement started in the first half of the 13th century. Ostsiedlung was a common process at this time in all Central Europe and was largely run by the nobles and monasteries to increase their income. Also, the settlers were expected to finish and secure the conversion of the non-nobles to Christianity. In addition, the Danes withdrew from most of Pomerania in 1227, leaving the duchy vulnerable to their expansive neighbors, especially

Henry I of Silesia.[41]

Germans, at this early stage (before 1240), were often settled in frontier regions, such as the mainland part of the

Warthe and along the lower Oder river. However, in many of these frontiers, German settlement did not hinder the advance of Pomerania's neighbors.[41]

Germans were placed under a different law than Slavs. While those were unfree (except for the nobles), did not own the soil they cultivated, and were to serve the nobility, the opposite was true for the Germans.[42][43]

About 1240, the areas of

Stolp area in the 1280s. Here, local Slavs participated in the Ostsiedlung, and settlement went on throughout the 14th century.[44]

Initially, the Germans who settled the northern regions predominantly came from Lower Saxony, while the Germans who settled the southern areas (mittelpommerscher Keil) predominantly came from Altmark and Westphalia. This caused the emergence of East Pomeranian,

Central Pomeranian and Mecklenburgisch-Vorpommersch dialects. German settlers also came from areas earlier affected from Ostsiedlung, such as Mecklenburg, Brandenburg, and later also German settled regions of Pomerania herself. Though the exact proportion of German versus Slavic populations cannot be determined, it is undisputed that the Germans significantly outnumbered the Slavs. Before the end of the 13th century, the Western Pomeranian mainland and most of Farther Pomerania west of the Gollenberg had turned almost completely German, mentions of Slavs in documents became exceptional. The Slavic dialects disappeared, with the exception that fishermen from the isles and the Oder lagoon area continued to use Wendish for a relatively long period.[45]

Villages before the Ostsiedlung were of the

Straßendorf type, characterized by a single and very long main street, was introduced in a later stage of Ostsiedlung, and therefore is found predominantly in areas that were affected last by the German settlement (easternmost parts, Cammin area). Villages of this type were either new foundations, or extensions of Slavic precursors. In other areas, Hagenhufendorf and Angerdorf types dominate, while the Haufendorf type used in Slavic times and its Sackdorf variant can still be found in between, predominantly on the islands.[46][47]

The villages' area was divided in

Kossäten (literally "who sits in a hut"), and could either be local Slavs or the younger sons of German farmers who did not inherit their father's soil.[47][48]

Foundation of towns

Nearly all towns in modern Pomerania date back to the Ostsiedlung. In Slavic times, there have been town-like settlements already in

Stettin, where two German settlements were set up close to the Slavic burgh and settlement, all of which were included in the later town. In many cases, the name of the neighboring Slavic settlement would be used for the new town.[51]

Medieval Greifswald, a typical Ostsiedlung town. Locators set up rectangular blocs in an area resembling an oval with a central market, and organized the settlement.

The towns were built on behalf of the Pomeranian dukes or ecclesial bodies like monasteries and orders.

Gartz (Oder) (Pomerania-Stettin, 1240), and Loitz (by Detlev of Gadebusch, 1242). Other towns built in the 1240s were Demmin, Greifswald (by Eldena Abbey), Altentreptow.[52]

In the 1250s followed

Belgard, and Werben (by the bishop of Cammin) are first recorded in 1295, 1297, 1299, and 1300, respectively, all were most certainly founded earlier.[52]

In the area directly administered by the bishops of Cammin, the towns of

Fiddichow (by Barnim III, 1347).[52]

Many towns with a burgh in close proximity had the duke level this burgh when they grew in power. Stettin, where the burgh was inside the town, had the duke level his burgh already in 1249,[50] other towns were to follow. The fortified new towns had succeeded the burghs as strongholds for the country's defense. In many cases, the former burgh settlement would become a Slavic suburb of the German town ("Wiek", "Wieck"). In Stettin, two "Wiek" suburbs were set up anew outside the walls, to which most Slavs from within the walls were resettled. Such Wiek settlements did initially not belong to the town, but to the duke, although they were likely to come into possession of the town in the course of the 14th century. Also in the 14th century, Slavic Wiek suburbs lost their Slavic character.[53]

