Politics 1200 up to 1250

Mecklenburg initially only covered one third of the later region. The land was colonised by immigrants. They came from Lower Saxony, Westphalia and Lower Rhine and Flemish regions. Lower nobility and farmers were accompanied by merchants, tradesmen, priests and monks. They formed towns and convents. Schwerin was followed by Rostock (1218) and Wismar (1229). At the top were the territorial rulers as the feudal owners of land and property. The development of comprehensive territorial lordship was destroyed by the distribution of estates. The most important supporters of this regime were local manorial lords.

Danish rule over Rügen comes to an end in 1227 after the Battle of Bornhöved (Holstein).

The expansion of Germanic settlements takes its time to reach Pomerania. Immigrants come mainly from the Margraviate of Brandenburg, the Archbishopric of Magdeburg and from Upper Saxony. Merchants and craftsmen accompany minor noblemen and farmers. Priests and monks found monasteries. The territorial rulers, owners of the land and the soil, govern the region. In 1231 the Emperor places Pomerania under the feudal sovereignty of the margraves of Brandenburg from the House of Ascania. The formation of powerful rulers in the region prevents hereditary divisions. The landed gentry contribute most to this order.