Philip I of Pomerania (14 May 1515, in
Stettin
Szczecin ( , , ; ; ; or ) is the capital and largest city of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship in northwestern Poland. Located near the Baltic Sea and the German border, it is a major seaport, the largest city of northwestern Poland, and se ...
– 14 February 1560, in
Wolgast
Wolgast () is a town in the district of Vorpommern-Greifswald, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is situated on the bank of the river (or strait) Peenestrom, vis-a-vis the island of Usedom on the Baltic Sea, Baltic coast that can be accessed ...
) was Duke of Pomerania-Wolgast.
Life
Philip was the only surviving son of Duke
George
George may refer to:
Names
* George (given name)
* George (surname)
People
* George (singer), American-Canadian singer George Nozuka, known by the mononym George
* George Papagheorghe, also known as Jorge / GEØRGE
* George, stage name of Gior ...
, from his first marriage to
Amalie of the Palatinate. After his mother died, on 6 January 1525, he received his education at the court of his maternal grandfather in
Heidelberg
Heidelberg (; ; ) is the List of cities in Baden-Württemberg by population, fifth-largest city in the States of Germany, German state of Baden-Württemberg, and with a population of about 163,000, of which roughly a quarter consists of studen ...
. He took office in Stettin at the age of 16, after the death of his father.
On 21 October 1532, Philip and his uncle
Barnim IX split Pomerania, with Philip taking Pomerania-Wolgast (
Vorpommern
Historical Western Pomerania, also called Cispomerania, Fore Pomerania, Front Pomerania or Hither Pomerania (; ), is the western extremity of the historic region of Pomerania, located mostly in north-eastern Germany, with a small portion in no ...
). The division was initially limited to only nine years. It was, however, reconfirmed in 1541.
His main advisors were
Jobst von Dewitz, Rüdiger von Massow and his Chancellor, Nikolaus Brun. His secretary was the chronicler
Thomas Kantzow
Thomas Kantzow (died 1542) was a chronicler in the Duchy of Pomerania. He studied at the universities of Rostock and Wittenberg, and was a secretary of the Pomeranian dukes. His manuscripts, rediscovered in 1729, 1832 and 1973, are written in Low ...
.
When he came to power, his first task was to sort out the relationship with his unloved step-mother,
Margaret of Brandenburg. Under the marriage treaty of 1530, she was entitled to a specified part of his country as her
Wittum Wittum (), Widum or Witthum is a medieval Latin legal term, known in marital and ecclesiastical law.
Provide for a widow at the wedding
The term referred initially to steps taken by a husband to provide for his wife if she became a widow. The wi ...
. However, in the 1532 treaty with Barnim, part of her Wittum was awarded to his uncle, and was thus no longer his to give to his step-mother. In 1533, he gave her the districts of
Barth,
Tribsees
Tribsees () is a municipality in the Vorpommern-Rügen district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, in north-eastern Germany. It is situated southwest of Stralsund, and east of Rostock.
Etymology
The name may come from the Slavic word "treb" or "treb ...
,
Grimmen
Grimmen (; ) is a town in Vorpommern-Rügen, a district in the States of Germany, Bundesland Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. Prior to 2011, when district reforms were made in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, it was the capital of the now bygone Nordvorpom ...
and
Breest. But a year later she married her second husband Prince
John V John V may refer to:
* Patriarch John V of Alexandria or John the Merciful (died by 620), Patriarch of Alexandria from 606 to 616
* John V of Constantinople, Patriarch from 669 to 675
* Pope John V (685–686), Pope from 685 to his death in 686
...
of Anhalt.
When Philip took up government, he found his country in political and ecclesiastical turmoil. The
Reformation
The Reformation, also known as the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation, was a time of major Theology, theological movement in Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the p ...
had reached Pomerania and he could not ignore it, if he wanted to maintain his grip on the land. Consequently, the two Dukes decided to officially introduce
Protestantism
Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...
in their realm. They called a
parliament
In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
in
Treptow an der Rega
Treptow () was a former borough in the southeast of Berlin. It merged with Köpenick to form Treptow-Köpenick in 2001.
Geography
The district was composed by the localities of Alt-Treptow, Plänterwald, Baumschulenweg, Niederschöneweide, J ...
in 1543 and invited
Erasmus von Manteuffel-Arnhausen, the bishop of
Cammin and representatives of the estates, the nobility and the cities. The Protestant cities were represented by
Christian Ketelhut (representing
Stralsund
Stralsund (; Swedish language, Swedish: ''Strålsund''), officially the Hanseatic League, Hanseatic City of Stralsund (German language, German: ''Hansestadt Stralsund''), is the fifth-largest city in the northeastern German federal state of Mecklen ...
