Pribislaw I
Encyclopedia
Pribislaw I, Lord of Parchim-Richenberg (born: between 15 February and 3 June 1224; died: after 12 February 1275), was Lord of Parchim
-Richenberg from 1238 to 1256.
He was the youngest son of Prince Henry Borwin II of Mecklenburg. When his father died, Pribislaw and his three brothers divided Mecklenburg; Pribislaw received the Lordship of Parchim-Richberg. As he was still a minor, his brother John I acted as his guardian and regent until 1238, and he was raised at John I's court.
He came of age in 1238 and moved into Parchim Castle. His Lordship included the dominions of Parchim
(including Brenz
and Rosengarten) and Ture, the bailiwicks of Plau
, Goldberg
, Sternberg and Richenberg (near Langen Brütz
on the river Warnow
). He soon came into a border dispute with the Count of Schwerin
, who forced him to hand over Brenz and Neustadt-Glewe
.
After this feud, he managed to stabilize the economy of his territory by founding the cities of Goldberg
and Sternberg
and stimulating Jews to settle in Parchim. In 1248, he granted city rights to Goldberg and Sternberg. In 1240, he founded Parchimer Neustadt on the west bank of the Elde
. In 1246, he brought members of the Franciscan
Order into Parchim. In 1248, he moved his residence to the newly constructed Richenberg Castle, on the Warnow
near the village of Kritzow
.
Probislaw twice came into a dispute with Bishop Rudolph I of Schwerin, once about the payment of tithe
s and once when Rudolph constructed a castle too close to the border, in Bützow
. Pribislaw felt threatened by the caste. He burned it down and took Rudolph prisoner and locked him up in the dungeon of Richenberg Castle. He demanded a modest ransom, which the bishopric soon paid. Rudolph was released and then tried every means to overthrow Pribislaw. Pribislaw was outlaw
ed and excommunicated
. In 1255, Pribislaw was taken prisoner and handed over to Rudolph. His was removed from power and his territory was divided among his brothers and his brother-in-law, the Count of Schwerin. Pribislaw went into exile in Pomerania, where he received the Lordship of Białogard as compensation. When Rudolph died in 1262, Pribislaw hoped that he would be reinstated, but his brothers refused this.
In 1270, Pribislaw renounced his claims to Parchim-Richenberg and returned to Białogard, where he died after 12 February 1275
of Pomerania. He had a daughter and a son, Pribislaw II, who was Lord of Białogard from 1270 to 1316.
Parchim
Parchim is a town in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is the capital of the Ludwigslust-Parchim district. It was the birthplace of Moltke, to whom a monument was erected in 1876. Founded about 1210, one branch of the family of the duke of Mecklenburg residence in Parchim during part of the 14th...
-Richenberg from 1238 to 1256.
He was the youngest son of Prince Henry Borwin II of Mecklenburg. When his father died, Pribislaw and his three brothers divided Mecklenburg; Pribislaw received the Lordship of Parchim-Richberg. As he was still a minor, his brother John I acted as his guardian and regent until 1238, and he was raised at John I's court.
He came of age in 1238 and moved into Parchim Castle. His Lordship included the dominions of Parchim
Parchim
Parchim is a town in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is the capital of the Ludwigslust-Parchim district. It was the birthplace of Moltke, to whom a monument was erected in 1876. Founded about 1210, one branch of the family of the duke of Mecklenburg residence in Parchim during part of the 14th...
(including Brenz
Brenz, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Brenz is a municipality in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany....
and Rosengarten) and Ture, the bailiwicks of Plau
Plau am See
Plau am See is a town in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. It is situated 28 km east of Parchim, and 29 km west of Waren....
, Goldberg
Goldberg, Germany
Goldberg is a town in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. It is situated 24 km northeast of Parchim, and 46 km east of Schwerin....
, Sternberg and Richenberg (near Langen Brütz
Langen Brütz
Langen Brütz is a municipality in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany....
on the river Warnow
Warnow
The Warnow is a river in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in Germany. It flows into the Baltic Sea near the town of Rostock, in its borough Warnemünde....
