Ducal Castle, Szczecin

Last updated
Ducal Castle
Szczecin zamek4.jpg
General view of the castle
Ducal Castle, Szczecin
General information
Architectural style Gothic, Pomeranian mannerism
Town or city Szczecin
CountryPoland
Coordinates 53°25′34″N14°33′37″E / 53.42611°N 14.56028°E / 53.42611; 14.56028 Coordinates: 53°25′34″N14°33′37″E / 53.42611°N 14.56028°E / 53.42611; 14.56028
Construction started1346
Completed1428
Renovated1958–1980
Design and construction
Architect(s)Wilhelm Zachariasz Italus
(mannerist reconstruction)

The Ducal Castle, also known as the Pomeranian Dukes' Castle, [lower-alpha 1] and Szczecin Castle, [lower-alpha 2] is a renaissance castle in the city of Szczecin, Poland, located at the Castle Hill in the Stare Miasto (Old Town) neighbourhood, near the Oder river. It is built in the gothic and Pomeranian mannerism architectural style. The castle was the seat of the dukes of Pomerania-Stettin of the House of Pomerania, who ruled the Duchy of Pomerania from 1121 to 1637. The building history originates in 1346, when duke Barnim III began the construction of the ducal housing complex, and continues to 1428, when, under the rule of Casimir V, it was expanded, forming the castle. Currently, it is one of the largest cultural centres in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland.

Contents

History

Barnim the Great of Pomerania-Stettin erected the castle within Szczecin's walls against the will of the burghers in 1346. An older Pomeranian burgh had been leveled in 1249. [1] In 1490 the castle was partially reconstructed for Bogusław X's wedding with Anna Jagiellonka (daughter of king Casimir IV Jagiellon). [2]

Between 1573 and 1582 the castle was rebuilt again, this time in the mannerist style for duke John Frederick by Italian stonemasons according to design by Wilhelm Zachariasz Italus. [3] [4] Two new wings were added to close the courtyard before the medieval southern and eastern wings. [3] The main gate was adorned with ducal crest, the eastern wing was enhanced and the northern wing was intended for chapel.

In 1648, due to the tenets of the Peace of Westphalia, the castle become a seat of Swedish governor. [5] Before 1705 another reconstruction occurred to prepare the castle for Queen of Poland - Catherine Opalińska, who lived here with her daughters Anna and Marie Leszczyńska (future Queen of France) and a small court between 1705 and 1711. [5] In 1711 king Stanisław I Leszczyński, who sought refuge before chasing him Saxon and Russian forces, joined his wife and daughters at the castle. [5]

After the Great Northern War, in 1720, the city of Stettin become a Prussian property and the castle was allocated to the garrison commander Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, whose daughter Sophie Friederike Auguste (future Catherine II of Russia) was born here in 1729 and was raised in the castle. [5]

Under Swedish and later Prussian rule, the castle was extensively modified. In 1840-1842 a tower in Classical architecture in allusion to the architecture of Karl Friedrich Schinkel was erected, and the south wing was built in the style of Frederician Rococo. [6]

Polish conservations maintain that these modifications under Prussian rule in the 19th were barbaric, [6] devastating the many Renaissance elements in the castle (arcades, attics, vaulting). [2] Eventually about 60% of the castle was destroyed during World War II (August 1944). [5]

Under Polish rule, the castle was rebuilt between 1958 and 1980 with some modifications. The castle was seen as a point of contact with the town's lost Slavic past, supporting and legitimizing the cleansing of Germans and subsequent Polonization. [6] The castle was restored to its original 16th-century appearance according to 1653 engraving by Matthäus Merian (among others). [2] The refernence to the Renaissane appearance was important because during Renaissance times, the town, part of the Holy Roman Empire was ruled by the House of Griffin, whose Slavic or even Piast descence is debated among historians. The castle thus became a lieu de mémoire for the town's new inhabitants.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Polish: Zamek Książąt Pomorskich; German: Schloss der Pommerschen Herzöge, Schloss der Pommerschen Fürsten
  2. ↑ German: Stettiner Schloss

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Szczecin</span> Capital city of West Pomerania, Poland

Szczecin is the capital and largest city of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship in northwestern Poland. Located near the Baltic Sea and the German border, it is a major seaport and Poland's seventh-largest city. As of December 2021, the population was 395,513.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darłowo</span> Place in West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland

Darłowo, in full The Royal City of Darłowo, is a seaside town in the West Pomeranian Region, at the south coast of the Baltic Sea, north-western Poland, with 13,324 inhabitants as of December 2021. It is located in Sławno County in West Pomeranian Voivodeship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Szczecinek</span> Place in West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland

Szczecinek is a historic city in Middle Pomerania, northwestern Poland, with a population of more than 40,000 (2011). Formerly in the Koszalin Voivodeship (1950–1998), it has been the capital of Szczecinek County in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999. It is an important railroad junction, located along the main Poznań - Kołobrzeg line, which crosses less important lines to Chojnice and Słupsk. The town's total area is 48.63 square kilometres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duchy of Pomerania</span> Vassal state in west-central Europe from 1121 to 1637

The Duchy of Pomerania was a duchy in Pomerania on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea, ruled by dukes of the House of Pomerania (Griffins). The country had existed in the Middle Ages, in years 1121–1160, 1264–1295, 1478–1531 and 1625–1637.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Szczecin</span>

The History of Szczecin dates back to the 8th century. Throughout its history the city has been part of Poland, Denmark, Sweden and Germany. Since the Middle Ages, it is one of the largest and oldest cities in the historic region of Pomerania, and today, is it the largest city in northwestern Poland.

