List of Pomeranian duchies and dukes - Wikipedia

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This is a list of the duchies and dukes of Pomerania.

The lands of Pomerania were firstly ruled by local tribes, who settled in Pomerania around the 10th and 11th centuries.

Ruler	Born	Reign	Death	Ruling part	Consort	Notes
Siemomysł		c.1000 or 1020	After 1000–1046	c.29 June 1046	All Pomerania	Unknown	First known duke of all Pomerania. His origins are unknown.
Świętobor		before 1046	1060–1106	1106	All Pomerania	Anna	Son of Siemomysl.
Świętopełk I		before 1106	1106–1113	1113	Gdańsk Pomerania (future Pomerelia)	Unknown

In 1106, Pomerania is divided by his two older sons: Wartislaw, who founded the House of Pomerania and the Duchy of Pomerania, and Świętopełk I. After Swietopelk's death, his lands were occupied by the Saxon prince Lothar of Supplinburg. In 1155, the lands regained independence under Sobieslaw I, who founded the dynasty of the Samborides, and the Duchy of Pomerelia.

The Duchy resulted from the partition of Świętobor, Duke of Pomerania, in which his son Wartislaw inherited the lands that would become in fact known as Pomerania.

In 1155, Pomerania was divided in Pomerania-Szczecin and Pomerania-Demmin. In the struggle to shake off Polish and Danish claims to feudal overlordship, Pomerania approached the Holy Roman Empire. In 1181, while staying in the camp outside the walls of Lübeck, Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa recognised Bogislaw I as duke of S(c)lavia, as it was called in the document.^[1] However, three years later in the Battle in the Bay of Greifswald (1184) the Danish Canute VI forced Pomerania to accept him as liege lord.^[2] In 1190 the Land of Słupsk-Sławno separated itself from Szczecin. With the defeat of Denmark in the Battle of Bornhöved (1227) Pomerania shook off the Danish liege-lordship,^[3] except for the city of Szczecin which remained under Danish suzerainty until 1235.

In 1231 Emperor Frederick II granted the immediate liege lordship over Pomerania to the Margrave of Brandenburg, who enforced this claim by the Treaties of Kremmen (1236) and of Landin (1250). Thus Pomerania had become a fief of Brandenburg, thus an only mediate (indirect) subfief of the Empire, with Brandenburg itself being an immediate imperial fief.

In 1227, Słupsk came to Eastern Pomerania (Pomerelia) within fragmented Poland, Sławno to Western Pomerania. In 1238 both became part of Pomerelia, ruled by the House of Sobiesław, and following the extinction of the line in 1294, both were directly reintegrated with Poland in accordance with the Treaty of Kępno. In 1317, the area became part of the Pomerania-Wolgast (Wołogoszcz), first as a pawn from Brandenburg, and definitively in 1347.

After Wartislaw III died heirless in 1264, Barnim I became sole duke of the whole duchy. After Barnim's death, the duchy was to be ruled by his sons Barnim II, Otto I and Bogislaw IV. The first years, Bogislaw, being the eldest, ruled in place of his too young brothers.

In 1295, the Duchy of Pomerania was divided roughly by the Peene and Ina rivers, with the areas north of these rivers ruled by Bogislaw IV became Pomerania-Wolgast, whereas Otto I received Pomerania-Szczecin south of these rivers.

In 1368, Pomerania-Wolgast was divided into a western part (German: Wolgast diesseits der Swine, including the name-giving residence in Wolgast) and an eastern part (German: Wolgast jenseits der Swine, in literature also called Pomerania-Stolp or Duchy of Słupsk after the residence in Słupsk (Stolp)), which came back under Polish suzerainty as a fief.

In 1376, the western part of Pomerania-Wolgast (German: Wolgast diesseits der Swine) was subdivided in a smaller western part sometimes named Pomerania-Barth (Bardo) after the residence in Barth, and an eastern part which included the residence in Wolgast. In the following year, the Duchy of Słupsk was divided into a western part which included Stargard and an eastern part which included the residence in Słupsk (Stolp).

