Treaty of Arnswalde

In the Treaty of Arnswalde, signed on 1 April 1269, the Brandenburgian Margraves of the House of Ascania John II, Otto IV and Conrad signed a treaty with Duke Mestwin II of Pomerania in Arnswalde (Choszczno). The treaty gave them rights in Pomerelia, including Schwetz (Świecie) and Belgard (Białogard).

In turn they had to finance the duke, e.g. for the marriage of Mestwins daughter Catherine with Przybysław II of Parchim-Richenberg. Mestwin gave them Stolp (Słupsk) and Schlawe (Sławno) as fief in 1273, so that he became a vassal of Brandenburg. That way he was safe from his brother Wartislaw II of Pomerelia, because an attack on Mestwin would be considered as an attack on Brandenburg.

Through this treaty, the Margraviate of Brandenburg gained direct access to the Baltic Sea. In 1308, it also led to the Teutonic takeover of Danzig. [David Abulafia, The New Cambridge Medieval History, [http://books.google.com/books?id=bclfdU_2lesC&pg=RA1-PA752&dq=danzig+1308&sig=3CMaiWal7hbKsIFsGzlRPgp8pMU] ]

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