Sophie of Pomerania, Duchess of Mecklenburg
Encyclopedia
Sophie of Pomerania-Stettin (c. 1460 – 26 April 1504, Wismar
), Duchess of Mecklenburg from 1478 to 1504.
She was the daughter of Eric II of Pomerania-Wolgast
(† 1474) and his wife Sophia of Pomerania-Stolp († 1497).
Her brother was Bogislaw X
(1454-1523), who ruled the country for almost fifty years as a unified territory. Under Bogislaw X, Pomerania experienced a golden age: Szczecin
was made the residence in 1491, the ducal administration was organised in a chancery, a well-regualted tax collection was introduced and peace and stability were maintained. For political reasons, the Duchy of Mecklenburg
was anxious to see a merger with the House of Pomerania.
Sophie of Pomerania was the fiancee of Duke John V
of Mecklenburg, the brother of her later husband Magnus II of Mecklenburg. After John's death, Sophie went into a convent, and vowed of perpetual chastity. But Magnus II was very attached to securing the border with Pomerania and therefore interested in a marriage with Sophie. He asked several priests for advice on how to set aside the vow, but this was in vain. He married Sophie on 29 May 1478 anyway, against the ecclesiastical laws. The pope did not sentence Magnus for this transgression; instead he awarded him the Golden Rose of Virtue, the highest ecclesiastical honors. On 3 April 1486 Sophie finally got dispensation
from her vow
, on the condition she provide three poor people annually with white woolen clothes in memory of the Virgin Mary.
Like her daughter Anna of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
over two decades later, Sophie insisted on being buried far from home. Whereas all her relatives on the Mecklenburg side, including her husband, had been buried in Doberan Abbey
, she chose the Dominican monastery in Wismar
as the final resting place. Sophie's funeral was the first of the ducal house in Wismar and - apart from her sister Margaret, the widow of Balthasar
, on 27 March 1526 - also the last.
The bronze grave slab with the life-sized image of the Duchess resting on a Pomegranate
blanket, first covered her tomb at the main altar of the church of the Black Monastery in Wismar until 1880. It was then moved to St. Mary's Church, also in Wismar, and after its destruction to the northern side chapel of the Nikolai Church, also in Wismar.
Wismar
Wismar , is a small port and Hanseatic League town in northern Germany on the Baltic Sea, in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern,about 45 km due east of Lübeck, and 30 km due north of Schwerin. Its natural harbour, located in the Bay of Wismar is well-protected by a promontory. The...
), Duchess of Mecklenburg from 1478 to 1504.
She was the daughter of Eric II of Pomerania-Wolgast
Eric II, Duke of Pomerania
Eric II or Erich II, of the House of Pomerania , , was Duke of Pomerania-Wolgast from 1457 to 1474. He was the son of Wartislaw IX of Pomerania-Wolgast and Sophia of Saxe-Lauenburg Eric II or Erich II, of the House of Pomerania (Griffins), (between 1418 and 1425 – 1474), was Duke of...
(† 1474) and his wife Sophia of Pomerania-Stolp († 1497).
Her brother was Bogislaw X
Bogislaw X, Duke of Pomerania
Bogislaw X of Pomerania, the Great, was Duke of Pomerania from 1474 until his death in 1523.Bogislaw was born in Rügenwalde into the House of Pomerania . His father was Eric II, Duke of Pomerania-Wolgast, his mother was the duchess Sophia of Pomerania, both distant relatives of the House of...
(1454-1523), who ruled the country for almost fifty years as a unified territory. Under Bogislaw X, Pomerania experienced a golden age: Szczecin
Szczecin
Szczecin , is the capital city of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship in Poland. It is the country's seventh-largest city and the largest seaport in Poland on the Baltic Sea. As of June 2009 the population was 406,427....
was made the residence in 1491, the ducal administration was organised in a chancery, a well-regualted tax collection was introduced and peace and stability were maintained. For political reasons, the Duchy of Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg is a historical region in northern Germany comprising the western and larger part of the federal-state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern...
was anxious to see a merger with the House of Pomerania.
Sophie of Pomerania was the fiancee of Duke John V
John V, Duke of Mecklenburg
John V of Mecklenburg was Duke of Mecklenburg from 1436 to 1442.John V of Mecklenburg was the son of the Duke John IV of Mecklenburg and Catherine of Saxe-Lauenburg...
of Mecklenburg, the brother of her later husband Magnus II of Mecklenburg. After John's death, Sophie went into a convent, and vowed of perpetual chastity. But Magnus II was very attached to securing the border with Pomerania and therefore interested in a marriage with Sophie. He asked several priests for advice on how to set aside the vow, but this was in vain. He married Sophie on 29 May 1478 anyway, against the ecclesiastical laws. The pope did not sentence Magnus for this transgression; instead he awarded him the Golden Rose of Virtue, the highest ecclesiastical honors. On 3 April 1486 Sophie finally got dispensation
Dispensation (Catholic Church)
In the canon law of the Roman Catholic Church, a dispensation is the suspension by competent authority of general rules of law in particular cases...
from her vow
Vow
A vow is a promise or oath.-Marriage vows:Marriage vows are binding promises each partner in a couple makes to the other during a wedding ceremony. Marriage customs have developed over history and keep changing as human society develops...
, on the condition she provide three poor people annually with white woolen clothes in memory of the Virgin Mary.
Like her daughter Anna of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Anna of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Anna, Princess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was by marriage Landgravine of Hesse.She was a daughter of Duke Magnus II of Mecklenburg , and Sophie of Pomerania-Stettin...
over two decades later, Sophie insisted on being buried far from home. Whereas all her relatives on the Mecklenburg side, including her husband, had been buried in Doberan Abbey
Doberan Abbey
Doberan Abbey is a former Cistercian monastery in Bad Doberan, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. The church continues in use as Doberan Minster ....
, she chose the Dominican monastery in Wismar
Wismar
Wismar , is a small port and Hanseatic League town in northern Germany on the Baltic Sea, in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern,about 45 km due east of Lübeck, and 30 km due north of Schwerin. Its natural harbour, located in the Bay of Wismar is well-protected by a promontory. The...
as the final resting place. Sophie's funeral was the first of the ducal house in Wismar and - apart from her sister Margaret, the widow of Balthasar
Balthasar, Duke of Mecklenburg
Balthasar of Mecklenburg was Duke of Mecklenburg, Coadjutor and administrator of the Diocese of Hildesheim and the Diocese of Schwerin from 1474 to 1479....
, on 27 March 1526 - also the last.
The bronze grave slab with the life-sized image of the Duchess resting on a Pomegranate
Pomegranate
The pomegranate , Punica granatum, is a fruit-bearing deciduous shrub or small tree growing between five and eight meters tall.Native to the area of modern day Iran, the pomegranate has been cultivated in the Caucasus since ancient times. From there it spread to Asian areas such as the Caucasus as...
blanket, first covered her tomb at the main altar of the church of the Black Monastery in Wismar until 1880. It was then moved to St. Mary's Church, also in Wismar, and after its destruction to the northern side chapel of the Nikolai Church, also in Wismar.