Henry I, Lord of Mecklenburg (nicknamed ''the Pilgrim'', – 2 January 1302) ruled
Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg (; nds, label= Low German, Mękel(n)borg ) is a historical region in northern Germany comprising the western and larger part of the federal-state Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The largest cities of the region are Rostock, Schweri ...
from 1264 to 1275 and from 1299 until his death.
Background
He was the eldest son of Lord
John I. After his father's death, he at first ruled jointly with his brother
Albert I. After Albert died in 1265, John ruled alone. Around 1259 he married Anastasia ( – 15 March 1317), the daughter of Duke
Barnim I of Pomerania.
Life
From 1266 onwards, he required the Jews in
Wismar
Wismar (; Low German: ''Wismer''), officially the Hanseatic City of Wismar (''Hansestadt Wismar'') is, with around 43,000 inhabitants, the sixth-largest city of the northeastern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and the fourth-largest city ...
to pay protection money. In the same year, he started the "bread and wine donation" programme, in which 20 churches in the
Ilow area would be supplied with communion wine and wafers by the City Hall in Wismar. For many churches in the area, this decree is the first time they are mentioned in a document.
[This decree is included in the ''Wismarschen Weinregister von 1479'', Mecklenburg Deed Book, 1059, 2622] In 1270, he undertook a
crusade against
Lithuania, which had not been
Christianized
Christianization ( or Christianisation) is to make Christian; to imbue with Christian principles; to become Christian. It can apply to the conversion of an individual, a practice, a place or a whole society. It began in the Roman Empire, conti ...
at the time.
In 1271, he made a
pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey, often into an unknown or foreign place, where a person goes in search of new or expanded meaning about their self, others, nature, or a higher good, through the experience. It can lead to a personal transformation, aft ...
to the
Holy Land. Along the way, he was taken prisoner and deported to
Cairo
Cairo ( ; ar, القاهرة, al-Qāhirah, ) is the Capital city, capital of Egypt and its largest city, home to 10 million people. It is also part of the List of urban agglomerations in Africa, largest urban agglomeration in Africa, List of ...
, where he was held in captivity by the Arabs for 27 years. During his absence, Mecklenburg was ruled by his brothers
John II John II may refer to:
People
* John Cicero, Elector of Brandenburg (1455–1499)
* John II Casimir Vasa of Poland (1609–1672)
* John II Comyn, Lord of Badenoch (died 1302)
* John II Doukas of Thessaly (1303–1318)
* John II Komnenos (1087–1 ...
and
Nicholas III, after a fight between his brothers and cousins about the regency and the guardianship of his children. After John II died in 1283, Nicholas III ruled alone, until
Henry II came of age in 1290.
Henry I returned to Mecklenburg via
Morea
The Morea ( el, Μορέας or ) was the name of the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece during the Middle Ages and the early modern period. The name was used for the Byzantine province known as the Despotate of the Morea, by the Ottom ...
and
Rome
, established_title = Founded
, established_date = 753 BC
, founder = King Romulus (legendary)
, image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg
, map_caption ...
in 1298. In 1299, he formally resumed his reign, although he probably left the business of government mostly to his son Henry II.
Henry I died in 1302 and was buried in the ducal crypt in the
Doberan Minster
The Doberan Minster is the main Lutheran Church of Bad Doberan in Mecklenburg, Germany. Close to the Baltic Sea and the Hanseatic city of Rostock, it is the most important religious heritage of the European Route of Brick Gothic. It is the rema ...
.
Issue
*
Ludgarda (ca. 1260-1261 - bef. 14 December 1283), wife of
Przemysł II
Przemysł II ( also given in English and Latin language, Latin as ''Premyslas'' or ''Premislaus'' or in Polish as '; 14 October 1257 – 8 February 1296) was the Duke of Poznań from 1257–1279, of Greater Poland from 1279 to 1296, of Kraków f ...
of
Greater Poland.
*
Henry II "the Lion" (ca. 1267 - 1329).
*
John III (ca. 1266 - 1289).
Footnotes
References
*
External links
*
Genealogical table of the House of Mecklenburg
House of Mecklenburg
Lords of Mecklenburg
1230s births
1302 deaths
Year of birth uncertain
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