Francis, Duke of Pomerania
Encyclopedia
Francis of Pomerania was Duke of Pomerania
-Szczecin and Bishop
of Cammin.
and his wife, Clara of Brunswick-Lüneburg. At the instigation of his father, he received and the best possible education. He indicated at an early age that his interests tended towards knighthood and military affairs. His plans to go to the Saxon court, however were thwarted by John Frederick, who brought him into the Bishopric of Cammin. In 1592, he was appointed Coadjutor of the diocese; in 1593, he participated in the national synod. In 1594, he made a trip to Vienna and Hungary. He took part in the siege of Esztergom
fortress under Matthias, the later Archduke Matthias of Austria.
He went to Italy in 1596 and then returned to Pomerania.
After his uncle Casimir had resigned from his post as Bishop of Cammin in 1602, Francis was elected as the next bishop in a carefully predetermined election. His residence was Koszalin
, where he had the castle equipped accordingly.
When in 1604 the King of Sweden offered him the command of 3000 men infantry and 1000 cavalry in the Polish-Swedish war, he had to refuse, in view of the neutrality of Pomerania.
In 1607, he made another journey. This brought him first to Prague and from there via Switzerland and France to the Spanish border. He returned via England, Scotland and the Netherlands. To secure the borders of his diocese, he established a small military force in 1614. After his brother Philip II
had died without heirs in 1618, Francis succeeded him as ruler of Pomerania-Stettin. The Diocese of Cammin went to his brother Ulrich.
His efforts to strengthen the defensive capabilities of Pomerania were largely unsuccessful, due to the resistance of the Estates
. Thiey rejected his demand to provide the Szczecin arsenal with weapons and equipment, and also refused the inspection announced at Pützerlin in November 1619.
He did not share the scientific interests of his predecessor Philip II. Projects on geography or national history such as Valentine von Winther's Pomeranographia, found little support with Francis. He devoted himself intensively to the affairs of government and the city of Szczecin. Documents requiring his signature were always checked thoroughly. Because of his kindness and affability in dealing with his subjects, he was very popular among the population.
During Duke Francis's time in office, the 80 year old nun Sidonia von Borcke
from the monastery at Marienfließ
was tried for witchcraft. She was accused of having caused the early death of Dukes Philip II
and George II
, and of causing the other sons of Duke Bogislaw XIII
to remain childless. She was found guilty, and executed. Three month later, Duke Francis fell ill. He was still healthy in the morning, felt ill after lunch, and died a few days later.
In 1610, Duke Francis married Sophie of Saxony, a daughter of Elector Christian I
of Saxony. The marriage remained childless.
Duchy of Pomerania
The Duchy of Pomerania was a duchy in Pomerania on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea, ruled by dukes of the House of Pomerania ....
-Szczecin and Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Cammin.
Life
Francis was the son of Duke Bogislaw XIIIBogislaw XIII, Duke of Pomerania
Bogislaw XIII of Pomerania , son of Philip I and Maria of Saxony, was a princes of Stettin and Wolgast, and a member of the Griffins ....
and his wife, Clara of Brunswick-Lüneburg. At the instigation of his father, he received and the best possible education. He indicated at an early age that his interests tended towards knighthood and military affairs. His plans to go to the Saxon court, however were thwarted by John Frederick, who brought him into the Bishopric of Cammin. In 1592, he was appointed Coadjutor of the diocese; in 1593, he participated in the national synod. In 1594, he made a trip to Vienna and Hungary. He took part in the siege of Esztergom
Esztergom
Esztergom , is a city in northern Hungary, 46 km north-west of the capital Budapest. It lies in Komárom-Esztergom county, on the right bank of the river Danube, which forms the border with Slovakia there....
fortress under Matthias, the later Archduke Matthias of Austria.
Matthias, Holy Roman Emperor
Matthias of Austria was Holy Roman Emperor from 1612, King of Hungary and Croatia from 1608 and King of Bohemia from 1611...