Indigenous Slavs and Poles faced discrimination from the arriving Germans, who on a local level since the 16th century imposed discriminatory regulations, such as bans on buying goods from Slavs/Poles or prohibiting them from becoming members of craft guilds.[54]

Hanseatic towns

Further information: Hanseatic League

The towns of Pomerania that had joined the

Kolberg. Before the Treaty of Stralsund in 1370, and during the reign of Eric of Pomerania, the Hanseatic towns were in a state of war with Denmark for hegemony in the Baltic Sea.[56]

Parts of the Pomeranian nobility were engaged in

Likedeeler pirate organisation.[57]

The relation between the towns and the nobility throughout the Middle Ages ranged from alliances and support (German: Landfrieden) to cabalism, banditry and outright warfare.[55][58]

Pomerania-Demmin and Pomerania-Stettin (1155–1264)

Further information: Partitions of the Duchy of Pomerania

In 1155, the duchy was partitioned in Pomerania-Demmin and Pomerania-Stettin.[13] With short interruptions, this division lasted until 1264.[59]

Danish king Canute VI in 1185.[60]

When he died in 1187, his two sons

Ingardis of Denmark thus ruled until Wartislaw was able to rule Pomerania-Demmin on his own in 1225, and Barnim, in theory duke since 1220, practically started his reign in Pomerania-Stettin only in 1233.[61] Pomerania-Demmin lost her southern and western areas to Brandenburg, and the remainder came under Barnim's rule after Wartislaw died in 1264.[59]

Territorial changes in the 13th century

War with Brandenburg

Further information:
Brandenburg-Pomeranian conflict

During the reign of

House of Pomerania with the Duchy of Slavia (Pomerania). This was not accepted by the Margraviate of Brandenburg
and triggered several military conflicts.

Between 1185 and 1227, Pomerania along with most of the southern Baltic coast remained under sovereignty of Denmark. However, Brandenburg again tried to gain sovereignty over Pomerania, and in 1214 for a short time conquered

Stettin.[62] After Denmark lost the Battle of Bornhöved in 1227, Denmark lost all her territories on the southern Baltic shore, including Pomerania.[36]

At this time, the

Ascanian margraves of Brandenburg.[63][64]

Denmark also attempted to restore her rule and took Wolgast and Demmin in 1235, but was driven out the same year.[65] Wartislaw had to accept Brandenburg's overlordship in the 1236 Treaty of Kremmen, furthermore he had to hand over most of his duchy to Brandenburg immediately, that was the Burg Stargard Land and adjacted areas (all soon to become a part of Mecklenburg, forming the bulk of the later Mecklenburg-Strelitz area). Circipania was already lost to Mecklenburg in the years before.

In the 1250 Treaty of Landin between Pomeranian dukes and margraves of Brandenburg, Barnim I managed to reassert the rule of his Griffin house over Pomerania, but lost the Uckermark to Brandenburg.

Brandenburg since 1250 expanded eastward. In 1250–52, the margraves gained half of

Zehden to Brandenburg.[66]

In 1264, Duke

Wartislaw III of Demmin died, his cousin Barnim I (the Good) became the sole ruler of the duchy. In 1266, Barnim I married Mechthild, the daughter of Otto III, Margrave of Brandenburg
.

