Duchy of Gdańsk Księstwo gdańskie(Polish) | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1227–1270 | |||||||||||
 Coat of arms | |||||||||||
| Capital | Gdańsk | ||||||||||
| Common languages | Lechitic languages (includingOld Polish),Middle Low German,Latin | ||||||||||
| Religion | Roman Catholic | ||||||||||
| Government | Duchy | ||||||||||
| Duke | |||||||||||
• 1227–1266 (first) | Swietopelk II | ||||||||||
• 1266–1270 (last) | Warcisław II of Gdańsk | ||||||||||
| Historical era | High Middle Ages | ||||||||||
• Partition of theDuchy of Pomerelia | 1227 | ||||||||||
• Unification of theDuchy of Pomerelia | 1270 | ||||||||||
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| Today part of | Poland | ||||||||||
TheDuchy of Gdańsk (Polish:Księstwo gdańskie) was aduchy inPomerelia with its capital inGdańsk. It was formed in 1227 from the partition of theDuchy of Pomerelia and existed until 1270 when it was incorporated back into it.
In 1227, after theGąsawa massacre in which had diedLeszek the White, theHigh Duke of Poland, theDuchy of Pomerelia had achieved independence from theKingdom of Poland. Following that, the duke of Pomerelia,Swietopelk II, partitioned the county between himself and his brother,Warcisław I of Świecie, to whom he gave the area that formed theDuchy of Świecie and Lubiszewo. Warcisław I died between 1227 and 1233. After his death his duchy was divided between Swietopelk II, who got the area ofŚwiecie,Sambor II, who got theDuchy of Lubiszewo, andRacibor of Białogarda, who gotDuchy of Białogarda. Following gaining independence, Swietopelk II began developing the administration hierarchy in his duchy, appointingcastellans,voivodes,deputy chamberlains,treasurer and others. It gained him the support of the aristocracy for the idea of independent Pomerelia. In 1231, he and his family gained the protection ofPope Gregory IX.[1][2]
He was actively supporting theChristianisation ofPrussia and took part in thePrussian Crusade. In 1234 he participated in the military campaign of the Kingdom of Poland and theState of the Teutonic Order against Prussians. The campaign ended with the victoriousbattle of Dzierzgoń.[1] Between 1236 and 1238, Swietopolk conquered and annexedPomerania-Schlawe.[3][4]
On 15 June 1236, Swietopelk announced to his brothers that he had designated his oldest son,Mestwin II, as his successor as the duke of Pomerelia. It was against theagnatic seniority law, which stated that the eldest brother should be the successor.[5] At the time, Sambor II, with the help of theTeutonic Order, had started fortifying the settlement ofGorzędziej. In the autumn of the same year, Swietopelk attacked it, defeating Sambor's forces and conquering theDuchy of Lubiszewo. After the fight, he spared the life of his brother Sambor, exiling him from the country.[6] Additionally, Swietopelk II formed an alliance withSambians,Natangians andWarmians.[7]
Following that, Sambor II had aligned with forces fromMecklenburg. Around 1237, the Mecklenburgian fleet began fighting with Gdańsk forces alongside the coasts of theBaltic Sea, later on entering theVistula river. In 1237, or at the beginning of 1238, Ratibor fortified Białogarda, and, assisted by troops of Kuyavian bishop, attacked theSchlawe and Stolp Land, which he subsequently conquered and plundered. At the same time Sambor II captured the settlement ofSłońca.[6] On 1 March 1238, Sambor II, together withMecklenburgian troops, travelled to Białogarda in order to pursue Ratibor, to unite in thewar against Swietopelk II. Soon after, Swietopelk II defeated Sambor in thebattle of Słońca, capturing the brother and keeping him captive in the settlement until around 1239. Then he attacked Białogarda, destroying the army of Ratibor, conquering his duchy, and burning its capital subsequently. Ratibor was also exiled to Kuyavia until 1239.[6]
Soon after, theDuchy of Kuyavia, led byCasimir I, attacked the Duchy of Gdańsk, conquering theBydgoszcz Castellany.[5][8][9] On 11 June 1238, Swietopelk signed an agreement with the Teutonic Order, according to which he wouldn't enter alliances with Prussian tribes.[5] In August 1238, Swietopelk organized the raid on the Duchy of Kuyavia, aimed against duke Casimir I and bishop Michał, as the response to the previous attack. During the attack, his army destroyed around 23 villages and the properties of bishops and monasteries, as well as devastating the town ofInowrocław, and stole a massive number of farm animals. Following the attack, Swietopelk wasexcommunicated from theCatholic Church.[8][10][11] On 30 November 1238, Swietopek was put on trial by Polishepiscopal conference, against bishops of Kuyavia andPłock,Strzelno monastery andGdańsk Dominicans, all of whom were victims of his raid. By the trial verdict, he had to financially and materially compensate victims in order to end his excommunication. He never managed to fulfil it.[12] In 1239, aroundEaster, Swietopelk released Sambor II and allowed Ratibor to come back from his exile, giving them both their duchies back. In return, both brothers had to pledge their allegiance to Gdańsk.[13]
