European Kingdoms

Pomeranian Branches

A Germanised duchy was established in Pomerania which gradually conquered the remaining native tribes, turning them into vassals and Christianising them. As was typical of German feudal states, it was divided several times over the course of its five hundred years of existence. The ruling house was the Greifen, or house of Pomerania, which was probably descended from local Slavic nobility.

Ratiborides (in Schlawe-Stolp)
AD 1107 - 1227

Ratibor, brother of the first duke of Pomerania, Wartislaw, was the founder of the Ratiborides branch, although some uncertainty remains as it seems the connection cannot be confirmed. Ratibor gained the lands of Schlawe-Stolp and governed them independently, albeit also briefly, and the Ratiborides also account for missing reignal numbering in the main list of rulers of Pomerania.

1107 - 1152

Ratibor I / Racibor

Brother of duke of Pomerania. Founder of the Ratiborides.

1137

Wartislaw of Pomerania is killed by pagans and leaves the duchy to his young sons. His younger brother, Ratibor, steps in to manage the duchy. The youngest of the three brothers, Swantibor, is the founder of the Swantiborides.

Bogislaw I / II

Son?

Bogislaw III

Son.

Ratibor III

Half-brother or cousin.

1227

With the death of Ratibor III, the Ratiborides are extinct and their territory is incorporated back into Pomerania.

The first Seal of the city of Schlawe, dated to 1317

Swantiborides (in Pomerania)
AD 1107? - 1277?

The youngest of the three brothers who created the duchy of Pomerania, Swantibor was the founder of the Swantiborides, who were key figures in Pomerania. Swantibor was overthrown in a Pomeranian rebellion in 1105 or 1106 and exiled to Poland, but it seems that he was able to return after his brother became first duke of Pomerania in 1107. Records on the Swantiborides are very sketchy, and even their final fate is uncertain.

fl 1105 - ?

Swantibor

Brother of duke of Pomerania. Founder of the Swantiborides.

c.1113

A native Pomeranian ruler is mentioned about this time but is not named. He is besieged in Kolobrzeg (Kolberg), which is held by the Swantiborides after it is conquered.

Wartislaw (II) Swantiboriz

Son? Castellan of Stettin. Died after 1196.

? - 1219

Bartholomäus

Son. Castellan of Gützkow.

Wartislaw

Brother. Castellan of Stettin. Died after 1230/32.

fl 1176 on

Konrad

Brother. Bishop of Kammin. Died after 1233.

Casimir

Brother. Castellan of Kolberg (Kołobrzeg). Died after 1219.

1219 - ?

Wartislaw

Son of Bartholomäus. Castellan of Stettin. Died after 1233.

fl 1210

Bartholomäus

Son. Died after 1259/60.

fl 1265

Casimir

Grandson of Casimir. Castellan of Kolberg. Died after 1277/80.

1277/80

The Swantiborides disappear from history, probably dying out with Casimir.

Principality of Rügen (Wizlaw)
AD 1162 - 1325

The largest island belonging to modern Germany, Rügen (or Ruegen) lies close to the north-eastern coast. First inhabited by the people of the Funnelbeaker culture in the late fifth millennium BC, the island was settled by Germanic Rugii in the first millennium AD, probably from Scandinavia. Slavs arrived in the seventh century, mixing with the Germanic population which remained after the Migration Period saw many head southwards, probably with the Goths. A Slavic principality fully emerged at the same time as Pomerania to the immediate south-east was being Germanised, and in 1168 it was conquered by the Danes.

fl 955

Wizlaw

Native ruler.

fl 1066

Kruto / Krito / Cruto

Son of Grin / Grinus.

fl 1100

Grines / Grimmus

fl 1138

Ratislaus / Ratislaw / Ratze

1162 - 1170

Tezlaw

First prince of Rügen under Danish vassalage.

1168 - 1438

Rügen and an area of the adjoining mainland are taken as a Danish possession, forcing the Slav rulers to become vassals. They remain so until 1438.

1170 - 1217

Jaromar I

Brother.

1218 - 1221

Barnuta

Son.

1221 - 1249

Wislaw I

Brother.

1227

The Danes are defeated in the Second Battle of Bornhöved on 22 July by a coalition forces of German states led by Count Adolf IV of Schauenburg and Holstein. They lose their mainland territory, retaining only the island of Rügen.

1249 - 1260

Jaromar II

Son.

1260 - 1302

Wislaw II

Son.

1303 - 1304

Sambor and Wislaw III, the sons of Wislaw II, rule jointly for just a year before the former dies, leaving the latter in sole control.

1303 - 1304

Sambor

Son.

1303 - 1325

Wislaw III

Brother.

1325

The death of Wislaw III leaves no surviving heir to the principality, so it is absorbed into Pommern-Woolgast, still as a Danish vassal.