List of Pomeranian duchies and dukes

This is a list of the duchies and dukes of Pomerania.

Map of the historical Duchy of Pomerania from the 17th century

Dukes of the Slavic Pomeranian tribes (All Pomerania)

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The lands of Pomerania were firstly ruled by local tribes, who settled in Pomerania around the 10th and 11th centuries.

Non-dynastic

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RulerBornReignDeathRuling partConsortNotes
Siemomysłc.1000 or 1020After 1000–1046c.29 June 1046All PomeraniaUnknownFirst known duke of all Pomerania. His origins are unknown.
Świętoborbefore 10461060–11061106All PomeraniaAnnaSon of Siemomysl.
Świętopełk Ibefore 11061106–11131113Gdańsk Pomerania (future Pomerelia)Unknown

In 1106, Pomerania is divided by his two older sons: Wartislaw, who founded the House of Pomerania and the Duchy of Pomerania, and Świętopełk I. After Swietopelk's death, his lands were occupied by the Saxon prince Lothar of Supplinburg. In 1155, the lands regained independence under Sobieslaw I, who founded the dynasty of the Samborides, and the Duchy of Pomerelia.

Duchy of Pomerania

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The Duchy resulted from the partition of Świętobor, Duke of Pomerania, in which his son Wartislaw inherited the lands that would become in fact known as Pomerania.

The Pomeranian Griffin

Partitions of Pomerania

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First partition 1155–1264

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In 1155, Pomerania was divided in Pomerania-Szczecin and Pomerania-Demmin. In the struggle to shake off Polish and Danish claims to feudal overlordship, Pomerania approached the Holy Roman Empire. In 1181, while staying in the camp outside the walls of Lübeck, Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa recognised Bogislaw I as duke of S(c)lavia, as it was called in the document.[1] However, three years later in the Battle in the Bay of Greifswald (1184) the Danish Canute VI forced Pomerania to accept him as liege lord.[2] In 1190 the Land of Słupsk-Sławno separated itself from Szczecin. With the defeat of Denmark in the Battle of Bornhöved (1227) Pomerania shook off the Danish liege-lordship,[3] except for the city of Szczecin which remained under Danish suzerainty until 1235.

In 1231 Emperor Frederick II granted the immediate liege lordship over Pomerania to the Margrave of Brandenburg, who enforced this claim by the Treaties of Kremmen (1236) and of Landin (1250). Thus Pomerania had become a fief of Brandenburg, thus an only mediate (indirect) subfief of the Empire, with Brandenburg itself being an immediate imperial fief.

In 1227, Słupsk came to Eastern Pomerania (Pomerelia) within fragmented Poland, Sławno to Western Pomerania. In 1238 both became part of Pomerelia, ruled by the House of Sobiesław, and following the extinction of the line in 1294, both were directly reintegrated with Poland in accordance with the Treaty of Kępno. In 1317, the area became part of the Pomerania-Wolgast (Wołogoszcz), first as a pawn from Brandenburg, and definitively in 1347.

After Wartislaw III died heirless in 1264, Barnim I became sole duke of the whole duchy. After Barnim's death, the duchy was to be ruled by his sons Barnim II, Otto I and Bogislaw IV. The first years, Bogislaw, being the eldest, ruled in place of his too young brothers.

Second partition 1295–1368

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In 1295, the Duchy of Pomerania was divided roughly by the Peene and Ina rivers, with the areas north of these rivers ruled by Bogislaw IV became Pomerania-Wolgast, whereas Otto I received Pomerania-Szczecin south of these rivers.

Third partition 1368–1376

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In 1368, Pomerania-Wolgast was divided into a western part (German: Wolgast diesseits der Swine, including the name-giving residence in Wolgast) and an eastern part (German: Wolgast jenseits der Swine, in literature also called Pomerania-Stolp or Duchy of Słupsk after the residence in Słupsk (Stolp)), which came back under Polish suzerainty as a fief.

Fourth partition 1376/1377–1478 and Pomeranian immediacy

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In 1376, the western part of Pomerania-Wolgast (German: Wolgast diesseits der Swine) was subdivided in a smaller western part sometimes named Pomerania-Barth (Bardo) after the residence in Barth, and an eastern part which included the residence in Wolgast. In the following year, the Duchy of Słupsk was divided into a western part which included Stargard and an eastern part which included the residence in Słupsk (Stolp).

