Otto III, Duke of Pomerania

Otto III. (* May 29, 1444, † September 7, 1464 ) was Duke of Pomerania -Stettin from the grasping house.

Life

Otto III. was the only son of Duke Joachim the Younger, who ruled the Duchy of Pomerania -Stettin in Pomerania part, and his wife Elisabeth of Brandenburg. After his father's death ( 1451 ) his mother already remarried in 1453, namely the Duke of Pomerania - Wolgast Wartislaw X.. The young Otto, heir of Pomerania -Stettin, came to education at the court of the Elector Frederick II of Brandenburg (1413-1471), his guardian and uncle.

When Duke Wartislaw IX. of Pomerania - Wolgast in 1457 died, he had not only his own sons Eric II and Wartislaw X., Otto's stepfather, used as heir, but also the young Otto. It came to inheritance disputes, in which Friedrich II of Brandenburg, Otto's hereditary claims supported and found as an opportunity to interfere in the affairs Pomeranian.

In 1460 Otto was dismissed at the request of the Pomeranian stands from the Brandenburg guardianship and took over at the age of 15 years as Otto III. the government itself. The most important offices in his court were occupied by Brandenburg -minded people. The disputes over the inheritance Duke Wartislaws IX. were settled in 1463; Otto received the western part of Pomerania with Stargard in Pomerania.

Otto died on September 7, 1464 of the plague and was buried in the church Otten to Szczecin. He was not married and had no children. With him died from the Szczecin line of the Griffin house, which had begun with Duke Otto I (~ 1279-1344 ).

With the death of Otto III. began the Szczecin succession dispute. Elector Frederick II of Brandenburg was the Duchy of Pomerania -Stettin part Pomeranian move as a completed fief and bring on themselves. The were the Dukes of the surviving Wolgaster line of the Griffin house, Eric II and Wartislaw X., against which claimed Pomerania -Stettin because of the unity of the Griffin house and the Duchy of Pomerania for themselves.

According to legend, the Szczecin succession dispute began immediately at the tomb of Duke Otto: The Mayor of Szczecin Albrecht Glindemann have the dead shield and helmet given to the grave in order to indicate the end of his dynasty. Then a gentleman from Eickstädt jumped into the grave and I shield and helmet were taken out again with the words: "We have inherited, nee rule, the Duke of Wolgast who own shield and helmet. "