In 1269, Barnim lost the terra

Arnswalde to the margraves. Before his death, he bought the western part back in 1278.[67]

Bogislaw IV lost the

Schivelbein), in 1280. All former Pomeranian territories east of the Oder lost to Brandenburg in the 13th century became parts of the Brandenburgian Neumark ("new march").[67]

War with Silesia

In 1234 and 1241,

Przemysł II of Greater Poland.[66]

Competition for Schlawe-Stolp

Further information: Lands of Schlawe and Stolp

The last member of the

Wizlaw II took over.[69] He withdrew in 1277 and left the area to Brandenburg.[69] In 1283, Mestwin II of Pomerelia took over.[69] Competition arose anew after his death in 1294.[69] In 1296, Wizlaw's son Sambor launched another campaign.[70]

Pomerania-Wolgast and -Stettin after the partition of 1295

Further information:
Brandenburg-Pomeranian conflict
Teutonic Order state; orange: Margraviate of Brandenburg; pink: duchies of Mecklenburg

The last duke of Demmin had died in 1264, and the 1236 territorial losses left Demmin at the westernmost edge of the Duchy of Pomerania.

When

Magdeburg law. This partition became known as Pomerania-Stettin.[71]

A series of wars was triggered by Denmark in the early 14th century, when

Wizlaw III. This war was ended by the Treaty of Templin in 1317. During this conflict, in 1315, Wartislaw IV of Pomerania-Wolgast, grandson of Rugian Wizlaw II, made an agreement with Eric VI Menved's brother Christopher II of Denmark for inheritance of the Principality of Rügen.[72]

Waldemar of Brandenburg died in 1319. Heinrich, his heir, was still a minor, and died in 1320.

Schivelbein and Falkenberg (all in Neumark) as a fief from the Cammin bishops.[73] In 1338, Barnim III of Pomerania-Stettin was granted his part-duchy as a fief directly from the emperor, while Pomerania-Wolgast remained under formal Brandenburgian overlordship.[73][75]

The towns

Gartz (Oder).[76] On June 12, 1348, German king and later emperor Karl IV granted the Duchy of Pomerania as a whole and the Rugian principality as a fief to the dukes of both Pomerania-Stettin and Pomerania-Wolgast, erasing Brandenburg's claims,[75][76] which however was not accepted by Brandenburg until 1529.[75] The Pomeranian dukes and towns reconciled in 1344–54.[76]

Barnim III, against the will of the burghers, erected a

castle within Stettin's walls in 1346 (the old burgh had been leveled in 1249),[78] and gained from Brandenburg the eastern parts of the Uckermark, that was in 1354 Pasewalk, in 1355 Schwedt, Angermünde, and Brüssow, and in 1359 (Torgelow).[76]

Gain of Schlawe-Stolp (1317–47)

In 1316–17, the

Waldemar of Brandenburg. In 1347, the area became fully attached to Pomerania-Wolgast.[79] The lands of Stolp were pawned to the Teutonic Order from 1329 to 1341, the Bütow area was bought by the Knights in 1329 and thus remained outside Pomerania-Wolgast.[80]

Gain of the Principality of Rügen (1325–1356)

The Rugian Prince Wizlaw III died in 1325. Because of the earlier death of his son, he had no male heir, and

Counts of Gützkow. After the Pomeranian forces defeated the Mecklenburgians in the Battle of Schopendamm near Loitz in 1351, they were able to take Grimmen and Barth in 1354 and Tribsees in 1356. Mecklenburg dropped her claims thereafter. Another party in these wars for Rugian succession was the bishop of Schwerin, who sought to enforce his claims by legal means, but was not successful in his appeals to various ecclesial courts.[81]

Partition of Pomerania-Wolgast (1368–72): Pomerania-Wolgast and Pomerania-Stolp

Wolgast palace, 1652

After the death of

Stargard,[83] and resulted in a partition of Pomerania-Wolgast.[84]

Bogislaw V received most of the

Pomerania-Stolp.[82][83][84]

Between the partition of 1368 and the reunification in 1478

Further partition of Pomerania-Wolgast (1376–1425): Pomerania-Wolgast and Pomerania-Barth

The western remainder of Pomerania-Wolgast was further partitioned between Bogislaw IV and Wartislaw VI on December 6, 1376. Wartislaw VI received Pomerania-(Wolgast)-Barth, the former principality of Rügen, and Bogislaw IV's Pomerania-Wolgast was reduced to an area between

