Golden privilege

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The granting of far-reaching privileges and freedoms to the four front cities of the Duchy of Pomerania-Wolgast , Stralsund , Greifswald , Demmin and Anklam by Duke Wartislaw IX is a golden privilege . designated.

After the death of his cousin Barnim VIII in 1451, Wartislaw IX. Sole ruler of the duchy, which has been divided since 1425. There was an inheritance dispute with Mecklenburg over the inheritance of Barnims VIII's sister, Sophia von Pommern-Wolgast-Barth, which the Mecklenburgers gave to Katherine von Werle, the daughter of Sophias and Wilhelm von Wenden and Werle , as a dowry for her wedding to Ulrich II . claimed by Mecklenburg-Stargard . Wartislaw IX. was dependent on the mediation of the Hanseatic cities. The mayor of Stralsund, Otto Voge , attempted an amicable settlement and at the same time forced the Duke to conclude extensive privileges to the cities.

With the on January 2, 1452 by Wartislaw IX. in the presence of his sons Erich II and Wartislaw X. , the Pomeranian Duke largely renounced his sovereign rights over the four most important cities in the country. In addition to confirming all the privileges previously enjoyed jointly and individually by the cities, he granted the cities the following concessions.

  • The right to make alliances with one another.
  • The free jurisdiction of the cities against criminal offenses against the cities on public land and waterways.
  • Safe conduct for city citizens within the country even in times of war.
  • Beach robbery was banned.
  • Freedom from duties and taxes within the country.
  • Exclusion of the Duke's jurisdiction over townspeople. Lawsuits against one city should be brought through the three other cities.
  • Confirmation of protection for property, life and limb of the residents. The notarized land holdings of the cities were guaranteed and rent increases were excluded.
  • The right to any land acquisition by the cities.
  • The Duke's intervention against his own servants in the event of abuse of power against the cities.
  • The guarantee of privileges even in the event of violations, neglect or other refusals towards the sovereign.

The golden privilege was only valid for the cities of Stralsund, Greifswald, Demmin and Anklam. Almost nothing changed for the other cities, except that they were not allowed to collect taxes from the privileged cities.

In spite of the guarantees, the dukes continued to attempt to influence the cities and assault their servants. Examples of this are the conflicts with Stralsund about mayor Otto Voge and with Greifswald about Heinrich Rubenow . Only the renewal of the alliances between the cities in the following two decades brought a certain calming of the situation.

Duke Bogislaw X. , who carried out extensive reforms in the administrative and legal system of Pomerania, later tried to limit the privileges of the cities, but had to confirm them in 1479. Stralsund in particular had promised to refuse to pay homage to the sovereign and had the privileges guaranteed again in 1488.

literature

  • Karl Goetze: History of the city of Demmin edited on the basis of the Demmin Council Archives, the Stollesche Chronik and other sources . Demmin 1903, reprint 1997, ISBN 3-89557-077-X , pages 248-250
  1. ^ Hans Branig: History of Pomerania Part I; From the emergence of the modern state to the loss of state independence 1300-1648 . Page 50–51. Böhlau Verlag Cologne Weimar Vienna 1997, ISBN 3-412-07189-7
  2. ↑ Hans Branig: History of Pomerania Part I . Page 70.