Waldemar | |
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Margrave of Brandenburg-Stendal | |
Statue of Waldemar at the Mühlendamm Bridge in Berlin, created in 1894/95 by the sculptor Max Unger, prototype for the early monuments in the Siegesallee
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Reign | 1308–1319 |
Spouse(s) | Agnes of Brandenburg |
Noble family | House of Ascania |
Father | Conrad, Margrave of Brandenburg-Stendal |
Mother | Constance of Greater Poland |
Born | c. 1280 |
Died | 14 August 1319 Bärwalde, Brandenburg |
Waldemar the Great (German: Waldemar der Große; c. 1280 – 14 August 1319), a member of the House of Ascania, was Margrave of Brandenburg-Stendal from 1308 until his death. He became sole ruler of the Margraviate of Brandenburg upon the death of his cousin John V of Brandenburg-Salzwedel in 1317. Waldemar is known as the last in the line of Ascanian margraves starting with Albert the Bear in 1157; he was only succeeded by his minor cousin Henry II, who died one year later.
He was a son of Margrave Conrad of Brandenburg-Stendal and his wife Constance, eldest daughter of the Piast duke Przemysł I of Greater Poland. Waldemar was co-regent from 1302, and succeeded as margrave upon the death of his uncle Otto IV in 1308.
In 1307 Waldemar signed an agreement with the Swienca family ceding him the lands of Pomerelia (Gdańsk Pomerania), whereafter Brandenburg troops occupied Świecie, Tczew and all strategic locations up to Gdańsk (Danzig). In turn, the Polish king Władysław I called for the support of the Teutonic Knights, and after their takeover of Danzig, Waldemar by the 1309 Treaty of Soldin relinquished his claims on Pomerelia east of the Łeba River to the Teutonic Order for a payment of 10,000 silver Mark. The castle districts Schlawe and Stolp including the Swienca residence of Rügenwalde at first remained with Brandenburg.