Swine river. When Bogislaw VI died in 1393 and Wartislaw VI in 1394, the latter's sons Barnim VI and Wartislaw VIII ruled in common.[82][83][84]

On December 6, 1425, the western part of Pomerania-Wolgast (without Pomerania-Stolp) was partitioned again at a congress in

Wartislaw IX and his brother Barnim VII, who received the eastern part with Wolgast, and their cousins Swantibor II and his brother Barnim VIII, who received the Rugian part with Barth.[85]

In 1456, the University of Greifswald was founded on behalf of Greifswald's burgomaster Heinrich Rubenow, becoming the first university of Pomerania and one of the oldest in northern Europe.[86]

Pomerania-Stolp

Słupsk castle
Eric of Pomerania crowned king of the Kalmar Union

The situation of the descendants of Bogislaw V, who ruled Pomerania-Stolp, differed somewhat from the situation of their western counterparts. The area was more sparsely settled and dominated by powerful noble families, so not much income could be derived by the dukes. On the other hand, the Stolpian branch of the House of Pomerania had relatives among the royal houses of Denmark and Poland.

Casimir III of Poland, where both raised at the Polish court in Kraków. Elisabeth would become Holy Roman Empress after her marriage with Charles IV, and Casimir was adopted by and designated heir of his grandfather. Yet, his ambitions were swarted when Ludwig of Hungary overruled the testament of Casimir of Poland in 1370, Casimir of Pomerania-Stolp only for a short time took the land of Dobrin as a fief. Eric II of Pomerania-Stolp, grand-grandchild of Danish king Valdemar IV in contrast became king of the Kalmar Union in 1397.[87]

Eric however failed in his most ambitious plan, to make

Bogislaw IX of Pomerania-Stolp king of both the Kalmar Union and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Eric had to leave Denmark in 1449 and ruled Pomerania-Rügenwalde, a small partition of Pomerania-Stolp, until his death in 1459.[88]

Pomerania-Stolp was a crucial point in the Knights' land supply route.

First Peace of Thorn in 1411.[89]

Pomerania-Stettin

Further information:
Brandenburg-Pomeranian conflict
Pomeranian Dukes' Castle, Szczecin

First Peace of Thorn.[90]

The main concern of the Stettin dukes however was Brandenburg, namely the Neumark and Uckermark regions.

House of Pomerania. Pomeranian dukes even held positions in the march's administration.[91]

When Brandenburg changed hands from the House of Luxembourg to the House of Hohenzollern on January 11, 1411, the dukes of Pomerania-Stettin understood their position endangered and reacted with warfare. The first major battle was the second Battle of Kremmer Damm on October 24, 1412. While the dukes of Pomerania-Wolgast had sided with the emperor, disappointment over the emperors disapproval of ridding them of formal Brandenburgian overlordship in 1417 drove them to ally with their Stettin relatives and Mecklenburg. This coalition was backed by Denmark and Poland. A series of battles culminated in a decisive defeat on March 26, 1420, in the streets of Angermünde, and the Uckermark possessions were lost once again.[92]

Polish–Teutonic Wars

Further information:
History of Poland during the Jagiellon dynasty, and State of the Teutonic Order

In 1320 and 1325,

Teutonic Knights, after they had settled their common border.[93] In 1388, this alliance was joined by Swantibor I and Bogislaw VII of Pomerania-Stettin as well as Barnim VI and Wartislaw VI of Pomerania-Wolgast.[93]

Later in 1388 however, the dukes of

Jogaila and concluding mutual trade alleviations.[94]

When Wartislaw VII died, Bogislaw VIII and Barnim V concluded a treaty with the

Teutonic Knights to safeguard their supply routes in turn for a financial credit.[94] Swantibor I and Bogislaw VII of Pomerania-Stettin changed sides in 1395 and allied with the knights in turn for financial aid.[94] Barnim V in 1397 concluded an alliance with Poland, married Vytautas' niece Hedwig and was in Jogaila's service in 1401 until he died in 1402 or 1404.[94] Bogislaw VIII also entered into Jogaila's service, but changed sides in 1407–08, when he allied with the Teutonic Knights and settled their common border.[94]