),
Paul vom Rode (Stettin),
Johannes Knipstro (
Greifswald
Greifswald (), officially the University and Hanseatic City of Greifswald (, Low German: ''Griepswoold'') is the fourth-largest city in the German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania after Rostock, Schwerin and Neubrandenburg. In 2021 it surpa ...
), Hermann Riecke (
Stargard
Stargard (; 1945: ''Starogród'', 1950–2016: ''Stargard Szczeciński''; or ''Stargard an der Ihna''; ) is a city in northwestern Poland, located in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. In 2021 it was inhabited by 67,293 people. It is situated on ...
),
Jakob Hogensee (
Stolp). Also invited was
Johannes Bugenhagen
Johannes Bugenhagen (24 June 1485 – 20 April 1558), also called ''Doctor Pomeranus'' by Martin Luther, was a German theologian and Lutheran priest who introduced the Protestant Reformation in the Duchy of Pomerania and Denmark in the 16th ...
, a native of
Pomerania
Pomerania ( ; ; ; ) is a historical region on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea in Central Europe, split between Poland and Germany. The central and eastern part belongs to the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, West Pomeranian, Pomeranian Voivod ...
and a supporter of
Martin Luther
Martin Luther ( ; ; 10 November 1483 – 18 February 1546) was a German priest, Theology, theologian, author, hymnwriter, professor, and former Order of Saint Augustine, Augustinian friar. Luther was the seminal figure of the Reformation, Pr ...
. The parliament failed due to opposition by the nobility, but nevertheless, Bugenhagen was tasked with drafting a church order for the duchy. However, when this church order was ready, it was not officially entered into force. Bugenhagen continued to visit local churches, following the Saxon model. The Reformation gradually prevailed in Pomerania through the tireless activity of prominent evangelical leaders such as Paul Rode and John Knipstro. After the death of the
bishop
A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of di ...
of Cammin, the road was completely open for the Reformation. The office of bishop of Cammin was offered to Bugenhagen, and when he turned down the offer, it was given to
Bartholomaeus Suawe.
On 27 February 1536 Philip married
Maria of Saxony, the half-sister of Elector
John Frederick I of Saxony. In April 1536 in
Frankfurt am Main
Frankfurt am Main () is the most populous city in the States of Germany, German state of Hesse. Its 773,068 inhabitants as of 2022 make it the List of cities in Germany by population, fifth-most populous city in Germany. Located in the forela ...
, he and Barnim then joined the
Schmalkaldic League
The Schmalkaldic League (; ; or ) was a military alliance of Lutheranism, Lutheran Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, principalities and cities within the Holy Roman Empire during the mid-16th century. It received its name from the town of Schm ...
. In 1547, after the Protestants had been defeated in the
Schmalkaldic War
The Schmalkaldic War (; July 1546May 1547) was fought within the territories of the Holy Roman Empire between the allied forces of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and Maurice, Duke of Saxony against the Lutheran Schmalkaldic League, with the forc ...
, Philip feared persecution by the enraged Emperor
Charles V Charles V may refer to:
Kings and Emperors
* Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1500–1558)
* Charles V of Naples (1661–1700), better known as Charles II of Spain
* Charles V of France (1338–1380), called the Wise
Others
* Charles V, Duke ...
. He managed to soothe Charles by paying a fine. The changing circumstances made work increasingly hard for bishop Suawe and in 1549, he resigned. He was succeeded by a
Catholic
The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
bishop, who tried to restore the old situation and make the Church of Pomerania part of the Roman Catholic Church again. The attempt failed, and to ensure independence of his church, Philip appointed his eldest son
John Frederick as bishop of Cammin. He also revived Bugenhagen's church order and mediated in the theological disputes that raged in his duchy.
Philip created his own High Court in Wolgast and tried his hand at delivering justice. He personally took part in court proceedings. He also promoted trade and transport in his country. In 1540, he managed to settle a dispute with the nobility that had festered since 1534, so he could finally receive general homage from the Estates. In his later years, his main advisors were
Jacob von Zitzewitz,
Valentin von Eickstedt and
Ulrich von Schwerin; they kept advising Philip's sons after he died. His Councillor Michael Küssow enjoyed his special confidence, however Michael died in early 1558 and was succeeded by his brother Christian Küssow.
