John III of Werle

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John III of Werle
Born before 1300
Died between 1 April and 28 August 1352
Noble family House of Mecklenburg
Father Nicholas II of Werle
Mother Rixa of Denmark

John III, Lord of Werle (nicknamed John van Ruoden; born: before 1300; died: between 1 April and 28 August 1352) 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.

After the death of his father, Nicholas II, in 1316, it was decided to divide Werle. John III. took control over the part Werle-Goldberg and his uncle John II took over Werle-Güstrow. John III built himself a castle in Goldberg. King Christopher II of Denmark promised John and Lord Henry II of Mecklenburg on 4 May 1326 that he would invest them with Rügen. However, he had earlier promised the principality to Pomerania. This led to a war, the Rügen War of Succession. Under the Peace of Brudersdorf, Pomerania was allowed to keep Rügen, but had to pay Mecklenburg 31000silver marks in compensation.

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.

Goldberg, Germany Place in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany

Goldberg is a town in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. It is situated 24 km northeast of Parchim, and 46 km east of Schwerin.

Christopher II of Denmark King of Denmark

Christopher II was king of Denmark from 1320 to 1326 and again from 1329 until his death. He was a younger son of Eric V. His name is connected with national disaster, as his rule ended in an almost total dissolution of the Danish state.

From 1350, he left the business of government to his son and co-ruler Nicholas IV. On 1 April 1352, he was already terminally ill. He died later that year. He was probably buried in Malchow Abbey.

Nicholas IV, Lord of Werle[-Goldberg], nicknamed Poogenoge was from 1350 to 1354 to Lord of Werle-Goldberg.

Malchow Abbey monastery

Malchow Abbey is a former Cistercian nunnery in Malchow in the district of Mecklenburgische Seenplatte in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. The monastic buildings are on the east shore of the Malchower See and now accommodate the Mecklenburgisches Orgelmuseum.

Marriage and issue

John III married in 1317 with Mechtild (died: c.1332), the daughter of Duke Otto I, Duke of Pomerania. They had three children:

Otto I, Duke of Pomerania was Duke of Pomerania-Stettin.

Otto I of Schwerin was a son of Count Gunzelin VI and Richardis of Tecklenburg. In 1327, he succeeded his father as Count of Schwerin.

After Mechtild's death, John III married Richaris and had two more daughters:

Dobbertin Abbey abbey

Dobbertin Abbey is a former Benedictine monastery of monks, afterwards housed a community of nuns, and later still a women's collegiate foundation, located in the municipality of Dobbertin near Goldberg in the district of Ludwigslust-Parchim in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It stands on a spit of land in the Dobbertiner See and includes the only church with two towers in Mecklenburg.

John III of Werle
Born: before 1300 Died: between 1 April and 28 August 1352
Preceded by
Nocholas II
Lord of Werle-Goldberg
1316-1352
Succeeded by
Nocholas IV


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