In 1459, the eastern partitions of Pomerania-Wolgast around Stargard and Stolp ceased to exist. In 1478, after 200 years of partition, the duchy was reunited for a short period when all her parts were inherited by Bogislaw X. By the Treaty of Pyritz in 1493 Pomerania shook off the Marcher liege lordship and became again an immediate imperial estate, after new disputes finally confirmed by the Treaty of Grimnitz in 1529, both treaties provided Brandenburg succession in case the Pomeranian dukes would become extinct in the male line.

In 1531, Pomerania was partitioned into Pomerania-Stettin (Szczecin) and Pomerania-Wolgast. This time however, in contrast to the earlier partitions with the same names, Pomerania-Wolgast included the western, and Pomerania-Stettin the eastern parts of the duchy. In 1569, were created the duchies of -Barth (split off from -Wolgast) and -Rügenwalde (Darłowo) (split off from -Stettin).

In 1625, Bogislaw XIV reunited all Pomerania under his rule. However, in 1637, Sweden hold western parts of Pomerania (Hither Pomerania), originally including Stettin, legalised by the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 (Swedish Pomerania, several times reduced in favour of Brandenburgian Pomerania). Between 1637 and 1657 Lauenburg-Bütow Land (Lębork and Bytów) were reintegrated directly to Poland as a reverted fief, thereafter passed to Brandenburg under Polish overlordship until the Partitions of Poland. In 1648, Brandenburg prevailed in the Peace of Westphalia with its claim only for eastern parts of Pomerania (Farther Pomerania), with the Brandenburg electors officially holding simultaneously the title of dukes of Pomerania until 1806 (end of the Empire and its enfeoffments), but de facto integrating their Pomerania into Brandenburg-Prussia, making it one of the provinces of Prussia in 1815, then including former Swedish Pomerania.

Duchy of Pomerania (1st creation) (1121–1156)
Duchy of Demmin (1156–1264)[4]	Duchy of Stettin[5] (1st creation) (1156–1264)	Duchy of Schlawe-Stolp[6] (1156–1238)
Duchy of Pomerania (2nd creation) (1264–1295)
	Duchy of Stettin (2nd creation) (1295–1464)
Duchy of Rugen (1368–1478)[7]	Duchy of Wolgast (1st creation) (1295–1478)	Duchy of Stolp[8] (1368–1459)
Duchy of Pomerania (3rd creation) (1478–1531)
Duchy of Wolgast (2nd creation) (1531–1625)	Duchy of Stettin[9] (3rd creation) (1531–1625)
Duchy of Pomerania (4th creation) (1625–1637)

(Note: Here the numbering of the dukes is the same for all duchies, as all were titled Dukes of Pomerania, despite the different parts of land or particular numbering of the rulers. The dukes are numbered by the year of their succession.)

The Principality was initially a Danish feud, under local rulers, which formed a dynasty.

