Heinrich I. (Schwerin)

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Heinrich I, Count of Schwerin , (* around 1155; † February 17, 1228 ), also called the Black , was a Count of Schwerin . He played an important part in ending Danish supremacy in the southern Baltic region.

Life

Statue of Heinrich in the facade of Schwerin Castle

Heinrich von Schwerin was the fourth son of Gunzelin von Hagen , who had been enfeoffed with the county of Schwerin by Heinrich the Lion . After Gunzelin's death in 1185, the eldest brother Helmold I took over the rule. When he retired in 1194, the third brother Gunzelin II and Heinrich took over the management of the county. After the fall of Henry the Lion, the Danes had gained dominance in the north of the empire and on the southern Baltic coast. The Danish king endeavored to steadily expand his sphere of influence. In 1208 he intervened in disputes between the counts and one of their feudal men and drove the two counts from their property. It was not until 1214 that they were able to return after taking the feudal oath to King Waldemar II of Denmark. In addition, the Count's sister, Ida (Oda), was married to Waldemar's illegitimate son, Count Niels (Nikolaus) von Halland , with half of the County of Schwerin as a dowry.

While Heinrich was taking part in the Damiette crusade , his brother Gunzelin II died in 1221 and, on the crusade, his brother-in-law Niels von Halland. Waldemar II acted as the guardian of his underage grandson Nikolaus von Halland-Schwerin, appointed his nephew Count Albrecht II , from the Ascan branch Weimar-Orlamünde, as governor and took over the "half office" of Schwerin through him, as in a document from Confirmed February 28, 1221 in possession. Heinrich did not return from the crusade until the following year. Since negotiations with the king had no effect, he made a decision that was to have far-reaching consequences for the political situation in the north of the empire and for Denmark .

On the night of May 6th, 1223 he kidnapped Waldemar II and his son from the Danish island of Lyø , where they had rested from the hunt, unguarded. He and his prisoners reached the German coast by ship. Since Schwerin was occupied by the Danes, Waldemar and his son were first hidden in Lenzen in the Mark Brandenburg region and soon after in Dannenberg Castle . After the recapture of the County of Schwerin in 1225, the two were finally held in Schwerin Castle.

Heinrich made high demands for the release, from which he was neither threatened by Denmark nor by Pope Honorius III. was dissuaded. Heinrich found support from Heinrich Borwin II of Mecklenburg , Count Adolf IV of Holstein and Bishop Gebhard II of Bremen . Since Waldemar did not respond to Heinrich's demands, the situation came to a head and the battle of Mölln finally took place in January 1225 . The Danes were defeated and Albert von Orlamünde, like his king, became a prisoner of Heinrich von Schwerin.

Waldemar finally consented to Heinrich's demands, which were also joined by those of his allies. In November 1225, in the Treaty of Bardowick, it was agreed that Waldemar and his son would be released against payment of 45,000  marks of silver, the assignment of Schwerin and Holstein, the renunciation of all German fiefdoms except the Principality of Rügen and the granting of complete freedom of trade for the German cities. Waldemar also had to forego revenge and hold three of his sons hostage.

The Danish position as a great power in the Baltic Sea region was severely shaken by Waldemar's captivity. The pursuit of recovery finally culminated on July 22nd, 1227 at the Battle of Bornhöved . Waldemar II was defeated by the coalition army, Duke Otto von Braunschweig was captured and brought to Schwerin. Waldemar was forced to renew Bardowick's contract. The Danish empire in the Baltic Sea region collapsed.

Heinrich von Schwerin died on February 17, 1228 and was buried in Schwerin Cathedral . Only after his death did his widow Audacia and his son Gunzelin III. free the Duke of Brunswick, who had to confirm the agreements made with Heinrich beforehand. On December 3, 1228, Pope Gregory IX demanded . Henry's widow released the princes she was still imprisoned. Waldemar II had to pay a further 7,000 silver marks for the release of his three sons held as hostages in Schwerin in 1230.

literature

personal data
SURNAME Heinrich I.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Heinrich von Schwerin; Heinrich the Black
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Count of Schwerin
DATE OF BIRTH around 1155
DATE OF DEATH February 17, 1228