Pomerania
A Vendic State alongside the Baltic Coast
Pomerania, in the frame of Germany until WW2
by Dr. Jožko Šavli
The term "Elbe Slavs" is not characterizing correctly a historical situation in the territories east of the River Elbe (Laba), as we have seen in the article about Abodritia, where already in the Early Middle Ages several Vendic State formations encountered. Apart of the well-known Abodritia (Mecklenburg) of Abodriti or Obodriti or Bodrici, and of Luitici, there was also of great importance the state of Pomerania (Pommern, in German; Pomorze, in Polish).
Unfortunately, these states were ignored as a historical formation of the Vends by both the pan-German and the pan-Slav ideological movements, which influenced historians in the 19th century, when history began to be written as a scientific discipline at universities and other institutions. The conception of ignorance has been preserved until today. Thus, the aim of this article is to present in a sketch Pomerania, i.e., the second Vendic State, which was stretching alongside the Baltic coast, and which was preserved as a historical province until today.
It is said, the Goths were living in what was to become Pomerania during the time of Christ, and that other Teutonic tribes also lived in this territory. Further, it is said, during the 5th and 6th centuries, the Slav tribes of Pomerania and Kashubi moved westwards into this sparsely populated area on the shores of the Baltic Sea. Such is the explanation given by the German part.
Polish scholars, however, are giving a somewhat different explanation. The presence of the Goths there has not been denied. But they originated from Scandinavia, and after a certain period they continued their way to the Ukraine and then to Italy and Spain. Thus, their settlement in Pomerania was only a temporary one, and such could have been also the settlement of several Germanic tribes.
Between the 2nd and 6th century AD, the Venedic Culture, pertaining to the Vends, was spread in the present-day Polish and Pomeranian territory. One of the groups of this culture was the Przeworsk group, from which descend the people of Poles. In my opinion, the Celts left behind a considerable cultural influence on the group of Poles. It is not perceivable so much in the Polish language, because the (continental) Celts and the Vends spoke practically the same language, but they were of different ethnical tradition. Therefore, in the Polish popular tradition, beside the (Vendic) linden, the (Celtic) oak also appears. In the south of Poland many Celtic graves were also found. The same German neighbours are still calling the Poles by the name Lechen, which is a derivation from the word Welsche, an ancient German expression for Celts. And also in the Urkraine the Poles are called Ljahi in the peoples mouth.
Another group of the Venedic culture was even the Oksyvie Group, whose presence is attested in the territory alongside the Baltic coast. From this group descend the Pomeranians. Their German neighbours call them even Winden, i.e., Vindi (Vends). The characteristic sound i which appears in their language instead of e in other Vendic languages, is to be found also in several place names, for example Kamin (otherwise Kamen, i.e., stone). Thus, the Pomeranians are an autochthon Vendic people in spite of the fact, that they were for a certain period occupied by Goths and other German or non-German groups. This occurred also in later history of this nation.
Toward the end of the 10th century AD, the groups of Poles were consolidated under King Mieszko, and they became known as Poland. Poland attacked and captured part of Pomerania. Although by 1025 the Pomeranians were free of Polish control. However, the control of their land went back and forth several times. The territory of Pomerania contained Stettin, one of the great ports giving access from the Baltic Sea to the lands of northern Europe. This port was something that, both, the Danes and Swedes, and likewise the polish empire really wanted.
Since the 11th century, the Boguslaw ducal family (literally: God praising) ruled Pomerania. The Boguslaw family was concerned not to be able to sustain itself from pressure of foreign forces, and they leaned towards Saxony. Since 1108, Lothar, Duke of Saxony, had been sending some Saxon (German) settlers into relatively sparsely settled Pomerania, as to invigorate its economy.
However, in 1147, Henry the Lion, Duke of Saxony mounted a crusade to fight the pagan Vinds to the east of Pomerania. Then, the Teutonic Knights took over the area east of Danzig (later called East Prussia) , and they were soon pushing westward for land. In addition, the Danes expanded and captured part of western Pomerania. The Pomeranians were besieged on all sides.
