Domkapitel Kammin

The app roach of the chapter in Kamień (Cammin
in Pomm ern) diocese toward Protestantism
and a restructuration of the Church in stitution
in the Duch y of Pomerani a until the mi d-16th century
Summary
The author presents an important, and so far not systematically researched, problem of
the approach of the chapter in Kamień diocese to Lutheranism and the Church reform introduced
1534/35 by dukes Barnim IX and Phillip I in the Duchy of Pomerania. Initially the
stance of the chapter to the Reformation was hostile supporting the activities of the Catholic
bishop Erasmus von Manteuffel (1521–1544) against first propagators of Luther’s doctrine.
However, already in the 1530s the approach of prelates and cannons to Lutheranism
was gradually changing. 1533 the chapter employed a first Lutheran preacher which shows
that the supporters of the Reformation already gained ground there. Despite this decision
the chapter opposed the Church reform introduced by the Pomeranian dukes and through
many years protested against the “Church Ordonnance” (Kercken Ordeninge) compiled by
Johannes Bugenhagen in 1535. Only under the ducal pressure it accepted the new regulations
in 1539. From this year forward the real head of the chapter was the superintendent of
Szczecin (Stettin) Paul vom Rode. After the demise of Erasmus von Manteuffel the chapter
elected as a new bishop Johannes Bugenhagen according to the will of the Pomeranian
dukes. Because Doctor Pomeranus did not accept the bishopric a Stettiner chancellor Bartholomäus
Suawe (1494–1566) became a new bishop who in October 1545 subordinated
to the ducal authority the territory so far remaining under the rule of Kaminer chapter. This
led to the emergence of the unitary Pomeranian Protestant Church. The Protestant reform
and all changes resulting from that had survived despite the policies by the next bishop of
Kamień Martin von Weiher (1549–1556).

The attitudes of clergies of the Cammin Chapter
from the eastern part of the Duchy of Pomerania-Stettin
towards the Reformation
SUMMARY
The objective of the article is to discuss the attitudes of prelates and canons originating
from the eastern part of the Duchy of Pomerania-Stettin towards the Reformation
and the reform of church relations in the land of the House of Griffins. The
article offers an insight into the career of selected local clergymen who ranked among
the members of the chapter following the proclamation of the church reform in the
Duchy of Pomerania in year 1534/1535. They were all appointed to the chapter by
dukes and would represent and uphold ducal interest and actively promote the
reform of church and religious relations they themselves initiated in the Duchy of
Pomerania. In view of the above determinations it is possible to situate them in the
ranks of Protestant clergymen of the Cathedral Chapter in Cammin. Furthermore,
a significant number of them were personally involved in implementation of the
church and religious reform by participating in church visits, which constituted, as
it was explicitly emphasized in the sources, the primary tool of the reconstruction
of church relations in the nation. A special attention should be also given to the fact
that the two first Protestant bishops in Cammin - Bartholomäus Suawe (1545-1549)
and Martin von Wejher (1549-1556), prior to their appointment to bishopric, were
members of the Cathedral Chapter and originated from the Kashubian linguistic
area.

Notaries of the Cathedral Chapter and their Functions
in the First Half of the 16th Century
Summary
The main subject of this article is to catalogue the notaries employed in the chancellery
of the Cathedral Chapter in Kamień in the first half of the 16th century. The chronological
frame of the article is identical to the Chapter’s register, which includes the reports of
the Chapter’s meetings that took place between 1498 and 1569. The register is kept in the
State Archives in Szczecin.
The above mentioned reports are a source thanks to which it is possible to identify
ten notaries of the Cathedral Chapter in Kamień. They were recruited from outside the
body of the canons. Their reception usually took place at the general meeting on November 10th. Their main task was to run the documentation, among other things the records
of the Chapter’s meetings, the financial and economic registers, etc. The main notary
was – at the same time – rector of the Cathedral School.

Obituary Notice of Eric I, Duke of Pomerania (1449–1459
In the Polish historiography the death date of Eric I, Duke of Pomerania (1449–1459),
differs from the one in the German historiography, and the difference has inspired the
author to write this article, which includes an obituary notice – so far unknown – concerning
the Duke. The notice has been found in the records of the Cathedral Chapter in
Kamień Pomorski (German: Cammin), which are kept in the State Archives in Szczecin.
More precisely, the notice is to be found on the first folio of one of the lists of the benefices
pertaining to the Cathedral Church in Kamień. Thanks to the notice the death date
of Eric I, one of the rulers of the states which were parts of the Kalmar Union, seems
not to have fallen – as most researchers assumed – between May 3 and June 16, 1459.
The obituary notice unmistakably indicates that the ruler must have died on May 23, 1459
in Darłowo, where he was also buried.