Barnim VII, Duke of Pomerania
Barnim VII (* 1403/1405, . † 21 December 1451 in Juli/20 Gützkow ) was Duke of Pomerania - Wolgast. He was co-regent with his older brother Wartislaw IX. and resided in Gützkow.
Life
Barnim VII was the younger son of the Duke Barnim VI. (1365-1405) and Veronika von Hohenzollern. After his father had died of the plague, whose brother Wartislaw VIII took over (1373-1415) the guardianship of Barnim VII and his siblings. After Wartislaws VIII 's death, the government and the guardianship of the sons Barnim VI went. and Wartislaws VIII to his widow Agnes, who presented the estates under a regency council Cord Bonow aside.
When Barnim VII older brother Wartislaw IX. came of age, this in Konstanz received for himself and his brother and their cousins Barnim VIII and Swantibor IV on May 31, 1417 by King Sigismund the investiture of the Duchy of Pomerania - Wolgast. After his return took Wartislaw IX. the government and the guardianship of his under-age cousins. Barnim VII, first of all, even under the tutelage of his brother, took part in its government.
On April 11, 1423 decided the dukes of Pomerania - Wolgast, including Barnim VII, and the King Eric of Pomerania, Pomerania -Stettin to do in Copenhagen in a contract with their relatives, assist each other against their enemies. King Eric and the Pomeranian dukes agreed on September 15, 1423 in Pommern on a defensive alliance with the Teutonic Order, represented by the Grand Master Paul of Rusdorf.
With the coming of age of the youngest of the four dukes of Pomerania - Wolgast agreed this on December 6, 1425 in Eldena monastery on a division of the state. Wartislaw IX. and Barnim VII jointly received Wolgast, Greifswald, Demmin, Gützkow, Anklam, Pasewalk, Torgelow and Usedom and on the Danish island of Zealand Stevns Herred.
Probably ruled Wartislaw IX. and Barnim VII Collective, because they exercised their sovereignty composed of. So they confirmed the privileges of the city in 1427 together Greifswald, notarized together in 1428 for the monastery Stolpe, decided both 1433 and 1434 on their castle Wolgast in quarrels of the monastery Pudagla. In addition, both authenticated repeatedly alone, Barnim 1438 Gützkower affairs. The two dukes had shared the goods and revenues of their part of the country. Barnim VII had in 1425 the former county Gützkow, the castle rebuilt and took his residence here. He called his bailiwick Gützkow. Compared with its apparently politically active brother Barnim share of the business of government in Pomerania - Wolgast in historiography is usually depicted as low and Gützkow as his severance pay.
, Now called Barnim VII Prince of Gützkow, 1434 befandt in big money problems, he is known as a lover of great feasts and great hunts. His brother Duke Wartislaw IX. lent him money, took it as a pledge goods lands in the dominions Duke Barnim VII He entered on May 16, 1436 Church Brotherhood of St. Nicholas and St. Mary's in Greifswald with.
1445 he defended together with cousin Barnim VIII, the city Pasewalk against the Elector Frederick II of Brandenburg.
Duke Barnim VII, Prince of Gützkow died unmarried in 1451 and was buried in the church Gützkower. It is the only Duke, who was buried in the church Gützkower, but a grave plate and other references are not available. Starting this year, the county Gützkow fell to the rule of Wolgast and was administered by bailiffs. First Vogt was Henning von Owstin. Since the governors manage the county of their regular seats from which Gützkower castle remained uninhabited and fell into disrepair.