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, Sweden and Poland. Duchess Anna von Croy, daughter of Duke Bogislaw XIII and the last Griffin, died in 1660.
Werle was a fiefdom in the Holy Roman Empire that was founded in 1235. In German it is known as a Herrschaft or Fürstentum (principality). It was created in the partition of territories in Mecklenburg that followed the death of Henry Borwin II of Mecklenburg.
Barnim I the Good, from the Griffin dynasty, was a Duke of Pomerania from 1220 until his death.
Henry I was a Prince of Mecklenburg-Werle and Mecklenburg-Güstrow.
Barnim II was Duke of Pomerania.
Otto I, Duke of Pomerania was Duke of Pomerania-Stettin.
Matilda of Brandenburg, a member of the House of Ascania, was first Duchess consort of Brunswick-Lüneburg from 1235 to 1252 by her marriage with the Welf duke Otto the Child.
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.
Otto II, Duke of Brunswick and Lüneburg, also known as Otto the Strict, came from the House of Welf and was Prince of Lüneburg from 1277 to 1330.
William of Werle, was co-regent of Werle from 1418 to 1425, then the sole ruler from 1425 until his death. After 1426, he called himself "Prince of the Wends". He was a son of Lorenz of Werle-Güstrow and his wife Matilda of Werle-Goldberg.
John II, Lord of Werle[-Güstrow] nicknamed The Bald, was from 1309 to 1316 co-regent of Werle and from 1316 to 1337 Lord of Werle-Güstrow. He was the second eldest son of John I of Werle and Sophie of Lindow-Ruppin.
Henry II, Lord of Mecklenburg, nicknamed the Lion was regent of Mecklenburg from 1287 to 1298, co-regent from 1298 to 1302 and ruled alone again from 1302 to 1329.
John III, Lord of Werle was Lord of Werle-Goldberg from 1316 until his death. He was the son of Nicholas II and Rixa of Denmark.
Nicholas II, Lord of Werle was Lord of Werle-Parchim from 1283 until his death, and from 1292 Lord of Werle.
Nicholas I, Lord of Werle, was Lord of Rostock from 1229 to 1234 and Lord of Werle from 1234 until his death.
Beatrice of Bohemia was a daughter of King Wenceslaus I of Bohemia and his wife Kunigunde of Hohenstaufen.
Ludgarda, was a German noblewoman of the House of Mecklenburg, and by marriage Duchess consort of Poznań during 1273–1283 and of all Greater Poland during 1279–1283.
Agnes of Saxe-Lauenburg, was a Duchess consort of Pomerania by marriage to Wartislaw VIII, Duke of Pomerania. She was a daughter of Eric IV, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg and Sophia, daughter of Magnus II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg.
