Bogislaw VIII, Duke of Pomerania
Encyclopedia
Bogislaw VIII was Duke of Pomerania
in Pomerania-Stolp from 1395 until 1418. He was married to Sophie of Holstein, with whom he had Bogislaw IX
and Adelheid of Pomerania (1410–after 1444/45), married with Duke Bernard II
of Saxe-Lauenburg on 2 February 1429.
The reign of Bogislaw was influenced by the contemporary Polish-Teutonic Wars between his eastern neighbors, Poland
and the Teutonic Prussia
. The Pomeranian dukes, whose territory was the only land route to the knights' state not controlled by Poland, exploited this conflict and changed sides frequently. Late in 1388, the dukes of Pomerania-Stolp left an alliance and sided with Poland
, who had promised to partially respect their claims as Casimir III
's heirs. Thence, the nobles of Pomerania-Stolp robbed
the Teutonic knights
and their supply routes, provoking a counter-attack that destroyed many noble strongholds
and the fortifications of Köslin (now Koszalin). Bogislaw VIII, Barnim V and Wartislaw VII
reacted by siding with Polish king Jogaila
and concluding mutual trade alleviations.
When Bogislaw's brother Wartislaw VII
died in 1395, Bogislaw and his other brother Barnim V concluded a treaty with the Teutonic Prussia in neighboring Pomerelia
, who was in conflict with Poland, to safeguard their supply routes in turn for a financial credit. Swantibor I and Bogislaw VII of Pomerania-Stettin changed sides in 1395 and allied with the knights in turn for financial aid. Barnim however 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. Bogislaw also entered into Jogaila
's service, but changed sides in 1407/08, when he allied with the Teutonic Knights
and settled their common border. When the knights lost the Battle of Tannenberg
in 1410, Bogislaw changed sides again and allied with Poland in return for the Bütow
, Schlochau, Preußisch-Friedland, Baldenburg, Hammerstein
and Schivelbein areas, which Poland had gained from the Teutonic Prussia before. This was however cancelled by the First Peace of Thorn in 1411.
While Bogislaw nevertheless upheld his alliance with Jogaila
, Konrad Bonow of the Cammin diocese in 1414 concluded an alliance with the Teutonic knights
against both Bogislaw and Jogaila, which was turned into a truce soon after. In 1417, Bogislaw and the Teutonic knights
settled their common border in the Hammerstein
area, ending their conflicts. Bogislaw's son Bogislaw IX
together with all other Pomeranian dukes in 1423 allied with the Teutonic knights
.
Duchy of Pomerania
The Duchy of Pomerania was a duchy in Pomerania on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea, ruled by dukes of the House of Pomerania ....
in Pomerania-Stolp from 1395 until 1418. He was married to Sophie of Holstein, with whom he had Bogislaw IX
Bogislaw IX, Duke of Pomerania
Bogislaw IX was a duke of Pomerania in Pomerania-Stolp, whose residence was Stargard.Bogislaw was the son of Bogislaw VIII, Duke of Pomerania, and Sophia of Holstein. On June 24, 1432 he married Maria of Masovia, daughter of Siemowit IV, Duke of Masovia and Alexandra of Lithuania...
and Adelheid of Pomerania (1410–after 1444/45), married with Duke Bernard II
Bernard II, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
Bernard II of Saxe-Lauenburg was a son of Duke Eric IV of Saxe-Lauenburg and Sophia of Brunswick and Lunenburg , daughter of Duke Magnus II of Brunswick and Lunenburg ....
of Saxe-Lauenburg on 2 February 1429.
The reign of Bogislaw was influenced by the contemporary Polish-Teutonic Wars between his eastern neighbors, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and the Teutonic Prussia
Monastic State of the Teutonic Knights
The State of the Teutonic Order, , also Monastic State of the Teutonic Knights or Ordensstaat , was formed in 1224 during the Northern Crusades, the Teutonic Knights' conquest of the pagan West-Baltic Old Prussians in the 13th century....
. The Pomeranian dukes, whose territory was the only land route to the knights' state not controlled by Poland, exploited this conflict and changed sides frequently. Late in 1388, the dukes of Pomerania-Stolp left an alliance and sided with Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, who had promised to partially respect their claims as Casimir III
Casimir III of Poland
Casimir III the Great , last King of Poland from the Piast dynasty , was the son of King Władysław I the Elbow-high and Hedwig of Kalisz.-Biography:...
's heirs. Thence, the nobles of Pomerania-Stolp robbed
Robber baron
A robber baron or robber knight was an unscrupulous and despotic nobility of the medieval period in Europe, for example, Berlichingen. It has slightly different meanings in different countries. In modern US parlance, the term is also used to describe unscrupulous industrialists...
the Teutonic knights
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
and their supply routes, provoking a counter-attack that destroyed many noble strongholds
Motte-and-bailey
A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle, with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised earthwork called a motte, accompanied by an enclosed courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade...
and the fortifications of Köslin (now Koszalin). Bogislaw VIII, Barnim V and Wartislaw VII
Wartislaw VII, Duke of Pomerania
Wartislaw VII was one of the Dukes of Pomerania. He was the son of Bogislaw V, brother of Casimir IV and Bogislaw VIII. He married Maria of Mecklenburg and was the father of Eric of Pomerania and Catherine of Pomerania....
reacted by siding with Polish king Jogaila
Jogaila
Jogaila, later 'He is known under a number of names: ; ; . See also: Jogaila : names and titles. was Grand Duke of Lithuania , king consort of Kingdom of Poland , and sole King of Poland . He ruled in Lithuania from 1377, at first with his uncle Kęstutis...
and concluding mutual trade alleviations.
