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- BIOGRAPHY
Nikolaus I, Fürst von Mecklenburg zu Rostock, called 'das Kind' (the Child), was born before 1262, the youngest son of Waldemar, Fürst von Mecklenburg zu Rostock, and Agnes von Holstein. He was co-ruler of Rostock from 1282 to 1284, then sole ruler from 1284 to 1312. His oldest brother Johann and Heinrich Burwin died before 1285, so that he became sole ruler, initially under the regency of his mother.
Nikolaus became betrothed several times, but about 1284 he married Margarete von Pommern, daughter of Bogislaw IV, Herzog von Pommern-Wolgast, and Margarete von Rügen. Their daughter Elisabeth would have progeny, marrying Christian 'der Ältere', Graf von Oldenburg-Delmenhorst.
After several failed attempts by the other two Mecklenburg principalities, Mecklenburg and Werle, to conquer Rostock, in 1300 Nikolaus put his principality under the protection and the feudal overlordship of Erik VI 'Maendved', king of Denmark. In 1311 Heinrich II 'the Lion', Fürst zu Mecklenburg, attempted to retake the city of Rostock, which he succeeded in doing on 15 December 1312. Finally ousted, Nikolaus died on 25 November 1314. However the overlordship over Rostock remained with Denmark. After another war Heinrich II finally gained it on the death of Erik VI 'Maendved' in 1319, and on 21 May 1323 he made peace with Christoffer II, the new king of Denmark. Heinrich received the estates of Rostock, Gnoien and Schwaan as hereditary fiefs of Denmark, and the principality of Rostock ceased to exist. Nikolaus was buried in the abbey of St. Johann in Rostock.
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