Johann Friedrich, Duke of Pomerania
| Johann Friedrich, Duke of Pomerania | |
|---|---|
Johann Friedrich, Duke of Pomerania
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| Spouse(s) | Erdmuthe of Brandenburg |
| Noble family | House of Griffins |
| Father | Philip I, Duke of Pomerania |
| Mother | Maria of Saxony |
| Born |
27 August 1542 Wolgast |
| Died | 9 February 1600 (aged 57) Wolgast |
| Buried | Castle Church in Szczecin |
Johann Friedrich (sometimes rendered to John Frederick) (27 August 1542 – 9 February 1600) was Duke of Pomerania from 1560 to 1600, and Bishop of Cammin (Kamień) from 1556 to 1574. Elected bishop in 1556 and heir of the duchy in 1560, he remained under tutelage of his great-uncle Barnim XI until he took on his offices in 1567.
Johann Friedrich was the oldest of ten siblings born to Philipp I of Pomerania-Wolgast and Maria of Saxony. At the age of 14, he was elected bishop of Cammin on 29 August 1556, after his predecessor Martin von Weiher had died on 8 June. Starting with Johann Friedrich, the ducal Pomeranian family would thence exclusively hold this title until the last duke died in 1637, thus ending the considerable independence of the bishopric's territory from the rest of the Duchy of Pomerania. In 1560, the bishopric's administration was reformed accordingly.
When his father died on 14 February 1560, Johann Friedrich nominally became duke of Pomerania but was still under the tutelage of his great-uncle, Barnim XI. While his mother appointed High Stewart Ulrich von Schwerin as administrator of the duchy, he went to the court of Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor at Vienna and participated in the war against the Ottoman Empire.
After his return from the war in 1567, Johann Friedrich took on his position as the bishop of Cammin and also his position as the duke of Pomerania, which he provisionally shared with his brother, Bogislaw XIII.
Then 68 years old Barnim XI decided in 1569 to withdraw from his position as a duke, and the duchy was internally partitioned among the male members of the House of Pomerania on 23 May 1569 in Jasenitz (now part of Police), which was approved by the Landtag in Wollin (now Wolin). Johann Friedrich together with his brother, Barnim XII, received the Teilherzogtum Pomerania-Stettin, while his other brothers, Ernst Ludwig and Bogislaw XIII, received Pomerania-Wolgast and Casimir VI received the bishopric of Cammin, which he took over from Johann Friedrich in 1574. Because Bogislaw and Barnim immediately renounced their positions and were compensated with the domains of Barth and Neuenkamp and the domain of Rügenwalde, respectively, Johann Friedrich got to rule his share alone.
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