Conversion of Pomerania

Medieval Pomerania was converted from Slavic paganism to Christianity by Otto von Bamberg in 1124 and 1128 (Duchy of Pomerania), and in 1168 by Absalon (Principality of Rügen). Earlier attempts, undertaken since the 10th century, failed or were short-lived. The new religion stabilized when the Pomeranian dukes founded several monasteries and called in Christian, primarily German settlers during the Ostsiedlung. The first Pomeranian abbey was founded in 1153 at the site where the first Christian duke of Pomerania, Wartislaw I, was slain by a pagan. The Duchy of Pomerania was organized by the Roman Catholic Church in the Bishopric of Cammin in 1140. Pomeranian areas not belonging to the duchy at this time were attached to the dioceses of Włocławek (East), Roskilde (Rügen) and Schwerin (West).

Bishopric of Havelberg (948-983)

When the Bishopric of Havelberg was founded in 948, the constitution document mentions the area between Peene and Oder among the bishopric's belongings.^[1] In 983, the Holy Roman Empire lost control over the region due to a Slavic uprising.^[1]

Diocese of Kolobrzeg (Kolberg, 1000 - 1005)

The first Polish duke Mieszko I invaded Pomerania and subdued the gard of Kołobrzeg (Kolberg) and the adjacent areas in the 960s.^[2] He also fought the Wolinians, but despite a won battle in 967, he did not succeed in the town of Wolin itself.^[3] His son and successor Boleslaw I continued to campaign in Pomerania, but also failed to subdue the Wolinians and the lower Oder areas.^[4]

During the Congress of Gniezno in 1000 AD, Boleslaw created the first, yet short-lived bishopric in Pomerania Diocese of Kołobrzeg, subordinate to the Archdiocese of Gniezno, headed by Saxon bishop Reinbern, which was destroyed when Pomeranians revolted in 1005.^{[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][not in citation given][12][13][14]} Of all Lutici, the Wolinians were especially devoted to participation in the wars between the Holy Roman Empire and Poland from 1002 to 1018 to prevent Boleslaw I from reinstating his rule in Pomerania.^[15]

Failed mission of Günther (1017)

In 1017, a priest called Günther tried to convert the inhabitants of Vorpommern; the mission was not successful.^[16]

Failed mission of Bernard (1122)

Another attempt was made following the subjugation of Pomerania by Boleslaw III of Poland. In 1122, Spanish monk Bernard (also Bernhard) travelled to Jumne (Wolin), accompanied only by his chaplain and an interpreter. The Pomeranians however were not impressed by his missionary efforts and finally threw him out of town.^[17][18][19]

Bernard was later made bishop of Lebus.^[18]

Otto of Bamberg (1124/28)

Main article: Otto von Bamberg

Conversion of Pomerania, depicted in Stolpe's Wartislaw Memorial Church

After Bernard's failure, Boleslaw III asked Otto of Bamberg^[20] to convert Pomerania to Christianity, which he accomplished in his first visit in 1124/25.^[21] Otto's strategy severely differed from the one Bernard used: While Bernard travelled alone and as a poor and unknown priest, Otto, a wealthy and famous man, was accompagnied by 20 clergy of his own diocese, numerous servants, 60 warriors supplied to him by Boleslaw, and carried with him numerous supplies and gifts. Otto arrived in Pyritz, and the fact that he was already wealthy assured the Pomeranians that his aim was only to convert them to Christianity, not to become wealthy at the expense of the Pomeranian people. He persuaded the Pomeranians that their conversion would protect them from further punishment by God, which was how the devastating Polish conquest was depicted. This approach turned out to be successful, and was backed by parts of the Pomeranian nobility who had already been raised as Christians, like Duke Wartislaw I, who encouraged and promoted Otto's mission. Many Pomeranians had already been baptized in Pyritz and also in the other burghs Otto visited.^{[18][22][23][24][25]}

Timeline of Otto von Bamberg's first mission

Date	Event
May 1124	Otto von Bamberg arrives in Pomerania via the Zantoch stronghold.[26]
5 or 6 June 1124	first baptism in Pomerania[26]
8 June 1124	arrival in Pyrzyce[26]
18/19 June 1124	first baptism in Pyrzyce[26]
24 June - mid-September 1124	mission in Kamień Pomorski[26]
eight days in late September 1124	mission in and around Wolin[26]
nine weeks since early October 1124	mission in Szczecin[26]
mid-December 1124	mission in Gartz, Lubin, return to Szczecin, return to Wolin[26]
late January and early February 1125	return to Kammin, mission in Cloden, Kołobrzeg and Białogard[26]
11 February 1125	Otto von Bamberg enters the woodlands between Pomerania and Greater Poland[26]
15 February 1125 or later	Otto arrives in Usch and proceeds towards Gniezno[26]