First Peace of Thorn in 1411.[95]

While Bogislaw VIII nevertheless upheld his alliance with Jogaila,

Pomeranian dukes in 1423 allied with the Teutonic Knights.[95]

Gain of Lauenburg and Bütow Land (1455–67)

Further information: Lauenburg and Bütow Land

Casimir IV of Poland granted the area as a fief to the dukes of Pomerania and after the death of the last Duke Bogislaw XIV in 1637 the towns were re-integrated with Poland and included in the Pomeranian Voivodeship
.

War with Brandenburg and the Hanseatic League (1423–1448)

On September 15, 1423, all Pomeranian dukes (including Eric) allied with the Teutonic Knights against Brandenburg and against the Hanseatic towns. In early 1425, this coalition was joined by Mecklenburg and Poland and successfully invaded Brandenburg. A peace treaty concluded on May 22, 1427, in Eberswalde, left Pomerania with the Uckermark north of Angermünde. On June 16, 1427, this was confirmed by the Treaty of Templin, which also included a coalition of Pomerania, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg. Yet, in 1440 Pomerania and Brandenburg invaded Mecklenburg, and in 1444 Brandenburg demanded from Pomerania to again hand over the Uckermark to her. When the Pomeranians refused, war broke out again. The first Treaty of Prenzlau in 1448 set the border south of Pasewalk.[97]

Bogislaw X becomes sole ruler of the duchy of Pomerania (1478)

Further information:
Brandenburg-Pomeranian conflict, Treaty of Soldin (1466), and Treaty of Prenzlau

Pomerania-Wolgast was reunited following the death of both Barnim VII and Barnim VIII in 1451. Both dukes died of the

Wartislaw X,[99] and Otto III of Pomerania-Stettin (all in 1464).[99] Thus, the line of Pomerania-Stettin had died out.[99]

Duchy of Pomerania in 1477

The extinction of the House of Pomerania-Stettin triggered a conflict about inheritance with the

Gartz (Oder) resembling Brandenburg's recent gains. This treaty was accepted by the emperor.[101]

In 1474, Eric II died of the plague, and his son Bogislaw X inherited Pomerania-Stolp. Bogislaw's brothers had died the same year. After the death of his uncle Wartislaw X in 1478, he became the first sole ruler in the Duchy of Pomerania since almost 200 years.[100][102]

Eric II had left Pomerania in tense conflicts with Brandenburg and

Strasburg and Bogislaw had to take his possessions as a fief from Brandenburg.[100][103]

Protestant Reformation (1518–1534)

House of Pomerania at Pudagla palace, secularized former Usedom Abbey

The

Protestant Reformation reached Pomerania in the early 16th century. Bogislaw X in 1518 sent his son, Barnim IX, to study in Wittenberg. In 1521, he personally attended a mass of Martin Luther in Wittenberg, and also of other reformed preachers in the following years. Also in 1521, Johannes Bugenhagen, the most important person in the following conversion of Pomerania to Protestantism, left Belbuck Abbey to study in Wittenberg, close to Luther. In Belbuck, a circle had formed before, comprising not only Bugenhagen, but also Johann Boldewan, Christian Ketelhut, Andreas Knöpke and Johannes Kureke. These persons, and also Johannes Knipstro, Paul vom Rode, Peter Suawe, Jacob Hogensee and Johann Amandus spread the Protestant idea all over Pomerania. At several occasions, this went along with public outrage, plunder and arson directed against the church.[104][105]

The dukes' role in the reformation process was ambitious. Bogislaw X, despite his sympathies, forbade Protestant preaching and tumults shortly before his death. Of his sons,

