John I, Lord of Mecklenburg

John I, Lord of Mecklenburg, nicknamed the Theologian (c.1211 1 August 1264) was Lord of Mecklenburg from 1234 until his death.

John I, Lord of Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg coats of arms
Bornc.1211
Died(1264-08-01)1 August 1264
BuriedDoberan Minster
Noble familyHouse of Mecklenburg
Spouse(s)Liutgart of Henneberg
IssueHenry I
Albert I
Herman
Elizabeth
Nicholas III
Poppo
John II
FatherHenry Borwin II, Lord of Mecklenburg
MotherChristina of Sweden

Life

He was the eldest son of Henry Borwin II, Lord of Mecklenburg.

He ruled Mecklenburg jointly with his brothers, until they decided to divide the territory in 1234. As the eldest son, he received the ancestral homeland. In 1227, he defeated the Danish in the Battle of Bornhöved, thereby relieving Mecklenburg from Danish suzerainty. However, Saxe-Lauenburg and Holstein then began claiming suzerainty over Mecklenburg and he had to wage war against them to retain his sovereignty. In 1255, his brother Pribislaw I lost his Lordship of Parchim-Richenberg after a conflict with Bishop Rudolph I of Schwerin. Pribislaw was taken prisoner by the bishop and his brothers divided his territory between themselves, with John I receiving Sternberg.

John I supported the Church and the settlement of ethnic Germans in Mecklenburg, which was still predominantly Slavic during his reign. In 1262, he concluded an alliance with the Guelphs against Denmark.

He died in 1264 was buried in the Doberan Minster.

Marriage and issue

John I married Luitgard of Henneberg (1210-1267), the daughter of Count Poppo VII of Henneberg. With her he had the following children:


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