Otto of Bamberg returned on 19 April^[27] 1128,^[23] this time invited by duke Wartislaw I himself, aided by the emperor Holy Roman Emperor Lothar II, to convert the Slavs of Western Pomerania just incorporated into the Pomeranian duchy, and to strengthen the Christian faith of the inhabitants of Stettin and Wollin, who fell back into heathen practices and idolatry.^[24] Otto this time visited primarily Western Pomeranian burghs, had the temples of Gützkow and Wolgast torn down and on their sites erected the predecessors of today's St Nikolai and St Petri churches, respectively. The nobility assembled to a congress in Usedom, where they accepted Christianity on June 10, 1128.^[21][24][28] Otto then was titled apostolus gentis Pomeranorum, made a saint by pope Clement III in 1189, and was worshipped in Pomerania even after the Protestant Reformation.^[29] Otto aborted the mission in November 1128 on behalf of the emperor, after he had sought to mediate the conflicts between the Pomeranian and Polish dukes.^[27]

Adalbert of Pomerania, the later Pomeranian bishop, participated in Otto's mission as an interpreter and assistant.^[30]

Pomeranian dioceses

Diocese of Kammin (Cammin, 1140)

Main article: Roman Catholic Diocese of Kammin

On Otto of Bamberg's behalf, a diocese was founded with the see in Wollin (Julin, Jumne, Vineta),^[21] a major Slavic and Viking town in the Oder estituary. On October 14, 1140, Adalbert of Pomerania was made the first Bishop by Pope Innocent II.^[21] Otto however had died the year before.^[21] There was a rivalry between Otto's Diocese of Bamberg, the Diocese of Magdeburg and the Diocese of Gniezno for the incorporation of Pomerania. Pope Innocence II solved the dispute by repelling their claims and placed the new diocese directly under his Holy See. The see of the diocese was the church of St Adalbert in Wollin.^[30] The diocese had no clear-cut borders in the beginning, but roughly reached from the Tribsees burgh in the West to the Leba River in the East. In the South, it comprised the northern parts of Uckermark and Neumark. As such, it was shaped after the territory held by Ratibor I, Duke of Pomerania.^[30]

After ongoing Danish raids, Wollin was destroyed, and the see of the diocese was shifted across the Dievenow to Cammin's (also Kammin, now Kamień Pomorskie) St John's church in 1176. This was confirmed by the pope in 1186. In the early 13th century, the Cammin diocese along with the Pomeranian dukes gained control over Circipania. Also, the bishops managed to gain direct control over a territory around Kolberg (now Kolobrzeg) and Köslin (now Koszalin).

Dioceses of Włocławek, Roskilde and Schwerin

Pomeranian areas outside the Duchy of Pomerania were assigned to other dioceses. The Pomerelian areas were integrated into the Kuyavian Diocese of Włocławek. The Rugian areas were integrated into the Diocese of Schwerin (mainland) and the Diocese of Roskilde (islands).

Wendish Crusade (1147)

Main article: Wendish Crusade

In 1147, the Wendish Crusade, a campaign of the Northern Crusades, was mounted by bishops and nobles of the Holy Roman Empire. The crusaders pillaged the land and besieged Demmin and Szczecin despite the fact that both towns were (officially) Christian already. Wollin's bishop Adalbert took part in the negotiations that finally led to the lifting of the Szczecin siege by the crusaders. Ratibor I, Duke of Pomerania, went to the Reichstag assembly in Havelberg the following year, where he swore to be a Christian.^[21][31][32]

Absalon (1168)

Scandinavia in 1219. Denmark in the 1170s, including the Principality of Rügen, is shown in orange; later gains including the Duchy of Pomerania are shown in light green.

Main article: Absalon

After Otto von Bamberg's mission, only the Rani principality of Rugia (Rügen) remained pagan. This was changed by a Danish expedition of 1168, launched by Valdemar I of Denmark and Absalon, archbishop of Roskilde.^[21] The Danish success in this expedition ended a series of conflicts between Denmark and Rügen. The Rügen princes, starting with Jaromar I, became vassals of Denmark,^[33] and the principality would be Denmark's bridgehead on the southern shore of the Baltic for the next few centuries. The 1168 expedition was decided when after a Danish siege of the burgh of Arkona, a fire broke out leaving the defendants unable to further withstand the siege. Since Arkona was the major temple of the superior god Swantewit and therefore crucial for the powerful clerics, the Rani surrendered their other strongholds and temples without further fighting. Absalon had the Rani burn the wooden statues of their gods and integrated Rügen into the Diocese of Roskilde. The mainland of the Rügen principality was integrated into the Diocese of Schwerin.