When Bogislaw's brother Wartislaw VII
Wartislaw VII, Duke of Pomerania
Wartislaw VII was one of the Dukes of Pomerania. He was the son of Bogislaw V, brother of Casimir IV and Bogislaw VIII. He married Maria of Mecklenburg and was the father of Eric of Pomerania and Catherine of Pomerania....
died in 1395, Bogislaw and his other brother Barnim V concluded a treaty with the Teutonic Prussia in neighboring Pomerelia
Pomerelia
Pomerelia is a historical region in northern Poland. Pomerelia lay in eastern Pomerania: on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea and west of the Vistula and its delta. The area centered on the city of Gdańsk at the mouth of the Vistula...
, who was in conflict with Poland, to safeguard their supply routes in turn for a financial credit. Swantibor I and Bogislaw VII of Pomerania-Stettin changed sides in 1395 and allied with the knights in turn for financial aid. Barnim however in 1397 concluded an alliance with Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, married Vytautas' niece Hedwig and was in Jogaila
Jogaila
Jogaila, later 'He is known under a number of names: ; ; . See also: Jogaila : names and titles. was Grand Duke of Lithuania , king consort of Kingdom of Poland , and sole King of Poland . He ruled in Lithuania from 1377, at first with his uncle Kęstutis...
's service in 1401 until he died in 1402 or 1404. Bogislaw also entered into Jogaila
Jogaila
Jogaila, later 'He is known under a number of names: ; ; . See also: Jogaila : names and titles. was Grand Duke of Lithuania , king consort of Kingdom of Poland , and sole King of Poland . He ruled in Lithuania from 1377, at first with his uncle Kęstutis...
's service, but changed sides in 1407/08, when he allied with the Teutonic Knights
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
and settled their common border. When the knights lost the Battle of Tannenberg
Battle of Grunwald
The Battle of Grunwald or 1st Battle of Tannenberg was fought on 15 July 1410, during the Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War. The alliance of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, led respectively by King Jogaila and Grand Duke Vytautas , decisively defeated the Teutonic Knights, led...
in 1410, Bogislaw changed sides again and allied with Poland in return for the Bütow
Bütow
Bütow is a municipality in the Mecklenburgische Seenplatte district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany....
, Schlochau, Preußisch-Friedland, Baldenburg, Hammerstein
Hammerstein
Hammerstein is a municipality on the Rhine River in the district of Neuwied in Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany....
and Schivelbein areas, which Poland had gained from the Teutonic Prussia before. This was however cancelled by the First Peace of Thorn in 1411.
While Bogislaw nevertheless upheld his alliance with Jogaila
Jogaila
Jogaila, later 'He is known under a number of names: ; ; . See also: Jogaila : names and titles. was Grand Duke of Lithuania , king consort of Kingdom of Poland , and sole King of Poland . He ruled in Lithuania from 1377, at first with his uncle Kęstutis...
, Konrad Bonow of the Cammin diocese in 1414 concluded an alliance with the Teutonic knights
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
against both Bogislaw and Jogaila, which was turned into a truce soon after. In 1417, Bogislaw and the Teutonic knights
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
settled their common border in the Hammerstein
Hammerstein
Hammerstein is a municipality on the Rhine River in the district of Neuwied in Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany....
area, ending their conflicts. Bogislaw's son Bogislaw IX
Bogislaw IX, Duke of Pomerania
Bogislaw IX was a duke of Pomerania in Pomerania-Stolp, whose residence was Stargard.Bogislaw was the son of Bogislaw VIII, Duke of Pomerania, and Sophia of Holstein. On June 24, 1432 he married Maria of Masovia, daughter of Siemowit IV, Duke of Masovia and Alexandra of Lithuania...
together with all other Pomeranian dukes in 1423 allied with the Teutonic knights
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem , commonly the Teutonic Order , is a German medieval military order, in modern times a purely religious Catholic order...
.
See also
- List of Pomeranian duchies and dukes
- Pomerania during the Late Middle AgesPomerania during the Late Middle AgesPomerania during the Late Middle Ages covers the History of Pomerania in the 14th and 15th centuries.The towns of the Hanseatic League were acting as quasi autonomous political and military entities. The Duchy of Pomerania gained the Principality of Rugia after two wars with Mecklenburg, the Lands...
- Duchy of PomeraniaDuchy of PomeraniaThe Duchy of Pomerania was a duchy in Pomerania on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea, ruled by dukes of the House of Pomerania ....
- Partitions of the Duchy of PomeraniaPartitions of the Duchy of PomeraniaThe Duchy of Pomerania was partitioned several times to satisfy the claims of the male members of the ruling House of Pomerania dynasty. The partitions were named after the ducal residences: Pomerania-Barth, -Demmin, -Rügenwalde, -Stettin, -Stolp, and -Wolgast. None of the partitions had a...
- Pomerania-Stolp
- House of PomeraniaHouse of PomeraniaThe House of Griffins or House of Pomerania, , also known as House of Greifen; House of Gryf, was a dynasty of Royal dukes that ruled the Duchy of Pomerania from the 12th century until 1637, after their power was temporarily derivated to Prussian Royal House...