Propagandowy wymiar pogrzebu Bogusława XIV
The Propaganda Aspect of Bogusław XIV’s Funeral

Author(s): Monika Ogiewa-Sejnota
Subject(s): Middle Ages, 6th to 12th Centuries, 13th to 14th Centuries, 15th Century, 16th Century, 17th Century, 18th Century
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: Western Pomerania; Griffin Dynasty; Bogusław XIV; Thirty Years’ War; funerary ceremonial; succession
Summary/Abstract: When the last ruler from the Griffins, Bogusław XIV, died in 1637, the Duchyof Pomerania was still a war zone during the Thirty Years’ War. Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden had forced Bogusław XIV to give his duchy under the rule of Sweden if he died without a successor. It was against the earlier pacts, signed between the rulers of Pomerania and Brandenburg, which guaranteed Brandenburg the takeover of the Griffins’ lands. Due to unclear succession, there was no successor who would give the burial to the deceased ruler. The body of the last Pomeranian ruler waited for 14 years waited to be buried. The funeral took place on 25th May 1654 and was the result of the agreement between Sweden and Brandenburg, which sanctioned the division of Pomerania between the two countries. The funerary ceremony was of propaganda character as the new successors – the Swedish queen, Christina and the Brandenburg elector Friedrich Wilhelm – wanted to stress the fact that the indigenous dynasty has died out and the country was to be administered by new powers.

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