). He soon came into a border dispute with the Count of Schwerin
Schwerin
Schwerin is the capital and second-largest city of the northern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The population, as of end of 2009, was 95,041.-History:...
, who forced him to hand over Brenz and Neustadt-Glewe
Neustadt-Glewe
Neustadt-Glewe is a German town, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, in the district of Ludwigslust-Parchim.-Sights and monuments:* The Alte Burg, a 13th-century castle, considered to be the oldest military castle in Mecklenburg....
.
After this feud, he managed to stabilize the economy of his territory by founding the cities of Goldberg
Goldberg, Germany
Goldberg is a town in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. It is situated 24 km northeast of Parchim, and 46 km east of Schwerin....
and Sternberg
Sternberg
Sternberg is surname of:- Persons :* Counts of Sternberg, Bohemian nobility* Ben-Zion Sternberg , a Zionist statesman* Charles Hazelius Sternberg , an American paleontologist...
and stimulating Jews to settle in Parchim. In 1248, he granted city rights to Goldberg and Sternberg. In 1240, he founded Parchimer Neustadt on the west bank of the Elde
Elde
The Elde is a river in northern Germany , a right tributary of the Löcknitz. Its total length is 220 km. The Elde originates near Altenhof, south of Malchow. It first flows southeast towards the southern end of Lake Müritz, which it enters at Vipperow. It flows out of the Müritz at its...
. In 1246, he brought members of the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
Order into Parchim. In 1248, he moved his residence to the newly constructed Richenberg Castle, on the Warnow
Warnow
The Warnow is a river in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in Germany. It flows into the Baltic Sea near the town of Rostock, in its borough Warnemünde....
near the village of Kritzow
Langen Brütz
Langen Brütz is a municipality in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany....
.
Probislaw twice came into a dispute with Bishop Rudolph I of Schwerin, once about the payment of tithe
Tithe
A tithe is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a contribution to a religious organization or compulsory tax to government. Today, tithes are normally voluntary and paid in cash, cheques, or stocks, whereas historically tithes were required and paid in kind, such as agricultural products...
s and once when Rudolph constructed a castle too close to the border, in Bützow
Bützow
Bützow is a town in the district of Rostock in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in Germany, with a population of 8,122 .The town was first mentioned in 1171....
. Pribislaw felt threatened by the caste. He burned it down and took Rudolph prisoner and locked him up in the dungeon of Richenberg Castle. He demanded a modest ransom, which the bishopric soon paid. Rudolph was released and then tried every means to overthrow Pribislaw. Pribislaw was outlaw
Outlaw
In historical legal systems, an outlaw is declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, this takes the burden of active prosecution of a criminal from the authorities. Instead, the criminal is withdrawn all legal protection, so that anyone is legally empowered to persecute...
ed and excommunicated
Excommunication
Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive, suspend or limit membership in a religious community. The word means putting [someone] out of communion. In some religions, excommunication includes spiritual condemnation of the member or group...
. In 1255, Pribislaw was taken prisoner and handed over to Rudolph. His was removed from power and his territory was divided among his brothers and his brother-in-law, the Count of Schwerin. Pribislaw went into exile in Pomerania, where he received the Lordship of Białogard as compensation. When Rudolph died in 1262, Pribislaw hoped that he would be reinstated, but his brothers refused this.
In 1270, Pribislaw renounced his claims to Parchim-Richenberg and returned to Białogard, where he died after 12 February 1275
Marriages and issue
Pribislaw married twice. His first wife was a daughter of Richard of Friesack; his second wife was probably a daughter of Duke Barnim IBarnim I, Duke of Pomerania
Barnim I the Good from the Griffin dynasty was a Duke of Pomerania from 1220 until his death.-Life:...
of Pomerania. He had a daughter and a son, Pribislaw II, who was Lord of Białogard from 1270 to 1316.