West Pomerania’s part in the war for the throne of the Archbishop of Magdeburg in 1277–1283
West Pomerania’s part in the war for the throne of the Archbishop of Magdeburg in 1277–1283

Summary/Abstract: Between 1277 and 1283, a dispute arose followed by an open war for the appointment of the Archbishop of Magdeburg. Margraves of Brandenburg of the Johannine confronted Günther von Schwalenberg, who was elected first, and then Bernhard von Wölpe. The Margraves attempted to promote the election of their brother Eric to the office in question. On the other side of the dispute were the Margraves of the Ottonian line. This situation potentially lead to the outbreak of a civil war in the March of Brandenburg. The plans of the Margraves of the Johannine line were initially supported by Western Pomerania. On their side was both the Bishop of Cammin, Hermann, and Duke Barnim I. The Pomeranian court, not only because of the feudal duties towards Margraves, but also due to family ties linking Barnim I and his son Bogislaw IV with both lines of the Margraves, could not remain indifferent to these events. It cannot be ruled out that in 1278 the Margraves of the Johannine line managed to persuade into cooperation the Dukes of Greater Poland as well as Mestvin (Mściwoj) II of East Pomerania. At the end of 1278, Barnim I died, which affected the efforts of representatives of both lines of Margraves of Brandenburg to ensure the cooperation of his successor, Bogislaw IV. The Duke, however, did not seem to intend to support either side. Moreover, in view of the internal problems of the Brandenburg Ascanians, he began to think about political independence. However, these plans came to naught. Already in 1280, the Bishop of Cammin, Hermann von Gleichen, actually announced his neutrality in the dispute between the Margraves. Bogislaw IV tried to defend his independence by entering into an alliance with Lübeck and participating in the anti-Brandenburg Landfriede of Rostock (1283). In 1284, however, he found himself among the defeated belligerents and, apart from making other concessions to the Margraves, he had to pay homage to them.

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