Sambor I, Duke of Pomerania

Sambor I. (* 1150, † February 7, 1207 ) was from 1187 Duke of Pomerania, in his capacity as a Polish governor under the supremacy of the senior Duke of Cracow. The older German historiography, he is regarded as the real founder of the dynasty of the Pomeranian Samborid, which was named after him.

Life and political career

Sambor I. was the son and successor of Sobiesław I. and had its headquarters in the castle of Gdansk. The castle was on a raised champion amidst the marshy Mottlauniederung where the river makes a sharp bend from the south east to the Vistula River just before its mouth. So she was protected from enemy attacks and could also control the access to the elongated fishing village. The fortifications consisted at that time of clay and earth walls that were reinforced by wooden structures. The Polish chronicler Wincenty Kadłubek writes in his " Chronica Polonorum " that Sambor has been used by Duke Casimir II as governor in Gdansk.

Sambor favored, like his father, becoming settled the German settlers and merchants. For this he founded in 1190 the Saint Nicolai Church " Danzig in the field ". St. Nicholas was the patron of sea trade driving merchants. Therefore, even large Nikolai churches found in Lübeck, Wismar, Stralsund, Berlin, Elbing, Reval and other places.

Sambor died in 1207. The governorship including the guardianship of the children of the deceased was Duke Władysław III. given to his younger brother Mestwin I..

Marriage and issue

Sambor had two sons with a woman of unknown name and origin:

• Sobiesław II (ca. 1207-1217/1223 ), died under guardianship at a young age;
• Swantepolk I (c. 1207-1227 ), died under guardianship at a young age;