William of Werle
Encyclopedia
William of Werle was co-regent of Werle
from 1418 to 1425, then the sole ruler from 1425 until his death. After 1426, he called himself "Prince of the Wends". He was a son of Lorenz of Werle
-Güstrow and his wife Matilda of Werle-Goldberg.
in 1393 or 1394, William's older brother Balthasar
ruled Werle-Güstrow alone until William became co-regent in 1418. When Balthasar died on 5 April 1421, William became the sole ruler of Werle-Güstrow. When Christopher
of Werle-Waren died in 1425, he became ruler of all of Werle. After 1426, he styled himself "Prince of the Wends, Lord of Güstrow, Waren and Werle".
of Pomerania. With her he had one child, Catherine of Werle, who married Duke Ulrich II
of Mecklenburg-Stargard. With the consent of his cousins, Catherine's uncle Barnim VII
mortgaged the territories of Barth
, Zingst
and Damgarten for 20,000 guilders for Catherine's dowry.
With the death of William, the Werle line died out in the male line, and the principality of Werle was returned to the House of Mecklenburg
. The rulers of Mecklenburg kept using the title of "Prince of the Wends" until the German monarchy was abolished in 1918.
Werle
Werle was a fiefdom, or Herrschaft in German, in the Holy Roman Empire that was founded in 1235. It was created in the partition of territories in Mecklenburg that followed the death of Henry Borwin II of Mecklenburg ....
from 1418 to 1425, then the sole ruler from 1425 until his death. After 1426, he called himself "Prince of the Wends". He was a son of Lorenz of Werle
Lorenz of Werle
Lorenz, Lord of Werle-Güstrow was Lord of Werle-Güstrow from 1360 to 1393 . He was the eldest son of Nicholas III, Lord of Werle-Güstrow and Agnes of Mecklenburg....
-Güstrow and his wife Matilda of Werle-Goldberg.
Life
After the death of his father LorenzLorenz of Werle
Lorenz, Lord of Werle-Güstrow was Lord of Werle-Güstrow from 1360 to 1393 . He was the eldest son of Nicholas III, Lord of Werle-Güstrow and Agnes of Mecklenburg....
in 1393 or 1394, William's older brother Balthasar
Balthasar of Werle
Balthasar, Lord of Werle-Güstrow was Lord of Werle-Güstrow from 1393 or 1394 to 1421 and Prince of Wenden from 1418. He was the eldest son of Lorenz of Werle and Matilda of Werle-Goldberg Balthasar, Lord of Werle-Güstrow (c. 1375 – 5 April 1421) was Lord of Werle-Güstrow from 1393 or 1394...
ruled Werle-Güstrow alone until William became co-regent in 1418. When Balthasar died on 5 April 1421, William became the sole ruler of Werle-Güstrow. When Christopher
Christopher of Werle
Christopher of Werle, Prince of the Wends was from 1385 or 1395 to 1425, Lord of Werle-Goldberg and Werle-Waren. He was the son of John VI of Werle and Agnes, daughter of Nicholas IV of Werle-Goldberg....
of Werle-Waren died in 1425, he became ruler of all of Werle. After 1426, he styled himself "Prince of the Wends, Lord of Güstrow, Waren and Werle".
Marriage and issue
William first married in 1422 to Anna of Anhalt, who died in 1426. He then married Sophie of Pomerania, the sister of Duke Barnim VIIIBarnim VIII, Duke of Pomerania
Barnim VIII, Duke of Pomerania was Duke of Pomerania -Wolgast-Barth.Barnim VIII was the son of Duke Wartislaw VIII of Pomerania-Wolgast...
of Pomerania. With her he had one child, Catherine of Werle, who married Duke Ulrich II
Ulrich II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Stargard
Ulrich II, Duke of Mecklenburg[-Stargard] was ruling duke in the Mecklenburg-Stargard part of the country from 1466 to 1471. He was the youngest child of Duke Henry, and his wife Ingeborg.- Life :...
of Mecklenburg-Stargard. With the consent of his cousins, Catherine's uncle Barnim VII
Barnim VII, Duke of Pomerania
Barnim VII was the son of Duke Barnim VI, Duke of Pomerania. He was from 1425 Duke of Pomerania-Wolgast-Demmin and later also Duke of Pomerania-Barth. He supported his brother Wartislaw IX, Duke of Pomerania against Brandenburg.- References :...
mortgaged the territories of Barth
Barth (Amt)
Barth is an Amt in the district of Vorpommern-Rügen, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. The seat of the Amt is in Barth.The Amt Barth consists of the following municipalities:#Bartelshagen#Barth#Divitz-Spoldershagen#Fuhlendorf#Karnin...
, Zingst
Zingst
Zingst Peninsula is the easternmost portion of the three-part Fischland-Darß-Zingst Peninsula, located in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany between the cities Rostock and Stralsund on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea. The area is part of the Pomeranian coast...
and Damgarten for 20,000 guilders for Catherine's dowry.
With the death of William, the Werle line died out in the male line, and the principality of Werle was returned to 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...
. The rulers of Mecklenburg kept using the title of "Prince of the Wends" until the German monarchy was abolished in 1918.