Bogislaw X, Duke of Pomerania

Bogislaw X, the Great ( born May 28, May 29 or June 3, 1454 in Rügenwalde; † October 5, 1523 in Stettin) was a Duke of Pomerania from the grasping house. Under his rule the whole of Pomerania was reunited under one ruler since 1478.

Life

His father was Duke Eric II of Pomerania - Wolgast, his mother Sophia, the daughter of Prince Bogusław IX. of Pomerania - Wolgast - Stolp. Bogislaw succeeded his father in 1474 in the government. After the death of his uncle, Wartislaw X., it occurred to him in 1478 as well as its territory. For the first time in 200 years now Pomerania was again united under one ruler, since previously the Wolgaster Dukes Wartislaw X. and Eric II, the succession of the 1464 Otto III. were able to maintain extinct Szczecin line against Brandenburg claims.

The ratio of Brandenburg, which claimed the suzerainty over Pomerania remained throughout his life the most important foreign policy issue for Bogislaw X.. Initially, he refused to Lehnshuldigung, for which he found support at King Casimir IV of Poland. He married in 1477 Margaret of Brandenburg, the daughter of the Elector of Brandenburg, and Pomerania -Stettin finally adopted in 1479 as well as Pomerania - Wolgast of Brandenburg as a fief. 1493 could mitigate the suzerainty of Brandenburg Bogislaw with the Treaty of Pomerania. He and his descendants adopted the Lehnshuldigung. In return, he had the ruling in Brandenburg Hohenzollern succession in the event that the Pomeranian Duke House extinct grant.

By his marriage policy Bogislaw joined the gripping dynasty with the most important royal houses in northern Germany and the Danish royal family. He had good relations was also Duke George of Saxony, the godfather of his eldest son George.

In 1492 he was involved in the Sternberger Hostienschänderprozess in which result 27 Jews were burned at the stake and had to leave all other Mecklenburg. Just as the Mecklenburg dukes also Bogislaw X expelled the resident protection of Jews from its territory.

1496 Bogislaw traveled to Innsbruck to King Maximilian I, who had issued an Römerzug. As this did not take place, the Duke traveled instead of Venice and Padua to Jerusalem. There he was defeated in 1496 a Knight of the Holy grave. On the way back to him by the Roman Pontiff conferred the right occupation for the Pomeranian diocese of Pomerania as well as for other important benefices in Pomerania. In April 1498 Bogislaw returned to Stettin. From Italy he brought the lawyers Peter of Ravenna, a professor at the University of Greifswald has been for several years, and John of Kitscher.

Back home, sat Bogislaw the modernization of the state administration continued. In place of quasi hereditary bailiwicks were alone the Duke undertook officials, many of whom who also have a university education. In 1489, a new coinage was issued. 1492 he issued in Ueckermuende a wood trim. In his reign falls, the introduction of Roman law, from which, among other things the Lombard feudal law was a part. This demanded literacy and so it is not surprising that most of the oldest Lehnbriefe Pomeranian nobility from the reign Bogislaw X. originate. The power of the cities tried to break the Duke also was here but especially in the almost independent of Stralsund, the largest town in Pomerania until the 18th century, less successful. The old ducal castles in Wolgast and Stettin the Duke expand to residences that met his requirements as a brilliant court life in the style of the early Renaissance in Germany. In Wolgast was so over the next few decades, a city palace, which served as the main residence of the Dukes Wolgaster to 1625, but later until about 1820 was completely destroyed.

Bogislaw commissioned in 1517 Johannes Bugenhagen, who previously worked in Belbuck monastery and later the most important reformer of Pomerania, was putting together a Pomeranian country's history. This Bugenhagen published under the title of Pomerania in 1518 in Latin.

Know little good to report the chroniclers about the final years of the Duke. He is said to have led a dissolute life and neglected the business of government. The recognition of Pomerania as an imperial principality by the issuance of an imperial Lehnbriefes at the Diet of Worms ( 1521) he obtained in person, was also again two years later present at the Diet of Nuremberg, to defend the rights of Pomerania, Brandenburg against the claims; here he was accompanied by the Stralsund Mayor Nicholas Smiterlow. The beginnings of the Reformation in Pomerania, he experienced yet, but remained inactive in this regard.

Bogislaw X died on October 5, 1523 in Stettin, where he was buried in the church Otten. In the government he was followed by his sons George I and Barnim IX ..

Marriage and issue

Already in 1464 Bogislaw with Anna, daughter of Duke Henry IV of Mecklenburg, was engaged, but died the same year.

Prince Bogusław X. married on September 21, 1477 Margaret of Brandenburg, daughter of Elector Frederick II of Brandenburg. Margaret died in 1489; The marriage remained childless.

With his second wife, Anna of Poland (* 1476, † 1503), daughter of King Casimir IV, whom he married on February 2, 1491 in Stettin, when she was only 14 years old, he had eight children:

• Anna (* 1492, † 1550), married in June 1515 Duke George I of Silesia - Liegnitz
• George I (* 1493, † 1531)
• Kasimir (* 1494, † 1518)
• Elisabeth ( † before 1518)
• Barnim ( * before 1501, † before 1501)
• Sophia ( * 1498, † 1568), wife of Frederick I of Denmark, 1525 Queen of Denmark
• Barnim IX. (* 1501, † 1573)
• Otto ( * before 1503, † before 1518)

Furthermore Bogislaw had an illegitimate son, Christoph (* 1480, † unknown) held, the spiritual offices.

Legendary Tales

To life and deeds Bogislaw X. numerous legendary tales have developed, starting with the historian Thomas Kantzow (* 1505, † 1542), who reported as facts. For this, the announcement is heard by the farmer Hans Lange, who had taken care of the allegedly neglected by his mother, young prince. Above all, the trip to the Holy Land Bogislaw gave rise to legendary narratives, to the alleged exploits of the Duke in an attack of Turkish pirates. These stories demonstrate the interest and admiration of the Pomeranian population for their great duke.