He went to Italy in 1596 and then returned to Pomerania.
After his uncle Casimir had resigned from his post as Bishop of Cammin in 1602, Francis was elected as the next bishop in a carefully predetermined election. His residence was Koszalin
Koszalin
Koszalin ; is the largest city of Middle Pomerania in north-western Poland. It is located 12 km south of the Baltic Sea coast. Koszalin is also a county-status city and capital of Koszalin County of West Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999...
, where he had the castle equipped accordingly.
When in 1604 the King of Sweden offered him the command of 3000 men infantry and 1000 cavalry in the Polish-Swedish war, he had to refuse, in view of the neutrality of Pomerania.
In 1607, he made another journey. This brought him first to Prague and from there via Switzerland and France to the Spanish border. He returned via England, Scotland and the Netherlands. To secure the borders of his diocese, he established a small military force in 1614. After his brother Philip II
Philip II, Duke of Pomerania
Philip II, Duke of Pomerania was from 1606 to 1618 the reigning duke of Pomerania-Stettin and is considered among the one of the most artistic of the Pomeranian dukes. He married Sophia of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg in 1607...
had died without heirs in 1618, Francis succeeded him as ruler of Pomerania-Stettin. The Diocese of Cammin went to his brother Ulrich.
His efforts to strengthen the defensive capabilities of Pomerania were largely unsuccessful, due to the resistance of the Estates
Estates of the realm
The Estates of the realm were the broad social orders of the hierarchically conceived society, recognized in the Middle Ages and Early Modern period in Christian Europe; they are sometimes distinguished as the three estates: the clergy, the nobility, and commoners, and are often referred to by...
. Thiey rejected his demand to provide the Szczecin arsenal with weapons and equipment, and also refused the inspection announced at Pützerlin in November 1619.
He did not share the scientific interests of his predecessor Philip II. Projects on geography or national history such as Valentine von Winther's Pomeranographia, found little support with Francis. He devoted himself intensively to the affairs of government and the city of Szczecin. Documents requiring his signature were always checked thoroughly. Because of his kindness and affability in dealing with his subjects, he was very popular among the population.
During Duke Francis's time in office, the 80 year old nun Sidonia von Borcke
Sidonia von Borcke
Sidonia von Borcke , also spelled Sidonie von Bork, Borke or Borken, was a Pomeranian noble woman tried and executed for witchcraft...
from the monastery at Marienfließ
Marianowo, West Pomeranian Voivodeship
Marianowo is a village in Stargard County, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, in north-western Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Marianowo. It lies approximately east of Stargard Szczeciński and east of the regional capital Szczecin.Before 1945 the area was part of Germany...
was tried for witchcraft. She was accused of having caused the early death of Dukes Philip II
Philip II, Duke of Pomerania
Philip II, Duke of Pomerania was from 1606 to 1618 the reigning duke of Pomerania-Stettin and is considered among the one of the most artistic of the Pomeranian dukes. He married Sophia of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg in 1607...
and George II
George II, Duke of Pomerania
George II of Pomerania was a non-reigning duke of Pomerania. He administered the district of Rügenwalde from 1606 to 1617 jointly with his brother Bogislaw XIV.- Life :...
, and of causing the other sons of Duke Bogislaw XIII
Bogislaw XIII, Duke of Pomerania
Bogislaw XIII of Pomerania , son of Philip I and Maria of Saxony, was a princes of Stettin and Wolgast, and a member of the Griffins ....
to remain childless. She was found guilty, and executed. Three month later, Duke Francis fell ill. He was still healthy in the morning, felt ill after lunch, and died a few days later.
In 1610, Duke Francis married Sophie of Saxony, a daughter of Elector Christian I
Christian I, Elector of Saxony
Christian I of Saxony was Elector of Saxony from 1586 to 1591.He was the sixth but second surviving son of Elector Augustus of Saxony and Anna of Denmark...
of Saxony. The marriage remained childless.