In 1459, the eastern partitions of Pomerania-Wolgast around Stargard and Stolp ceased to exist. In 1478, after 200 years of partition, the duchy was reunited for a short period when all her parts were inherited by Bogislaw X. By the Treaty of Pyritz in 1493 Pomerania shook off the Marcher liege lordship and became again an immediate imperial estate, after new disputes finally confirmed by the Treaty of Grimnitz in 1529, both treaties provided Brandenburg succession in case the Pomeranian dukes would become extinct in the male line.

Fifth and sixth partitions 1531–1625

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In 1531, Pomerania was partitioned into Pomerania-Stettin (Szczecin) and Pomerania-Wolgast. This time however, in contrast to the earlier partitions with the same names, Pomerania-Wolgast included the western, and Pomerania-Stettin the eastern parts of the duchy. In 1569, were created the duchies of -Barth (split off from -Wolgast) and -Rügenwalde (Darłowo) (split off from -Stettin).

Definitive reunification and annexation to Sweden

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In 1625, Bogislaw XIV reunited all Pomerania under his rule. However, in 1637, Sweden hold western parts of Pomerania (Hither Pomerania), originally including Stettin, legalised by the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 (Swedish Pomerania, several times reduced in favour of Brandenburgian Pomerania). Between 1637 and 1657 Lauenburg-Bütow Land (Lębork and Bytów) were reintegrated directly to Poland as a reverted fief, thereafter passed to Brandenburg under Polish overlordship until the Partitions of Poland. In 1648, Brandenburg prevailed in the Peace of Westphalia with its claim only for eastern parts of Pomerania (Farther Pomerania), with the Brandenburg electors officially holding simultaneously the title of dukes of Pomerania until 1806 (end of the Empire and its enfeoffments), but de facto integrating their Pomerania into Brandenburg-Prussia, making it one of the provinces of Prussia in 1815, then including former Swedish Pomerania.

Dukes of Pomerania: the House of Griffins

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Partitions of Pomerania under Griffins rule

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Duchy of Pomerania
(1st creation)
(1121–1156)
Duchy of
Demmin

(1156–1264)[4]
Duchy of Stettin[5]
(1st creation)
(1156–1264)
Duchy of
Schlawe-Stolp
[6]
(1156–1238)
      
Duchy of Pomerania
(2nd creation)
(1264–1295)
       Duchy of Stettin
(2nd creation)
(1295–1464)
Duchy of
Rugen

(1368–1478)[7]
Duchy of
Wolgast

(1st creation)
(1295–1478)
Duchy of
Stolp
[8]
(1368–1459)
      
      
Duchy of Pomerania
(3rd creation)
(1478–1531)
Duchy of Wolgast
(2nd creation)
(1531–1625)
Duchy of Stettin[9]
(3rd creation)
(1531–1625)
Duchy of Pomerania
(4th creation)
(1625–1637)

Table of rulers

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(Note: Here the numbering of the dukes is the same for all duchies, as all were titled Dukes of Pomerania, despite the different parts of land or particular numbering of the rulers. The dukes are numbered by the year of their succession.)

Principality of Rugia

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The Principality was initially a Danish feud, under local rulers, which formed a dynasty.

House of Wizlaw

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RulerBornReignRuling partConsortDeathNotes
Ratislaus c.1105
?
c.1130-1141Principality of RügenUnknown
three children
1141
aged 35–36
First known ruler of Rügen.
Tetzlav c.1130
First son of Ratislaus
1141-c.1175 Principality of RügenUnknown
at least one child
c.1175
aged 44–45?
Children of Raclaw, ruled jointly.
Jaromar I c.1140
Second son of Ratislaus
1141-1218Hildegard of Denmark
(1157-?)
c.1180
five children
1218
aged 77–78?
Barnuta c.1180
First son of Jaromar I and Hildegard of Denmark
1218-1221Principality of RügenSlavonica
at least one child
c.1235
aged 54–55
Abdicated to his brother in 1221.
Vislav I c.1180
Second son of Jaromar I and Hildegard of Denmark
1221 – 7 June 1250Principality of RügenMargaret Sverkersdotter of Sweden [sv]
(before 1200-5 March 1232)
c.1215
six children
7 June 1250
aged 69–70
Jaromar II c.1218
Son of Vislav I and Margaret Sverkersdotter of Sweden [sv]
7 June 1250 – 20 August 1260Principality of RügenEuphemia of Pomerelia
(c.1225–1270)
c.1240
three children
20 August 1260
aged 41–42
Vislav II 1240
First son of Jaromar II and Euphemia of Pomerelia
20 August 1260 – 29 December 1302 Principality of RügenAgnes of Brunswick-Lüneburg
c.1265
eight children
29 December 1302
aged 61–62
Children of Jaromar II, ruled jointly.
Jaromar III 1249
Second son of Jaromar II and Euphemia of Pomerelia
20 August 1260 – 1282Unmarried 1282
aged 42–43
Vislav III 1265
First son of Vislav II and Agnes of Brunswick-Lüneburg
29 December 1302 – 8 November 1325 Principality of RügenMargaret
c.1305
no children