From 1540 to 1546 he expanded the ducal
Castle Ueckermünde on the mouth of the river
Uecker
The Uecker () or Ucker () is a river in the northeastern German states of Brandenburg, where it is known as the ''Ucker'', and of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It flows northward from Uckermark to the Szczecin Lagoon.
Path
Its source lies in the U ...
. He is depicted on a relief stone in the castle. The ducal residence
Wolgast Castle, on an island in the river
Peene
The Peene (; ) is a river in Germany.
Geography
The Westpeene, with the Ostpeene as its longer tributary, and the Kleine Peene/Teterower Peene (with a ''Peene '' without specification (or ''Nordpeene'') as its smaller and shorter affluent) f ...
, was rebuilt in several stages. On 11 December 1557 a large fire destroyed significant parts of the castle. Philip started the reconstruction, but did not live to see it completed.
Marriage and issue

On 27 February 1536, Philip married
Maria of Saxony, the daughter of Elector
John the Steadfast
John (30 June 146816 August 1532), known as John the Steadfast or John the Constant (''Johann, der Beständige''), was Elector of Saxony from 1525 until 1532 from the House of Wettin.
He is notable for organising the Lutheran Church in the Elec ...
of Saxony. They had seven sons and three daughters:
* George (1540–1544)
*
John Frederick (1542–1600); married
Erdmuthe, daughter of
John George, Elector of Brandenburg
John George of Brandenburg (; 11 September 1525 – 8 January 1598) was a prince-elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg (1571–1598).
Early life
Born as a member of the House of Hohenzollern, he was the son of Joachim II Hector, Elector ...
.
*
Bogislaw XIII
Bogislaw XIII (Bogusław XIII) of Pomerania (9 August 1544 – 7 March 1606), son of Philip I and Maria of Saxony, was a prince of Stettin and Wolgast, and a member of the Griffins.
Bogislaw studied at the University of Greifswald at the age of ...
(1544–1606); married Clara, daughter of
Francis, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Francis of Brunswick-Lüneburg (23 November 1508 – 23 November 1549) was the youngest son of Henry the Middle. Following a thirty-year joint reign of Brunswick-Lüneburg with his brother Ernest the Confessor, he ruled the newly founded Duchy o ...
.
*
Ernest Louis (1545–1592); married Sophia Hedwig (1561–1631), daughter of
Julius, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel.
* Amelia (1547–1580)
*
Barnim X (1549–1603); married
Anna Maria, daughter of
John George, Elector of Brandenburg
John George of Brandenburg (; 11 September 1525 – 8 January 1598) was a prince-elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg (1571–1598).
Early life
Born as a member of the House of Hohenzollern, he was the son of Joachim II Hector, Elector ...
.
* Eric (1551–1551)
* Margaret (1553–1581); married
Francis II, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
Francis II of Saxe-Lauenburg (Ratzeburg, 10 August 1547 – 2 July 1619, Lauenburg/Elbe, Lauenburg upon Elbe), was the third son of Francis I of Saxe-Lauenburg and Sybille of Saxony, Sybille of Saxe-Freiberg (Freiberg, Saxony, Freiberg, 2 May 1515 ...
.
* Anna (1554–1626); married
Ulrich Ulrich () is a Germanic given name derived from Old High German ''Uodalrich'', ''Odalric''. It is composed of the elements ''Othala rune, uodal-'' meaning "heritage" and ''-rih'' meaning "king, ruler". Attested from the 8th century as the name of Al ...
of Mecklenburg-Güstrow
*
Casimir VI (1557–1605)
File:JohannFriedrichPommern.PNG, John Frederick, Duke of Pomerania 571
__NOTOC__
Year 571 (Roman numerals, DLXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 571 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent ...
File:BogislawXIII.1750.JPG, Bogislaw XIII
File:ErnstLudwig1750F.JPG, Ernest Louis, Duke of Pomerania
File:BarnimX.1750.JPG, Barnim X, Duke of Pomerania
File:Margaret of Pomerania (1553-1581).jpg, Margaret of Pomerania (1553-1581)
File:Güstrow Dom - Grabmal Ulrich 3a Anna von Pommern.jpg, Anna 554-1626File:HerzogKasimir.jpg, Casimir VI, Duke of Pomerania
Ancestors
References
*
External links
Biography at www.ruegenwalde.com
, -
, -
{{DEFAULTSORT:Philip 01 Pomerania Duke
Pomeranian nobility
1515 births
1560 deaths
16th-century German nobility
Dukes of Pomerania
People from Szczecin
House of Griffins