Ruler	Born	Reign	Ruling part	Consort	Death	Notes
Ratislaus		c.1105 ?	c.1130-1141	Principality of Rügen	Unknown three children	1141 aged 35-36	First known ruler of Rügen.
Tetzlav		c.1130 First son of Ratislaus	1141-c.1175	Principality of Rügen	Unknown at least one child	c.1175 aged 44-45?	Children of Raclaw, ruled jointly.
Jaromar I		c.1140 Second son of Ratislaus	1141-1218	Hildegard of Denmark (1157-?) c.1180 five children	1218 aged 77-78?
Barnuta		c.1180 First son of Jaromar I and Hildegard of Denmark	1218-1221	Principality of Rügen	Slavonica at least one child	c.1235 aged 54-55	Abdicated to his brother in 1221.
Vislav I		c.1180 Second son of Jaromar I and Hildegard of Denmark	1221 – 7 June 1250	Principality of Rügen	Margaret Sverkersdotter of Sweden (before 1200-5 March 1232) c.1215 six children	7 June 1250 aged 69-70
Jaromar II		c.1218 Son of Vislav I and Margaret Sverkersdotter of Sweden	7 June 1250 – 20 August 1260	Principality of Rügen	Euphemia of Pomerelia (c.1225–1270) c.1240 three children	20 August 1260 aged 41-42
Vislav II		1240 First son of Jaromar II and Euphemia of Pomerelia	20 August 1260 – 29 December 1302	Principality of Rügen	Agnes of Brunswick-Lüneburg c.1265 eight children	29 December 1302 aged 61-62	Children of Jaromar II, ruled jointly.
Jaromar III		1249 Second son of Jaromar II and Euphemia of Pomerelia	20 August 1260 – 1282	Unmarried	1282 aged 42-43
Vislav III		1265 First son of Vislav II and Agnes of Brunswick-Lüneburg	29 December 1302 – 8 November 1325	Principality of Rügen	Margaret c.1305 no children Agnes of Lindow-Ruppin 1310 three children	8 November 1325 aged 36-37	Children of Vislav II, ruled jointly. After their childless deaths, the principality was annexed to Pomerania-Wolgast.
Sambor		1267 Second son of Vislav II and Agnes of Brunswick-Lüneburg	29 December 1302 – 4 June 1304	Unmarried	4 June 1304 aged 36-37

In 1155, the lands which belonged to Świętopełk I were organized by Sobieslaw I into the Duchy of Eastern Pomerania, also known as the Pomerelia, a provincial duchy of fragmented Poland. Sobiesław founded the House of Sobiesław.

The dukes of Pomerelia were using the Latin title dux Pomeraniae ("Duke of Pomerania") or dux Pomeranorum ("Duke of the Pomeranians").

In 1215, the duchy was divided in other smaller duchies: Gdańsk, Białogarda, Lubiszewo and Świecie.

  Gdańsk   Białogarda   Lubiszewo   Świecie

1155-1190

Duchy of Pomerelia-Gdańsk Became independent in 1215.

Duchy of Pomerelia-Białogarda Became independent in 1215.

Duchy of Pomerelia-Lubiszewo Became independent in 1215.

Duchy of Pomerelia-Świecie Became independent in 1215.

In 1271 the duchy is reunited and in 1294 reincorporated directly into Poland per the Treaty of Kępno.

Ruler	Born	Reign	Death	Ruling part	Consort	Notes
Świętopełk I		before 1106	1106–1113	1113	Pomerania-Gdańsk (future Pomerelia)	Unknown	He wasn't duke of Pomerelia, but ruled in the lands that became Pomerelia 40 years later.

Ruler	Born	Reign	Death	Ruling part	Consort	Notes
Sobieslaw I		c.1130	1155-1178	1178	Pomerelia	Unknown before 1150 two children
Sambor I		c.1150	1178-1205	7 February or 30 December 1205	Pomerelia	Unknown before 1205 two children
Mestwin I the Peaceful		c.1160	1205-1220	1/2 July 1220	Pomerelia	Swinisława of Poland c.1190 eight children	Brother of Sambor.
Świętopełk II the Great		c.1190	1220-1266	11 January 1266	Pomerelia-Gdańsk	Salomea of Halych before 1220 one child Euphrosyne of Greater Poland c.1220 two children Hermengard of Schwerin c.1230 two children	Son of Mestwin I. Ruler in Gdańsk, used the title Dux (Duke) from 1227.
Wartislaw I		c.1195	1220–1233	11 January 1233	Pomerelia-Białogarda-Lubiszewo-Świecie	unmarried	Son of Mestwin I. Ruler in Świecie, used the title Dux (Duke) from 1227. After his death his domains were divided between the younger brothers.
Racibor I		c.1212	1233–1262	6 June 1272	Pomerelia-Białogarda	unmarried	Son of Mestwin I. Joined the Teutonic Order in 1262, and -Białogarda was annexed by -Gdańsk.
Sambor II		c.1212	1233–1270	30 December 1277	Pomerelia-Lubiszewo	Matilda of Mecklenburg six children	Son of Mestwin I. He initially resided at a burgh located in the later village of Lubiszewo. After the town of Tczew was founded nearby in the course of the German Ostsiedlung, the dukes shifted their residence to the town.
Mestwin II		1220	1233–1270	29 December 1294	Pomerelia-Świecie	Judith of Wettin before 1275 two children Euphrosyne of Opole 1275 (div.1288) no children Sulisława after 1288 no children	Son of Swiatopelk I. In 1270, he reunited the duchy.
Wartislaw II		1237	1266–1270	9 May 1271	Pomerelia-Gdańsk	unmarried	Son of Swietopelk II. After his death without descendants, Gdańsk was absorbed by the reunited Duchy of Pomerelia.
Mestwin II		1220	1270–1294	29 December 1294	Pomerelia	Judith of Wettin before 1275 two children Euphrosyne of Opole 1275 (div.1288) no children Sulisława after 1288 no children	Reunites the duchy in 1270. In 1282, he transfers suzerainty back to Poland, and in 1294 Pomerelia was reincorporated directly into Poland.