Treptow an der Rega, where the dukes and the nobility against the vote of Cammin bishop Erasmus von Manteuffel officially introduced Protestantism to Pomerania. Bugenhagen in the following month drafted the new church order.[104][105][106]

The Duchy of Pomerania joined the Schmalkaldic League, but did not actively participate in the Schmalkaldic War.[107]

Partition of 1532: Pomerania-Stettin and Pomerania-Wolgast

After Bogislaw X's death, his sons initially ruled in common. Yet, after Georg's death, the duchy was partitioned again between Barnim IX, who resided in

Kolobrzeg) subsequently came controlled by the dukes, when members of the ducal family were made titular bishops of Cammin since 1556.[20][104]

Despite the division, the duchy maintained one central government.[108]

Further partitions in 1569

Darlowo
Barth with ducal palace in the upper left
Duke of Pomerania

In 1569, Pomerania-Barth (consisting of the area around

Barnim XII.[109]
Though the partitions were named similar to the earlier ones, their territory differed significantly.

In contrast to the partition of 1532, it was agreed that two governments were maintained in

Stettin.[108] Decisions of war and peace were to be made only by a common Landtag.[110]

During the 1560s, Pomerania was caught between the

House of Pomerania died out in turn for the final rejection of Brandenburgian claims to hold Pomerania as a fief, it was now agreed that both ruling houses had a mutual right of succession in case of the extinction of the other one.[108]

Also in 1571, a trade war between the towns

Eric of Brunswick crossed and devastated their duchy, and the circle did not give them support.[111] On the other hand, the Pomeranian refusal to properly integrate in the circle's structure likewise reduced the circle's ability to act as a unified military power.[111]

The partitioned duchy underwent an economical recession in the late 16th century.

Ottoman Wars.[110] Yet, due to the rejection of financial support by the nobility, the Pomeranian dukes' funds for the campaign were low, resulting in their humiliation during the war for fighting with bad horses and weapons.[110]

Reunification under Bogislaw XIV and partition between Sweden and Brandenburg

Brandenburgian Pomerania (East Pomerania
) is shown in orange.
Main article: Treaty of Stettin (1653)
Further information:
Province of Pomerania (1653-1815), and Province of Pomerania (1815–1945)

Hither Pomerania stayed with the Swedish Empire and henceforth became known as Swedish Pomerania. The border was settled in the Treaty of Stettin (1653). Both parts were merged into the Prussian Province of Pomerania
in 1815.

Historical subdivisions

Further information: Partitions of the Duchy of Pomerania
Location of the residence cities of the Dukes of Pomerania (blue) and Pomerelia (ocre) within the modern borders of Pomerania

Furthermore, several Pomeranian duchies were co-ruled by members of the

House of Pomerania
:

Coat of arms

Coat of Arms since Bogislaw X's reform in 1530.

On 26 July 1530, the ducal coat of arms was reformed on behalf of

Reichstag in Augsburg.[113]
The ducal coat of arms since 1530 showed

  1. Pomerania-Stettin: A red griffin on a blue shield.[113] The shield had a golden color up to 1483, and Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor positively responded to Bogislaw X, Duke of Pomerania's request to change the blue back to golden to follow the heraldic rules. This change, however, was never implemented.[114]
  2. Pomerania: A red griffin on a silver shield.[113][114]
  3. Cassubia: A black griffin on a golden shield.[114] Before 1530, this was the coat of arms of Wolgast.[113][115]
  4. Wenden: A griffin colored with three green and red stripes on a silver shield. Earlier, this griffin was red with silver wings.[113][114]
  5. Principality of Rügen: A black lion, sometimes with a red crown, on a golden shield growing from an open red brick wall on a blue shield.[113][114]
  6. Usedom: A silver griffin with a sturgeon tail on a red shield.[113][114]
  7. Pomerania-Barth: A black griffin with two white fields on a golden shield.[113][114]
  8. County of Gützkow: A red cross with 4 red roses in its angles on a golden shield.[113][114]
  9. Pomerania-Wolgast: A white griffin on a red shield growing from an open golden brick wall on a blue shield.[114] From 1325 to 1530, Pomerania-Wolgast had a black griffin on a golden shield. The Putbus coat of arms had been identical with the post-1530 Wolgast coat of arms, except for the color of the lower shield, which was black, and the description of the beast as an eagle.[113]
  10. Another empty regalia field.[113]

