Principality of Rügen
Principality of Rügen | |||||||||
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| 1168–1325 | |||||||||
![Coat of arms[a] of Rugia](/File:Ksi%C4%99stwo_rugijskie_COA.svg) Coat of arms[a]
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Slavic Paganism | |||||||||
| Government | Principality | ||||||||
| Historical era | Middle Ages | ||||||||
| 1168 | |||||||||
| 1325 | |||||||||
| 1648 | |||||||||
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| Today part of | |||||||||
* Rügen may not always have been a state of the Empire, but was continuously a fief of Denmark. | |||||||||
The Principality of Rügen
Danish conquest and conversion
The
In the 12th century, the Duchy of Rügen not only functioned as a bridgehead for Danish expansions into
After the Danish conquest, the princes moved their capital from Charenza to nearby Rugard (now incorporated in Bergen auf Rügen). While the island of
Rugia as Danish vassal
After Jaromar, the succession of Slavic princes under Danish vassalage was as follows:
- 1218–1221 Barnuta (oldest son of Jaromar I, ancestor of the House of Gristow)[1]
- 24 November 1221 – 1249 Wizlaw I (Barnuta's brother)[1]
- 1249–1260 Jaromar II (son of Wizlaw I)[1]
- 1260–1302 Wizlaw II (son of Jaromar II)[1]
- 1303–1304 Wizlaw III (sons of Wizlaw II, Sambor died in 1304)[1]
- 1304–1325 Wizlaw III[1]
Population movements
When Rügen became a Danish principality, not only religion changed. In the course of the
Foundation of abbeys
The
- 1193 Bergen Abbey
- 1199 Dargun Abbeybefore)
- 1231 Altenkamp)
- 1296 Hiddensee Abbey
The abbeys were granted vast lands, in part turned over from the former temple estates. Wittow had been Arkona's temple isle before the Danish conquest, and the other temples, e.g. in Charenza, also had rich possessions.
Towns were either built within a clearance or near an older Rani burgh and granted Lübeck law when grown to a respective size. The date Lübeck law was granted is given in the following list as it is usually seen as the town's anniversary, even if the town itself was projected and built earlier:
One exception is the town of
The other exception is the town of Schadegast: Founded close to Stralsund, the town had to be levelled on behalf of the Stralsund burghers in 1269.
Military expeditions
After the 1168 Danish conquest, the Rugian dukes became a valuable ally to the Danes who participated in many Danish expeditions:
- 1177 Rugian troops participate in Danish raids of Wollin and the County of Gützkow
- 1178 Rugian troops participate in a Danish raid of the terra Wusterhusen and Wolgast
- 1184 Battle of the Bay of Greifswald: The Rugian navy encounters the Pomeranian navy on its way to conquer Rügen and entirely defeats it. This made way for the Danes to again loot Usedom and Wolgast.
- 1185 Rugian troops participate in Danish raids of the Cammin
- 1219 Rugian troops participate in Danish conquest of Estonia[1]
- 1259 Rugian troops raid Skane and Lolland
- 1260 Rugian troops take Lilleborg fortress (Bornholm)
Territorial changes
In 1235, Wizlaw I gained half of the terra
Princes of Rügen
Tetzlav (1168–1170)
In 1168 after the
Jaromar I (1170–1218)
His brother and successor, Prince
In 1177, Rügen troops supported military campaigns by the Danes to
Finally, Bogislaw I was forced to submit to Danish
Barnuta (1218–1221)
After Jaromar I's death in 1218, his son
Vitslav I (24 Nov 1221–1249)
The first new settlements were established north of the Ryck by Eldena Abbey. In the area around Tribsees, too, the first German settlers were had already arrived by 1221. In the years that followed they also settled in the area of
Jaromar II (1249–1260)
From 1246, Jaromar II was co-regent with his father, Vitslav I, who died in 1250. He strove, during his early years in power, to achieve peaceful relations with his Pomeranian neighbours, especially the counts of Gützkow. He encouraged trade, especially with Lübeck, and abolished wrecking rights. The destruction of Stralsund in 1249 by an army commissioned by the town of Lübeck led to four years of privateering against Lübeck-registered ships until Lübeck eventually backed down and paid compensation.
The estates of the monasteries were greatly expanded under Jaromar II. In 1252, he sold the present-day
In 1259 he intervened in the conflict between the Danish king,
Vitslav II (1260–1302) and Jaromar III (1260–1282)
In 1283 he formed an alliance with several North German towns and other princes in the
In 1285, Grimmen was given town rights by Vitslav. In 1296, Neuenkamp Abbey founded a daughter monastery on the island of Hiddensee. By granting trade monopoly on the island of Rügen and the rights to fish for herring to Wittow, hitherto reserved for Lübeck, he supported the town of Stralsund, but at the same time hampered the general development of trade and commerce.
Prior to his death in 1282, Vitslav II's younger brother, Jaromar III, often served as regent and co-prince.
Vitslav III (1303–1325) and Sambor III
After Wizlaw II died during a visit to
Erik Menved tried to enforce his dominance over the developing trading towns in the southern Baltic region. As a vassal of Erik Menveds, Wizlaw III tried to restrict Stralsund's privileges and Lübeck rights. The failure of negotiations eventually led to the siege of Stralsund in 1316 by an army under the leadership of Duke Eric I of Saxe-Lauenburg. A night attack by Stralsund ended in a victory over the besieging army and the duke was taken prisoner. Vitslaw III, who had participated in the siege of the town from the seaward side, had to escape. In 1317, there was a peace treaty between the town and its regional ruler. Vitslav III, whose financial situation had been worsened by the war, awarded numerous privileges to Stralsund, gave them the right to his royal taxes and jurisdiction and sold his mint to the town.
Pomeranian dukes (House of Griffins)
- 1325–1326 Wartislaw IV
- 1326–1368 Barnim IV
- 1368–1372 Bogislaw VI
- 1372–1394 Wartislaw VI
- 1394–1415 Wartislaw VIII
- 1415–1432/6 Swietobor II
- 1432/6-1451 Barnim VIII
- 1451–1457 Wartislaw IX
- 1457–1478 Wartislaw X
Inheritance by the Dukes of Pomerania
While the main branch of the House of Wizlaw (House of Rügen) became extinct with the death of Wizlaw III, two branches remained:
- The House of Gristow, ancestors of Barnuta. Barnuta resigned for unknown reasons and was entitled "Herr" (Lord) of the Rugian terra Gristow north of the Ryck river. His descendants remained at Gristow.[2]
- The House of Putbus, a branch derived from the Rugian princes already in pagan times. The members of this branch were entitled "Herr" of Putbus in Southeast Rügen, and in Prussian times were entitled "Fürst" (prince). This branch still exists.[2]
The Principality of Rügen was inherited by the
Later history of the region
Denmark at several occasions tried to again acquire the principality, yet without or only with temporary success. In 1625, a Danish offer of 150,000
The area of the principality retained some special status within the Duchy and later
Notes
- ^ This is the coat of arms of Rugia as part of the duchy of Pomerania during the 16th century. It is likely that it continues a 14th-century coat of arms of the dukes of Rugia, which may however have been slightly different.
- Latin: Rugia
References
- ^ ISBN 3-88680-272-8
- ^ ISBN 3-88680-272-8
- ISBN 978-3-486-58285-7