Agnes of Lindow-Ruppin [it]
1310
three children
8 November 1325
aged 36–37
Children of Vislav II, ruled jointly. After their childless deaths, the principality was annexed to Pomerania-Wolgast.
Sambor 1267
Second son of Vislav II and Agnes of Brunswick-Lüneburg
29 December 1302 – 4 June 1304Unmarried 4 June 1304
aged 36–37

Duchy of Pomerelia

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In 1155, the lands which belonged to Świętopełk I were organized by Sobieslaw I into the Duchy of Eastern Pomerania, also known as the Pomerelia, a provincial duchy of fragmented Poland. Sobiesław founded the House of Sobiesław.

The dukes of Pomerelia were using the Latin title dux Pomeraniae ("Duke of Pomerania") or dux Pomeranorum ("Duke of the Pomeranians").

The Pomerelian Griffin

Partitions of the Duchy of Pomerelia

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In 1215, the duchy was divided in other smaller duchies: Gdańsk, Białogarda, Lubiszewo and Świecie.

  Gdańsk   Białogarda   Lubiszewo   Świecie

1155-1190
Duchy of Pomerelia-Gdańsk
Became independent in 1215.
Duchy of Pomerelia-Białogarda
Became independent in 1215.
Duchy of Pomerelia-Lubiszewo
Became independent in 1215.
Duchy of Pomerelia-Świecie
Became independent in 1215.

In 1271 the duchy is reunited and in 1294 reincorporated directly into Poland per the Treaty of Kępno.

Dukes of Pomerelia

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Non-dynastic

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RulerBornReignDeathRuling partConsortNotes
Świętopełk Ibefore 11061106–11131113Pomerania-Gdańsk (future Pomerelia)UnknownHe wasn't duke of Pomerelia, but ruled in the lands that became Pomerelia 40 years later.

House of Sambor (1155–1296)

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RulerBornReignDeathRuling partConsortNotes
Sobieslaw Ic.11301155-11781178PomereliaUnknown
before 1150
two children
Sambor Ic.11501178-12057 February or 30 December 1205PomereliaUnknown
before 1205
two children
Mestwin I the Peacefulc.11601205-12201/2 July 1220PomereliaSwinisława of Poland
c.1190
eight children
Brother of Sambor.
Świętopełk II the Greatc.11901220-126611 January 1266Pomerelia-GdańskSalomea of Halych
before 1220
one child

Euphrosyne of Greater Poland
c.1220
two children

Hermengard of Schwerin
c.1230
two children
Son of Mestwin I. Ruler in Gdańsk, used the title Dux (Duke) from 1227.
Wartislaw Ic.11951220–123311 January 1233Pomerelia-Białogarda-Lubiszewo-ŚwiecieunmarriedSon of Mestwin I. Ruler in Świecie, used the title Dux (Duke) from 1227. After his death his domains were divided between the younger brothers.
Racibor Ic.12121233–12626 June 1272Pomerelia-BiałogardaunmarriedSon of Mestwin I. Joined the Teutonic Order in 1262, and -Białogarda was annexed by -Gdańsk.
Sambor IIc.12121233–127030 December 1277Pomerelia-LubiszewoMatilda of Mecklenburg
six children
Son of Mestwin I. He initially resided at a burgh located in the later village of Lubiszewo. After the town of Tczew was founded nearby in the course of the German Ostsiedlung, the dukes shifted their residence to the town.
Mestwin II12201233–127029 December 1294Pomerelia-ŚwiecieJudith of Wettin
before 1275
two children

Euphrosyne of Opole
1275 (div.1288)
no children

Sulisława
after 1288
no children
Son of Swiatopelk I. In 1270, he reunited the duchy.
Wartislaw II12371266–12709 May 1271Pomerelia-GdańskunmarriedSon of Swietopelk II. After his death without descendants, Gdańsk was absorbed by the reunited Duchy of Pomerelia.
Mestwin II12201270–129429 December 1294PomereliaJudith of Wettin
before 1275
two children

Euphrosyne of Opole
1275 (div.1288)
no children

Sulisława
after 1288
no children
Reunites the duchy in 1270. In 1282, he transfers suzerainty back to Poland, and in 1294 Pomerelia was reincorporated directly into Poland.

