Henning Podebusk
Encyclopedia
Henning Podebusk was a German
-Slavic statesman
, the last drost
of Denmark
, who died . He served under King Valdemar IV
, King Oluf II
, and Queen Margaret I
, and he was the de facto ruler of Denmark from 1368 to 1370. Podebusk, whose personal character is unknown, is now considered one of the most important Danish statesmen of the Middle Ages
. His political views seem to have been just as cynical and power-centred as that of his royal masters, but perhaps he was an even better diplomat. By his death the office as drost was abolished, probably because he had shown how powerful it might be.
-Slavic family of magnate
s related to the princes of Rügen. The family was based in Putbus
, which had been Danish before 1325. Nothing is known of his youth. He first appeared in Danish history in 1350, as he met Valdemar IV in Northern Germany and was taken into Danish service. During the next 15 years he became one of the king's most important and loyal officials in both foreign and domestic relations.
In 1365, he was appointed drost
(prime minister
) of Denmark, and he showed his diplomatic ability during the war 1367-1370 against the powerful Hanseatic League
and its allied Confederation of Cologne
. When Valdemar was pressed to leave Denmark in 1368, Podebusk was appointed the de facto ruler, and set about ending the war with the League. He cut his losses in the war, and split the enemy alliance by agreeing an unfavourable separate peace
with the Hansa
in the Treaty of Stralsund. After the war he took part in the king's legal settlement with the magnate rebellionists in Denmark and during the next years he managed to sabotage much of the Hansa's economic advantages from the peace.
After the death of Valdemar in 1375, Podebusk played an important role as the protector of Danish royal interests, as he helped Valdemar's five-year old grandson Oluf II
ascend the throne in favour of candidates from the House of Mecklenburg
. He damped the magnates' opposition by temporary concessions and repudiated foreign demands on the throne. Podebusk served as a councillor for Oluf's mother Margaret Valdemarsdaughter, and helped he ascend the throne as Queen Margaret I
when Oluf died in 1387. No exact date of death is known, but his wife Gisela Podebusk was described as a widow in October 1388.
He married his distant relative Gisela Podebusk, from Denmark, whose mother Eufemia was the daughter of the last Danish count of Halland, according to medieval tales. His descendants played a modest role in Danish politics until 1660, then as magnates in Sweden, hereditary lord marshals of Pomerania
, and elevated Princes of Putbus
, ultimately in the kingdom of Prussia
.
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
-Slavic statesman
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
, the last drost
Drost
Seneschal of the Realm, Riksdrots , Rigsdrost , or Valtakunnandrotsi is a Danish and Swedish name of a supreme state official, with at least a connotation to administration of judiciary, who in medieval Scandinavia was often a leader in the government.The word drots/drost...
of Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, who died . He served under King Valdemar IV
Valdemar IV of Denmark
Valdemar IV of Denmark or Waldemar ; , was King of Denmark from 1340 to 1375.-Ascension to the throne:...
, King Oluf II
Olav IV of Norway
Olaf II Haakonsson was king of Denmark as Olaf II and king of Norway as Olaf IV . Olaf was son of King Haakon VI of Norway and the grandson of King Magnus IV of Sweden. His mother was Queen Margaret I of Denmark which made him the grandson of King Valdemar IV of Denmark...
, and Queen Margaret I
Margaret I of Denmark
Margaret I was Queen of Denmark, Norway and Sweden and founder of the Kalmar Union, which united the Scandinavian countries for over a century. Although she acted as queen regnant, the laws of contemporary Danish succession denied her formal queenship. Her title in Denmark was derived from her...
, and he was the de facto ruler of Denmark from 1368 to 1370. Podebusk, whose personal character is unknown, is now considered one of the most important Danish statesmen of the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. His political views seem to have been just as cynical and power-centred as that of his royal masters, but perhaps he was an even better diplomat. By his death the office as drost was abolished, probably because he had shown how powerful it might be.
Biography
Podebusk belonged to a GermanGermans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
-Slavic family of magnate
Magnate
Magnate, from the Late Latin magnas, a great man, itself from Latin magnus 'great', designates a noble or other man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or other qualities...
s related to the princes of Rügen. The family was based in Putbus
Putbus
Putbus is a small town on the southeastern part of the island of Rügen in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, North Germany. The town has 4,741 inhabitants and is a significant tourist destination with numerous seaside resorts....