• 1296–1299 Part of Kuyavia within Poland
• 1299–1308 Part of Poland
• 1308–1454 Part of the State of the Teutonic Order
• 1454–1466 Thirteen Years' War between Poland and the Teutonic Order
• 1466–1772 Pomeranian Voivodeship (1466–1772) within the Kingdom of Poland, which was part of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 1569
• 1772–1793 Mostly annexed by Prussia in the First Partition of Poland, except for Gdańsk, which remained with Poland until Second Partition of Poland
• 1793–1807 Province of West Prussia within the Kingdom of Prussia (Prussian Partition of Poland)
• 1807–1814 Part of Prussia, except for the Free City of Danzig (Gdańsk) a Napoleonic client state, with François Joseph Lefebvre ennobled as Duc de Dantzic (1808–1820)
• 1814–1918 Part of the Kingdom of Prussia, which was part of the German Empire from 1871
  • 1814–1829 Province of West Prussia
  • 1829–1878 Province of Prussia
  • 1878–1919 Province of West Prussia
• 1920–1939 Part of Poland as the Pomeranian Voivodeship, except of Free City of Danzig, a League of Nations mandate
• 1939–1945 German occupation: Danzig-West Prussia, province of Nazi Germany
• 1945–present Part of Poland again

• History of Pomerania

• Gerard Labuda (ed.), "Historia Pomorza", vol. 1–4, Poznan-Torun 1969–2003
• Edmund Kopicki, "Tabele dynastyczne", "Wykazy panujacych", in: "Katalog podstawowych monet i banknotow Polski oraz ziem z historycznie z Polska zwiazanych", vol. IX, part I
• Zugmunt Boras, "Ksiazeta Pomorza Zachdniego", Poznań 1969, 1978, 1996
• Casimir Kozlowski, George Podralski, "Poczet Ksiazat Pomorza Zachdniego", KAW, Szczecin 1985
• L. Badkowski, W.Samp. "Poczet ksiazat Pomorza Gdanskiego", Gdańsk 1974
• B. Sliwinski, "Poczet ksiazaat gdanskich", Gdańsk 1997
• Wojciech Myslenicki, "Pomorscy sprzymierzenscy Jagiellonczylow", Wyd. Poznanskie, Poznań 1979
• J. Spors, "Podzially administracyjne Pomorza Gdanskiego i Slawiensko-Slupksiego od XII do poczatkow XIV w", Słupsk 1983
• K. Slaski, "Podzially terytorialne Pomorza w XII–XII w.", Poznań 1960
• Edward Rymar, Krewni i powinowaci ksiazat pomorskich w zrodłach sredniowiecznych (XII–początek XVI w.), Materially Zachodniopomorskie, vol. XXXI

• Bogislaw X
• Map of Pomerania and Pomerelia as part of the Hohenstaufen Holy Roman Empire 1138–1254.