Therefore, the Boguslaw family sent emmissaries to the Kingdom of the Eastern Franks (Germany) and arrangements were made. In 1181, the Kingdom put Pomerania under its protection. In 1181, many thousands of German people came to sparsely settled Pomerania. This datum - in our days - became but crucial for the explanation of the ethnical and national identity. With those German settlers, Pomerania was gradually Germanized, and it should become a German province? Such is the explanation, or better said, the suggestion of the modern German historiography. The same standpoint has been adopted by the historiography of the Slav States, that in addition is suggesting the millennarium "German imperialism" toward the Slav peoples.
The Boguslav Dynasty
The arms of Pomerania from 19th century, then a Prussian province. The first to use the griffon in the arms was Duke Boguslav, in 1214.
In my opinion, the State tradition of Pomeranians is very ancient, albeit we do not find quotations about this in historical documents. They were and are an autochthon Vendic people, in spite the fact, according to official historians, that the "Slav tribes" should have settled the area alongside of the Baltic Sea not earlier then in the 5th/6th century AD. The Pomeranians (Oksywie group) had already a social organization on a state level. They elected their leader, who very probably, was called "kral" (the elected). Since the 11th century, as the feudal order prevailed in the country, the descendence of the leader, i.e., duke, came through inheritance. It was the beginning of the Pomeranian dynasty, the Boguslaw Dynasty.
Sometimes 2 or 3 dukes of this family ruled different parts of the country, as it was divided by inheritance. Several dukes became famous also outside of Pomerania. However, the division of the country into more provinces, ruled by different lines of he ducal family, continued to exist troughout the centuries. A matter of fact, which obviously weakened the Pomeranian dukedom.
The division of the dukedom into an eastern and a western part became visible in a relative early period. In the 14th century, Duke Boguslaw V (1326 - 1372) ruled Hind Pomerania (Hinterpommern), whereas his brother Duke Barnim IV (1326 - 1365) ruled Front Pomerania (Vorderpommern).
Duke Boguslaw V had seven issues, one of them was Margaret of Pomerania (* 1366), who in 1392 married Ernest I the Iron (* 1377), Archduke of Inner Austria (Carantania). She died in 1410 in Bruck/Mur. Then, in 1412, in Krakow, Ernest I the Iron married Zimburgis, daughter of Ziemovit IV, Duke of Masovia (today a Polish province). We are standing in front of an enigma: Why did Ernest I marry a princess from Pomerania, who was 10 years older than him? Should his first aim have been the restoration of dynastic relations between two Vendic States, i.e., between Carantania (Inner Austria) and Pomerania? In his second union he married a princess from Masovia, which is also to be considered a Vendic province. In 1414, Ernest I the Iron, according to the ancient Slovenian rite of installation at the Prince's Stone and at the Duke's Throne, let confirm himself by the people as the Ruler of the Land. From his second union descended nine issues, among them was Duke Frederic V (* 1415), later King Frederic IV, and then Emperor Frederic III.
Eric of Pomerania - He was born in 1382, and was baptized as Boguslaw, too. His father was Vratislaw VII, Duke of Pomerania-Stolp (Slupsk). When his father was murdered in 1394, he followed him on the throne as duke (1395 - † 1459). His mother was Maria of Mecklenburg (*1363 - † 1402), the younger sister of Margaret I, Queen of Denmark (*1353 - † 1412). The sisters were daughters of Henry III, Duke of Mecklenburg, and Ingeborg of Denmark. Margaret I married King Haakon IV of Norway. After the death of her husband, her son Olof V became King of Norway, in 1380. But he died in 1387, and Margaret ruled Denmark and Norway. In 1389, she defeated Albert of Mecklenburg, the Swedish King, and she ruled also Sweden.
Eric of Pomerania (* 1382, King 1397 - 1439), planned to strengthen the Nordic union of the Kingdoms (Denmark, Norway and Sweden, as well as Pomerania). The Baltic area was under his control. Because of small interests, his plan could not be realizsed.