Monasteries

After the successful conversion of the nobility, monasteries were set up on vast areas granted by local dukes both to further implement Christian faith and to develop the land. The monasteries actively took part in the Ostsiedlung.^[24]

Cistercian Stolpe Abbey (1153 by Benedictinians, since 1304 Cistercian[34]) near Gützkow Dargun Abbey (1173) in Circipania near the ducal residence burgh, later town of Demmin Kolbatz (1173) now Kołbacz in Poland Oliva Abbey (1186) (now part of nearby Danzig (Gdansk)) Bergen (1193) in the center of Rügen, near the Ranis' former main burgh Charenza and just besides the residence of the Princes of Rügen, Rugard. Hilda/Eldena (1199) (now part of nearby Greifswald) Neuenkamp (1231)[34] Stettin[34] (1243) Marienflies[34] (1248) (See-)Buckow (1252/1260[34]) near Schlawe Ueckermünde (1260, later moved to Jasenitz[34]) Stettin Marienstift (1261)[34] Köslin[34] (1278) Krummin[34] (1289) on the island of Usedom Hiddensee (1296)[34] Verchen (1304), south of Demmin Stettin Ottenstift (1346)[34] Premonstratensian Grobe/Pudagla (also Usedom Abbey) (1155), near Usedom (town) on the isle of Usedom Broda near the old Liutizian main temple site and capital, Rethra and the later town of Neubrandenburg Gramzow in the center of the Uckermark near the Ukrani burgh Oberuckersee and the town of Prenzlau Marienbusch (1224) near Treptow an der Rega[34] Stolp[34]

Dominican Order Ruins of Hilda Abbey (Eldena, Greifswald, founded in 1199) by Danish Cistercian monks Stralsund (1251)[34] Cammin (1295)[34] Greifswald Schwarzes Kloster ("Black Abbey") (1254)[34] Pasewalk (1272)[34] Stolp (1278)[34] Prenzlau[34] Soldin[34] Franciscan Stettin (1240)[34] Prenzlau (before 1250)[34] Stralsund (1254)[34] Greifswald Graues Kloster ("Grey Abbey", donated by the Counts of Gützkow, now Pomerania State Museum) (1262)[34] Pyritz[34] Greifenberg[34] Augustinian Pyritz[34] Gartz (Oder) (13th century)[34] Stargard (13th century)[34] Lippehne (1276)[34] Anklam (14th century)[34] Marienthron (14th century) near Neustettin[34] Jasenitz - now Jasienica in Police Benedictinian Stolpe Abbey (1253–1304)[34] Kolberg[34]