The House of Griffin or Griffin dynasty was a dynasty ruling the Duchy of Pomerania from the 12th century until 1637. The name "Griffins" was used by the dynasty after the 15th century and had been taken from the ducal coat of arms. Duke Wartislaw I was the first historical ruler of the Duchy of Pomerania and the founder of the Griffin dynasty. The most prominent Griffin was Eric of Pomerania, who became king of the Kalmar Union in 1397, thus ruling Denmark, Sweden and Norway. The last Griffin duke of Pomerania was Bogislaw XIV, who died during the Thirty Years' War, which led to the division of Pomerania between Brandenburg-Prussia and Sweden. Duchess Anna von Croy, daughter of Duke Bogislaw XIII and the last Griffin, died in 1660.

Barnim I the Good from the Griffin dynasty was a Duke of Pomerania from 1220 until his death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pomerania during the High Middle Ages</span>

Pomerania during the High Middle Ages covers the history of Pomerania in the 12th and 13th centuries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pomerania during the Late Middle Ages</span>

Pomerania during the Late Middle Ages covers the history of Pomerania in the 14th and 15th centuries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pomerania-Stettin</span>

The Duchy of Pomerania-Stettin, also known as the Duchy of Stettin, and the Duchy of Szczecin, was a feudal duchy in Farther Pomerania within the Holy Roman Empire. Its capital was Szczecin. It was ruled by the Griffin dynasty. It existed in the eras of the High and Late Middle Ages, and the early modern period, between 1160 and 1264, between 1295 and 1523, and between 1532 and 1625.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pomerania-Stolp</span>

The Duchy of Pomerania-Stolp, also known as the Duchy of Stolp, and the Duchy of Słupsk, was a feudal duchy in Farther Pomerania within the Holy Roman Empire. Its capital was Słupsk. It was ruled by the Griffin dynasty. It existed in the High Middle Ages era from 1368 to 1478.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barnim X, Duke of Pomerania</span> Duke of Pomerania

Barnim X, or according to another account Barnim XII was a duke of Pomerania and a member of the House of Griffins. He administered from 1569, the Rügenwalde district. From 1600 until his death, he ruled in Pomerania-Stettin.

Duke Casimir V of Pomerania was a member of the House of Griffins and a Duke of Pomerania. He ruled in Pomerania-Stettin together with his brother Otto II from 1413 to 1428. After 1428, he ruled Pomerania-Stettin alone.

Duchy of Pomerania-Barth was a feudal duchy of the Holy Roman Empire located in Western Pomerania that existed in the Middle Ages between 1376 and 1478, and between 1569 and 1625. The state consisted of its capital, Barth, and nearby areas. Duchy had separated from Pomerania-Wolgast in 1376 and was incorporated into Duchy of Pomerania in 1478. It was reestablished in 1569 by separation from Pomerania-Wolgast-Stolp and existed until 1625, when it was incorporated into Duchy of Pomerania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philip II, Duke of Pomerania</span>

Philip II, Duke of Pomerania-Stettin was from 1606 to 1618 the reigning duke of Pomerania-Stettin and is considered among the one of the most artistic of the Pomeranian dukes. He married Sophia of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg in 1607. The marriage remained childless.

Swantibor I, previously referred to by historians as Swantibor III was a member of the House of Griffins, a Duke of Pomerania-Stettin and for a while governor of the Mittelmark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bogislaw II, Duke of Pomerania</span>

Bogislaw II was Duke of Pomerania-Stettin from 1187 until his death.

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Szczecin, Poland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darłowo Castle</span> Historic site in Darłowo, West Pomeranian Voivodeship in Poland

Castle of the Pomeranian Dukes - the only Gothic castle located on the coast of the Baltic Sea in Poland. The castle's formation is close to that of a square, with a tower measuring 24 metres in height. The castle's construction began in 1352, in the reign of Bogusław V, whose reign began the alliance with the Hanseatic League. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the castle was used as a warehouse and a prison. Since 1930, the castle was turned into a museum.

References

  1. ↑ Werner Buchholz, Pommern, Siedler, 1999, p.121, ISBN   3-88680-272-8
  2. 1 2 3 "History". zamek.szczecin.pl. Retrieved 2009-12-28.
  3. 1 2 "Historia". zamek.szczecin.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2010-01-20. Retrieved 2009-12-28.
  4. ↑ Kazimiera Kalita Skwirzyńska, Ewa Prync-Pommerencke. "Zamki i dwory renesansowe". www.pomorskiezamki.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2007-08-29. Retrieved 2009-12-28.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Szczecin". www.zamkipolskie.com (in Polish). Retrieved 2009-12-28.
  6. 1 2 3 Peter Oliver Loew, Christian Pletzing, Thomas Serrier (2006). Wiedergewonnene Geschichte: zur Aneignung von Vergangenheit in den Zwischenräumen Mitteleuropas (in German). Otto Harrassowitz Verlag.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.