Later history of Pomerelia

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See also

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Further reading

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  • Gerard Labuda (ed.), "Historia Pomorza", vol. 1–4, Poznan-Torun 1969–2003
  • Edmund Kopicki, "Tabele dynastyczne", "Wykazy panujacych", in: "Katalog podstawowych monet i banknotow Polski oraz ziem z historycznie z Polska zwiazanych", vol. IX, part I
  • Zugmunt Boras, "Ksiazeta Pomorza Zachdniego", Poznań 1969, 1978, 1996
  • Casimir Kozlowski, George Podralski, "Poczet Ksiazat Pomorza Zachdniego", KAW, Szczecin 1985
  • L. Badkowski, W.Samp. "Poczet ksiazat Pomorza Gdanskiego", Gdańsk 1974
  • B. Sliwinski, "Poczet ksiazaat gdanskich", Gdańsk 1997
  • Wojciech Myslenicki, "Pomorscy sprzymierzenscy Jagiellonczylow", Wyd. Poznanskie, Poznań 1979
  • J. Spors, "Podzially administracyjne Pomorza Gdanskiego i Slawiensko-Slupksiego od XII do poczatkow XIV w", Słupsk 1983
  • K. Slaski, "Podzially terytorialne Pomorza w XII–XII w.", Poznań 1960
  • Edward Rymar, Krewni i powinowaci ksiazat pomorskich w zrodłach sredniowiecznych (XII–początek XVI w.), Materially Zachodniopomorskie, vol. XXXI

References

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  1. Julius Ficker, Vom Reichsfuerstenstande: Forschungen zur Geschichte des Reichsverfassung zunächst im XII. und XIII. Jahrhunderte: 2 vols. in 4 pts., Innsbruck: Verlag der Wagner'schen Buchhandlung, 1861, vol. 1, p. 70.
  2. Hartmut Boockmann, „Barbarossa in Lübeck“, in: Zeitschrift des Vereins für Lübeckische Geschichte und Altertumskunde, vol. 61 (1981), pp. 7-18, here p. 18.
  3. Erich Hoffmann, „Die Bedeutung der Schlacht von Bornhöved für die deutsche und skandinavische Geschichte“, in: Zeitschrift des Vereins für Lübeckische Geschichte und Altertumskunde, vol. 57 (1977), pp. 9-37, here p. 15.
  4. Between 1184 and 1208 Demmin was reunited with Stettin.
  5. Also called Szczecin.
  6. Also called Sławno-Słupsk
  7. Rugen reannexed to Wolgast in 1393-94 and 1451-57.
  8. Also called Słupsk; Between 1377 and 1395 Stargard emerged as a short-lived state.
  9. Barth and Rugenwalde split off and reunited with Stettin several times between 1569 and 1620.
  10. Other historians suggest that he could be also son of Bogislaw II or Mestwin I of Pomerelia.
  11. 1 2 Barnim IV seemed to have ascended first (1326) then Barnim III, who assumed his rule in 1344. However, as stated, Barnim III was co-ruling with his father since 1320, which motivated his numbering being lower.
  12. 1 2 Eric arrived in Pomerania only in 1449. This opens the question of who was Maria of Masovia being regent for in the period 1446-49. A possibility is that Sophie, the then minor daughter of Boguslaus IX, was reigning under regency of her mother, and stepped down for Eric I, returning after the latter's death.
  13. Dirk Schleinert: Die 2. Hochzeit Herzog Georgs I. von Pommern mit Margarete von Brandenburg im Januar 1530 in Berlin. Kommentierte Edition einer zeitgenössischen Beschreibung, in: Baltische Studien, NF 94, 2008, pp. 55–70
  14. Numbered XIII, because of infants Boguslaus XI (son of George I, born and died in 1514) and Boguslaus XII (son of Barnim IX, born and died in 1542) who never ruled. This skipping also compromised the numbering of Boguslaus XIV. Boguslaus XIII was the eleventh ruler of this name.
  15. It's possible that the Ukrainian Hubytsky family could descend from the Pomeranian ducal family though Boguslaus II.
  16. Boguslaus XIV was the twelfth ruler of this name.
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