, which had been Danish before 1325. Nothing is known of his youth. He first appeared in Danish history in 1350, as he met Valdemar IV in Northern Germany and was taken into Danish service. During the next 15 years he became one of the king's most important and loyal officials in both foreign and domestic relations.
In 1365, he was appointed drost
Drost
Seneschal of the Realm, Riksdrots , Rigsdrost , or Valtakunnandrotsi is a Danish and Swedish name of a supreme state official, with at least a connotation to administration of judiciary, who in medieval Scandinavia was often a leader in the government.The word drots/drost...
(prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
) of Denmark, and he showed his diplomatic ability during the war 1367-1370 against the powerful Hanseatic League
Hanseatic League
The Hanseatic League was an economic alliance of trading cities and their merchant guilds that dominated trade along the coast of Northern Europe...
and its allied Confederation of Cologne
Confederation of Cologne
The Confederation of Cologne was a mediaeval military alliance against Denmark signed 1367 by cities of the Hanseatic League on their meeting called Hansetag in Cologne....
. When Valdemar was pressed to leave Denmark in 1368, Podebusk was appointed the de facto ruler, and set about ending the war with the League. He cut his losses in the war, and split the enemy alliance by agreeing an unfavourable separate peace
Separate peace
The phrase "separate peace" refers to a nation's agreement to cease military hostilities with another, even though the former country had previously entered into a military alliance with other states that remain at war with the latter country...
with the Hansa
Hansa
The Hanseatic League, known as Hansa or Hanse in various Germanic languages, was a 13th–17th century alliance of European trading cities...
in the Treaty of Stralsund. After the war he took part in the king's legal settlement with the magnate rebellionists in Denmark and during the next years he managed to sabotage much of the Hansa's economic advantages from the peace.
After the death of Valdemar in 1375, Podebusk played an important role as the protector of Danish royal interests, as he helped Valdemar's five-year old grandson Oluf II
Olav IV of Norway
Olaf II Haakonsson was king of Denmark as Olaf II and king of Norway as Olaf IV . Olaf was son of King Haakon VI of Norway and the grandson of King Magnus IV of Sweden. His mother was Queen Margaret I of Denmark which made him the grandson of King Valdemar IV of Denmark...
ascend the throne in favour of candidates from the House of Mecklenburg
House of Mecklenburg
The House of Mecklenburg is a North German dynasty of West Slavic origin that ruled until 1918.- Origins :Niklot was a lord of the Wendish tribe of Obotrites. When the Holy Roman Empire expanded eastwards, notably to the coast of Baltic in 13th century, a portion of Obotrite lords allied with...
. He damped the magnates' opposition by temporary concessions and repudiated foreign demands on the throne. Podebusk served as a councillor for Oluf's mother Margaret Valdemarsdaughter, and helped he ascend the throne as Queen Margaret I
Margaret I of Denmark
Margaret I was Queen of Denmark, Norway and Sweden and founder of the Kalmar Union, which united the Scandinavian countries for over a century. Although she acted as queen regnant, the laws of contemporary Danish succession denied her formal queenship. Her title in Denmark was derived from her...
when Oluf died in 1387. No exact date of death is known, but his wife Gisela Podebusk was described as a widow in October 1388.
He married his distant relative Gisela Podebusk, from Denmark, whose mother Eufemia was the daughter of the last Danish count of Halland, according to medieval tales. His descendants played a modest role in Danish politics until 1660, then as magnates in Sweden, hereditary lord marshals of Pomerania
Pomerania
Pomerania is a historical region on the south shore of the Baltic Sea. Divided between Germany and Poland, it stretches roughly from the Recknitz River near Stralsund in the West, via the Oder River delta near Szczecin, to the mouth of the Vistula River near Gdańsk in the East...
, and elevated Princes of Putbus
House of Putbus
Pedebuz or Podebusk or Putbus was a highly noble, ultimately princely house in Pomerania and Rugen.It claimed descent from some sideline of high-medieval indigenous sovereign princes of Rugen...
, ultimately in the kingdom of Prussia
Kingdom of Prussia
The Kingdom of Prussia was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918. Until the defeat of Germany in World War I, it comprised almost two-thirds of the area of the German Empire...
.