After some years, Queen Margaret succeeded to persua the Danish, Norwegian and Swedish diets to accept her grand-nephew Boguslaw of Pomerania as king. For this purpose he adopted a more Nordic name, Eric, and was crowned at Kalmar (Sweden), in 1397. The famous Kalmar Union of three kingdoms was born. Only Stockholm resisted against Margaret, in 1398, but without success. The ruler was called Eric VII in Denmark, Eric III in Norway, and Eric XIII in Sweden. Already in 1405 he married Philippa Plantagenet (* 1394), daughter of King Henry IV of England. From this union no issues are registered. She died in 1430, and Eric might have been remarried to a Cecilia.
Darlowo (Rügenwalde), where Eric of Pomerania is burried in the St. Mary's church
Because Eric, at his crowning, was not more then 15 years of age, Queen Margaret continued to govern the union until her death, in 1412. Thereafter, Eric took full charge of the government, but he encountered more and more difficulties. In 1436 he lost control in Sweden, in 1439 he was dethroned also in Denmark and Norway. Then, he retired to Pomerania, and died in Dar³owo (Rügenwalde), in 1459. He is buried in the St. Mary's church there.
In 1534, Pomerania became Lutheran. In 1618 a war broke out which pitted the Lutherans against the Catholics. The war lasted until 1648, and became known as the Thirty Years War. In Pomerania the friendly and the enemy armies caused a great deal of damage. It has been estimated that two thirds of the Pomeranian people were killed or moved out. Large areas were burned to the ground.
In 1637, the Duke of Pomerania, Boguslaw XIV, the last descendant of the Pomeranian dynasty, died out. Pomerania came under control of the Prince Elector of Brandenburg through marriage to the Boguslaw family. The Elector of Brandenburg also inherited the lands of the Teutonic Knighs (East Prussia), and assumed the title of King of Prussia and Pomerania. He ruled but Hind Pomerania, whereas Front Pomerania went to Sweden in the Treaty of Westphalia (until 1815).
National Identity of Pomerania
Actually, we dont know, if really "tens of thousands of German people came to Pomerania". It is about a quotation by heart. One time carried out, such affirmations are copied from book to book (bias!). We can only say, a great number of German speaking people were settled in Pomerania. But this problem must still be put to discussion.
First of all we have to ask, if the German speaking people in the 2nd and 3rd generation still considered themselves as Saxons (not even Germans)? It is very probable, that they already became (German speaking) Pomeranians. Second, the German (Saxon) culture and the way of life was concentrated first of all in the towns. These were still small, and also the town people were not numerous. The majority of the inhabitants lived in the country, where the ancient Vendic Pomeranian tradition dominated.
The frontage of the Dom Kaszubski (Kashubian House) in Danzig (Gdans)
Nevertheless, the towns played an important economical as well as cultural role. Therefore, the German language spread gradually from the town to the country. It lasted but some centuries, when in the 18th century the ancient Vendic Pomeranian language died out. Except in a little territory south of Danzig, where the group of Kashubi preserved it until today.
Moreover! The German speaking Pomeranians did not became Germans until the 19th century, when the pan-German national movement lanced the motto, that all German speaking people should be Germans. The German speaking Alsacians, for example, did not follow this motto and they remained French. So did the German speaking Swiss, and also the Dutch (Netherlands), who are speaking the so-called Plattdeutsch or Niederdeutsch. They all rather preserved their historical identity. In Austria, on the other hand, the German speaking people accepted first the German (linguistical) nationality, but after WW2 they became Austrians anew.
Cover page of the very interesting monthly "Pomerania" (from the eighties), which has been published in Kashubian and Polish language. Kashubian is a remainder of the ancient Pomeranian language.
In my opinion, the Vendic national origin of Pomerania has to be acknowledged irrespectively of the German language, which over centuries was spread in this country. It is true, today only a small group of Kashubi preserved the original Pomerianian (Vendic) language. But in the peoples' culture (ethnology) the ancient Pomerania survived in a more greater extent, which must still be discovered.
