Bogislaw XIII
A 16th-century Pomeranian duke who shifted his realm's economic focus by founding a major trading port and minting his own currency.
1544–1606 (age 62)·Duke of Pomerania-Wolgast·Birthday: August 9
Biography
Bogislaw XIII, a member of the Griffin dynasty, was a pragmatic ruler in the complex political landscape of 16th-century Pomerania. Born in 1544, he initially ruled jointly with his brothers over a partitioned duchy. His most significant legacy is not from war, but from economic foresight. Inheriting the region of Barth, he recognized the limitations of the silting Oder River and the declining Hanseatic League. In 1582, he made a decisive move, founding the port city of Franzburg (initially called 'Neue Stadt') to stimulate trade, though it was his successor who truly developed the nearby port of Stralsund. Bogislaw XIII also established a mint in Franzburg, producing coins that bore his image and strengthened his territory's financial independence. His rule was characterized by this kind of administrative building and a careful navigation of the religious tensions of the Reformation, which had firmly taken root in Pomerania. He died in 1606, leaving a duchy more financially coherent than he found it.
#1 When Bogislaw Was Born
The biggest hits of 1544
Bogislaw's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1544Born
1549Started school
1557Became a teenager
1560Could drive
1562Could vote
1565Turned 21
1574Turned 30
1584Turned 40
1594Turned 50
1604Turned 60
1606Died at 62
Key Achievements
- Founded the town of Franzburg in 1582 as a new economic and administrative center for his territory.
- Established a ducal mint in Franzburg, issuing coins that promoted regional economic autonomy.
- Commissioned the 'Pomeranian Chronicle' by historian Thomas Kantzow, preserving the history of the Griffin dynasty.
- Ruled as Duke of Pomerania in the regions of Barth, Rügen, and later Stettin.
Did You Know?
He was married twice, first to Clara of Brunswick-Lüneburg and then to Anna of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg.
He was a younger son of Duke Philip I of Pomerania and was not originally expected to inherit the core duchy.
His portrait, along with those of his family, is featured in a famous genealogical painting known as the 'Pomeranian Family Tree'.
The name 'Franzburg' was chosen in honor of his brother, Francis I.
“A strong treasury and a well-governed port are the true shields of a state.”
