Quick Facts
Biography
Nicholas I, Lord of Werle (c. 1210 – 14 May 1277), was Lord of Rostock from 1229 to 1234 and Lord of Werle from 1234 until his death.
In the division of Mecklenburg of 1234, he received the Lordshipship of Werle. He was regent of Rostock for his younger brother Henry Borwin III, until his brother came of age.
He waged war together with Duke Barnim I of Pomerania against the Margraviate of Brandenburg and lost Perleberg, Wesenberg and Penzlin. However, after the death of his brother Pribislaw I, he managed to secure Parchim, Plau and Goldberg for himself. In 1275, he arbitrated in a conflict between his sons.
He strongly supported the founding of cities in its territory. He saw this as a way to develop the land.
He died in 1277. After his death, his sons divided Werle between themselves.
Marriage and issue
He married around 1231 with Jutta, the daughter of Count Henry I of Anhalt. They had the following children:
- Unnamed daughter, married around 1284 to Conrad I of Gützkow, reeve of Salzwedel
- Another daughter, married Lord Albert I of Mecklenburg
- Bernard I, Lord of Werle
- Hedwig (d. 1287), married Margrave John II of Brandenburg
- Henry I, Lord of Werle-Güstrow
- John I, Lord of Werle-Parchim
- Margareta (b. aft. 1231 - d. bef. 27 May 1261), second wife of Barnim I, Duke of Pomerania