Before 1530, the coat of arms had five fields, showing four griffins symbolizing Pomerania-Stettin, Pomerania, Wenden, Cassubia, and an empty regalia field.[113][114]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Theologische Realenzyklopädie, p. 40
  2. ^ a b Piskorski (1999), p. 35
  3. ^ a b c d Piskorski (1999), p. 36
  4. ^ Addison (2003), pp. 57ff
  5. ^ a b c d Buchholz (1999), p. 25
  6. ^ Herrmann (1985), pp. 384ff
  7. ^ a b Herrmann (1985), pp. 386
  8. ^ a b Buske (1997), pp. 11, 12
  9. ^ a b c d e Inachim (2008), p. 17
  10. ^ Inachim (2008), p. 17 : "Mit dem Tod Kaiser Lothars 1137 endete der sächsische Druck auf Wartislaw I., und mit dem Ableben Boleslaw III. auch die polnische Oberhoheit."
  11. ^ Piskorski (1999), pp. 40, 41
  12. ^ Herrmann (1985), p. 141
  13. ^ a b c d e Piskorski (1999), p. 41
  14. ^ a b c Buske (1997), p. 11
  15. ^ Historia Szczecina: zarys dziejów miasta od czasów najdawniejszych do 1980, Tadeusz Białecki, page 53 Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich, 1992 -
  16. ^ Buske (1997), p. 11 :"Durch die Eroberung des Peenegebiets, das nicht zum polnischen Einflußgebiet gehörte, gewann Wartislaw [..] eine beachtliche Selbstständigkeit. Er konnte sich schließlich dauerhaft gegen Polen behaupten [..]"
  17. ^ a b Buske (1997), p. 10
  18. ^ Maclear (1969), pp. 218ff
  19. ^ Medley (2004), p. 152
  20. ^ a b c Theologische Realenzyklopädie, p. 40ff
  21. ^ Addison (2003), pp. 59ff
  22. ^ a b Palmer (2005), pp. 107ff
  23. ^ a b c d Herrmann (1985), pp. 402ff
  24. ^ Buchholz (1999), p. 26
  25. ^ Buchholz (1999), p. 28
  26. ^ a b c Buske (1997), p. 14
  27. ^ Inachim (2008), p. 15
  28. ^ Buchholz (1999), p. 29
  29. ^ Buske (1997), p. 14–15
  30. ^ Buske (1997), p. 15
  31. ^ a b c Köbler (2007), p. 113
  32. ^ a b c Buske (1997), p. 16
  33. ^ Buchholz (1999), pp. 30, 34
  34. ^ Buchholz (1999), p. 34
  35. ^ a b c Buske (1997), p. 17
  36. ^ a b c Inachim (2008), p. 18
  37. ^ a b Herrmann (1985), pp. 394ff
  38. ^ Buchholz (1999), pp. 34, 35
  39. ^ "Historische Geographie, compiled by Klaus-Dieter Kreplin from numerous sources, 2001" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-24. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
  40. ^ Buchholz (1999), pp. 43–48
  41. ^ a b Buchholz (1999), pp. 46–52
  42. ^ Buchholz (1999), p. 45
  43. ^ Herrmann (1985), p. 422
  44. ^ Buchholz (1999), pp. 48–60
  45. ^ Buchholz (1999), pp. 61–63
  46. ^ Buchholz (1999), pp. 63–65
  47. ^ a b Herrmann (1985), pp. 421ff
  48. ^ Buchholz (1999), pp. 66–70
  49. ^ Herrmann (1985), pp. 237ff, 244ff, 269ff
  50. ^ a b Herrmann (1985), p. 426
  51. ^ Buchholz (1999), pp. 75,79–80
  52. ^ a b c Buchholz (1999), pp. 77–80
  53. ^ Buchholz (1999), pp. 84, 85