See also

• Conversion of Poland

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Heitz, Gerhard; Rischer, Henning (1995) (in German). Geschichte in Daten. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Münster-Berlin: Koehler&Amelang. p. 156. ISBN 3733801954. 
2. ^ Jan M Piskorski, Pommern im Wandel der Zeit, 1999, p.32, ISBN 839061848
3. ^ Jan M Piskorski, Pommern im Wandel der Zeit, 1999, p.31, ISBN 839061848
4. ^ Jan M Piskorski, Pommern im Wandel der Zeit, 1999, pp. 31-32, ISBN 839061848: "Zweifellos waren die Wolliner eine lokale Macht, die zuerst im Veletenbund und später im Liutizenbund eine bedeutende Rolle spielten. Obwohl sie 967 im Kampf gegen Mieszko unterlagen, gelang es den polnischen Herrschern sicherlich nicht, Wollin und die Odermündung zu unterwerfen. Dies läßt sich mittelbar dadurch nachweisen, daß das im Jahr 1000 auf Initiative Otto III. und Boleslaw des Tapferen gegründete Bistum Pommern, das Gnesen unterstand, nicht <pagebreak> in Wollin, sondern weiter östlich in Kolberg seinenSitz hatte. Kolberg gehörte spätestens seit den 60er Jahren des 10. Jahrhunderts zu Polen [...] Anscheinend kam den Wollinern auch eine bedeutende Rolle bei der heidnischen Reaktion in Pommern zu, was vermutlich schon 1005 zur Vertreibung Bischof Reinberns aus seinem [...]<pagebreak>[...] Bistum führte. Die Wolliner waren einer der liutizischen Stämme, die am stärksten auf die Fortsetzung der deutsch-polnischen Kriege in den Jahren 1002 bis 1018 drangen. Sie befürchteten, daß jede Unterbrechungen der Kämpfe Boleslaw auf die Idee bringen könne, den alten polnischen Besitzstand an der Ostsee wiederherzustellen. Sie erreichten ihr Ziel. Alles deutet darauf hin, daß Polen seine Herrschaft über Pommern für mehr als hundert Jahre verlor."
5. ^ Jan M Piskorski, Pommern im Wandel der Zeit, 1999, p.32, ISBN 839061848:pagan reaction of 1005
6. ^ Werner Buchholz, Pommern, Siedler, 1999, p.25, ISBN 3886802728: pagan uprising that also ended the Polish suzerainity in 1005
7. ^ Jürgen Petersohn, Der südliche Ostseeraum im kirchlich-politischen Kräftespiel des Reichs, Polens und Dänemarks vom 10. bis 13. Jahrhundert: Mission, Kirchenorganisation, Kultpolitik, Böhlau, 1979, p.43, ISBN 3412045772: 1005/13
8. ^ Oskar Eggert, Geschichte Pommerns, Pommerscher Buchversand, 1974: 1005-1009
9. ^ Roderich Schmidt, Das historische Pommern: Personen, Orte, Ereignisse, Böhlau, 2007, p.101, ISBN 341227805X: 1005/13
10. ^ A. P. Vlasto, Entry of Slavs Christendom, CUP Archive, 1970, p.129, ISBN 0521074592: abandoned 1004 - 1005 in face of violent opposition
11. ^ Nora Berend, Christianization and the Rise of Christian Monarchy: Scandinavia, Central Europe and Rus' C. 900-1200, Cambridge University Press, 2007, p.293, ISBN 0521876168, 9780521876162
12. ^ David Warner, Ottonian Germany: The Chronicon of Thietmar of Merseburg, Manchester University Press, 2001, p.358, ISBN 0719049261, 9780719049262
13. ^ Michael Borgolte, Benjamin Scheller, Polen und Deutschland vor 1000 Jahren: Die Berliner Tagung über den"akt von Gnesen", Akademie Verlag, 2002, p.282, ISBN 3050037490, 9783050037493
14. ^ Michael Müller-Wille, Rom und Byzanz im Norden: Mission und Glaubenswechsel im Ostseeraum während des 8.-14. Jahrhunderts: internationale Fachkonferenz der deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft in Verbindung mit der Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Literatur, Mainz: Kiel, 18.-25. 9. 1994, 1997, p.105, ISBN 3515074988, 9783515074988
15. ^ Jan M Piskorski, Pommern im Wandel der Zeit, 1999, p.33, ISBN 839061848
16. ^ Heitz, Gerhard; Rischer, Henning (1995) (in German). Geschichte in Daten. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Münster-Berlin: Koehler&Amelang. p. 157. ISBN 3733801954. 
17. ^ George Frederick Maclear, Apostles of Mediaeval Europe, Ayer Publishing, 1969, pp.218ff, ISBN 0836928032, 9780836928037
18. ^ ^{a b c} Werner Buchholz, Pommern, Siedler, 1999, p.25, ISBN 3886802728
19. ^ Jan M Piskorski, Pommern im Wandel der Zeit, 1999, p.36, ISBN 839061848
20. ^ D. J. Medley, The church and the empire, Kessinger Publishing, 2004, p.152, ISBN 141915673X
21. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Gerhard Krause, Horst Robert Balz, Gerhard Müller, Theologische Realenzyklopädie, Walter de Gruyter, 1997, p.40ff, ISBN 3110154358
22. ^ James Thayer Addison, Medieval Missionary: A Study of the Conversion of Northern Europe Ad 500 to 1300, Kessinger Publishing, 2003, pp.59ff, ISBN 0766175677, 9780766175679
23. ^ ^{a b} William Palmer, A Compendioius Ecclesiastical History from the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Kessinger Publishing, 2005, pp.107ff, ISBN 141798323X
24. ^ ^{a b c d} Joachim Herrmann, Die Slawen in Deutschland, Akademie-Verlag Berlin, 1985, pp.402ff
25. ^ Jan M Piskorski, Pommern im Wandel der Zeit, 1999, pp.36ff, ISBN 839061848
26. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k} Heitz, Gerhard; Rischer, Henning (1995) (in German). Geschichte in Daten. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Münster-Berlin: Koehler&Amelang. p. 161. ISBN 3733801954. 
27. ^ ^{a b} Heitz, Gerhard; Rischer, Henning (1995) (in German). Geschichte in Daten. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Münster-Berlin: Koehler&Amelang. p. 162. ISBN 3733801954. 
28. ^ Werner Buchholz, Pommern, Siedler, 1999, p.26, ISBN 3886802728
29. ^ Werner Buchholz, Pommern, Siedler, 1999, p.28, ISBN 3886802728
30. ^ ^{a b c} Werner Buchholz, Pommern, Siedler, 1999, p.29, ISBN 3886802728
31. ^ Werner Buchholz, Pommern, Siedler, 1999, p.31, ISBN 3886802728
32. ^ Joachim Herrmann, Die Slawen in Deutschland, Akademie-Verlag Berlin, 1985, pp.388ff
33. ^ Werner Buchholz, Pommern, Siedler, 1999, p.34, ISBN 3886802728
34. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah} Werner Buchholz, Pommern, Siedler, 1999, pp.98-100, ISBN 3886802728