Philip I, Duke of Pomerania

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Philip I of Pomerania (14 May 1515, in Stettin – 14 February 1560, in Wolgast) was Duke of Pomerania-Wolgast.

Life

Philip was the only surviving son of Duke

His main advisors were Jobst von Dewitz, Rüdiger von Massow and his Chancellor, Nikolaus Brun. His secretary was the chronicler Thomas Kantzow.

When he came to power, his first task was to sort out the relationship with his unloved step-mother, Margaret of Brandenburg. Under the marriage treaty of 1530, she was entitled to a specified part of his country as her Wittum. However, in the 1532 treaty with Barnim, part of her Wittum was awarded to his uncle, and was thus no longer his to give to his step-mother. In 1533, he gave her the districts of Barth, Tribsees, Grimmen and Breest. But a year later she married her second husband Prince John V of Anhalt.

When Philip took up government, he found his country in political and ecclesiastical turmoil. The

Philip created his own High Court in Wolgast and tried his hand at delivering justice. He personally took part in court proceedings. He also promoted trade and transport in his country. In 1540, he managed to settle a dispute with the nobility that had festered since 1534, so he could finally receive general homage from the Estates. In his later years, his main advisors were Jacob von Zitzewitz, Valentin von Eickstedt and Ulrich von Schwerin; they kept advising Philip's sons after he died. His Councillor Michael Küssow enjoyed his special confidence, however Michael died in early 1558 and was succeeded by his brother Christian Küssow.

From 1540 to 1546 he expanded the ducal Castle Ueckermünde on the mouth of the river Uecker. He is depicted on a relief stone in the castle. The ducal residence Wolgast Castle, on an island in the river Peene, was rebuilt in several stages. On 11 December 1557 a large fire destroyed significant parts of the castle. Philip started the reconstruction, but did not live to see it completed.

Marriage and issue

On 27 February 1536, Philip married Maria of Saxony, the daughter of Elector John the Steadfast of Saxony. They had seven sons and three daughters:

• George (1540–1544)
• John Frederick (1542–1600); married Erdmuthe, daughter of John George, Elector of Brandenburg.
• Bogislaw XIII (1544–1606); married Clara, daughter of Francis, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg.
• Julius, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
  .
• Amelia (1547–1580)
• Barnim X (1549–1603); married Anna Maria, daughter of John George, Elector of Brandenburg
  .
• Eric (1551–1551)
• Margaret (1553–1581); married Francis II, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg.
• Anna (1554–1626); married Ulrich of Mecklenburg-Güstrow
• Casimir VI (1557–1605)

• 
  John Frederick, Duke of Pomerania [1571]
• 
  Bogislaw XIII
• 
  Ernest Louis, Duke of Pomerania
• 
  Barnim X, Duke of Pomerania
• 
  Margaret of Pomerania (1553-1581)
• 
  Anna [1554-1626]
• 
  Casimir VI, Duke of Pomerania

Ancestors

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References

• Gottfried von Bülow (1888), "Philipp I., Herzog von Pommern-Wolgast", Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (in German), vol. 26, Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot, pp. 31–34

External links

• Biography at www.ruegenwalde.com