  54. ^ Tadeusz Gasztold, Hieronim Kroczyński, Hieronim Rybicki, Kołobrzeg: zarys dziejów, Wydaw. Poznańskie, 1979, p. 27 (in Polish)
  55. ^ a b Calhoun (2002), pp. 157, 158
  56. ^ Buchholz (1999), pp. 130, 166ff
  57. ^ Buchholz (1999), pp. 146, 147
  58. ^ Buchholz (1999), pp. 128–154, 178–180
  59. ^ a b Piskorski (1999), p. 61
  60. ^ a b c d e f Piskorski (1999), p. 42
  61. ^ Piskorski (1999), p. 60
  62. ^ Piskorski (1999), p. 45
  63. ^ Inachim (2008), pp. 18–19
  64. ^ Buske (1997), p. 18
  65. ^ Buchholz (1999), p. 88
  66. ^ a b Buchholz (1999), p. 89
  67. ^ a b Buchholz (1999), p. 90
  68. ^ a b Zientara (2002), p. 338
  69. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Buchholz (1999), p. 87
  70. ^ a b c d e Inachim (2008), p. 19
  71. ^ Buchholz (1999), pp. 104–105
  72. ^ Buchholz (1999), p. 107
  73. ^ a b c d e f Buchholz (1999), pp. 107-109
  74. ^ a b Willoweit (2006), p. 257
  75. ^ a b c d Inachim (2008), p. 32
  76. ^ a b c d e Buchholz (1999), pp. 110–111
  77. ^ Boockmann (1992), p. 126
  78. ^ Buchholz (1999), p. 121
  79. ^ Buchholz (1999), p. 105
  80. ^ Buchholz (1999), pp. 106
  81. ^ Buchholz (1999), pp. 115, 116
  82. ^ a b c Boockmann (1992), p. 131
  83. ^ a b c Boockmann (1992), p. 132
  84. ^ a b c Buchholz (1999), pp. 143, 146, 147
  85. ^ Buchholz (1999), p. 154
  86. ^ Du Moulin Eckart (1976), p. 109
  87. ^ Buchholz (1999), p. 154–158
  88. ^ Buchholz (1999), pp. 168, 170, 173
  89. ^ Buchholz (1999), p. 158
  90. ^ Buchholz (1999), p. 163
  91. ^ Buchholz (1999), p. 161
  92. ^ Buchholz (1999), pp. 160–166
  93. ^ a b c d e Inachim (2008), p. 35
  94. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Inachim (2008), p. 36
  95. ^ a b c d e f g Inachim (2008), p. 37
  96. ^ a b c d e Buchholz (1999), p. 186
  97. ^ Buchholz (1999), p. 180ff
  98. ^ a b Buchholz (1999), p. 181
  99. ^ a b c Buchholz (1999), p. 183
  100. ^ a b c Bogislaw X in Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie[permanent dead link]
  101. ^ Buchholz (1999), pp. 186, 189
  102. ^ Buchholz (1999), p. 189
  103. ^ Buchholz (1999), p. 190
  104. ^ a b c Buchholz (1999), pp. 205–212
  105. ^ a b Theologische Realenzyklopädie, pp. 43ff
  106. ^ Du Moulin Eckart (1976), pp. 111, 112
  107. ^ Buchholz (1999), p. 223
  108. ^ a b c d e Nicklas (2002), p. 180
  109. ^ Buchholz (1999), pp. 207
  110. ^ a b c Nicklas (2002), p. 182
  111. ^ a b c d e Nicklas (2002), p. 179
  112. ^ a b c d Nicklas (2002), p. 181
  113. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Köhne (1842), pp. 239ff
  114. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Grote (1862), pp. 536ff
  115. ^ Spiess (2003), p. 140

Bibliography

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