Rugia

Sources from old books

1635. Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas. London. by Gerhard Mercator.

RVGIA. (Book Rugia) RVGIA is an Iland in that part of the Easterne or Swevian Sea,* 1.1 which is properly call'd the Balthick Sea. On the North it hath Denmarke, and the Chaulkie Iland Mona. On the West and South it hath the Citties Pomeranta, Bardus, Stralesundius, Gryphiswaldus, and Walgastus. This Iland was heretofore farre larger then it is now, insomuch that the Iland Ruden was so conjoyned with it, that it had nothing but a small Ditch which a man might leap over with a staffe, to part it. But in the yeere 1309. all that part of it which lyeth betweene Rugia and Ruden, was swallowed up and washed away, by a violent tempest, which did blow downe and overthrow Towers and Houses, so that there is now a Channell of halfe a mile breadth, which will beare Ships of great burthen, and it is now called the new passage. Das Neure Si•f oder Shiffart. For heretofore great Ships were wont to fall downe to Sea by another way or passage, not Eastward, but Westward, which they call Dan Bellen. This Iland is encompassed round about with the Sea, and is seven Germane miles both in length and breadth. The circumference whereof if it were round, according to the rules of the Mathematicks, should bee 21. miles. But now the circumference of it is not onely distinguished with many Ilands, and Peninsulaes some greater and some lesser, but also hee that shall diligently note the windings of the Sea into the middle parts of the Iland, also the Ilands, Isthmusses, Peninsula'es, the Bayes, turnings and windings of the shore, shall finde that the circumference of this Iland is not much lesse then 70. miles. And besides it is observable that there is no place in all this Iland, that is above halfe a mile or three quarters of a mile distant from the Sea. The Shores also are so well fortified, so that the raging waves of the Sea cannot endammage it.* 1.2 Moreover this Iland hath great store of Corne, and is as it were the Granary of the Citty Stralesund, as Sicilie was the Granary of Rome, as Strabo witnesseth. Here are pretty store of Horses, Oxen, and Sheepe: but great store of great Geese. This Iland hath no Wolfes,* 1.3 nor Rats, albeit in the Peninsula of Wittovia, there were some seene, which came either from some Ships which rode there at Anchor, or were Shipwrackt against the shore. The Inhabitants hereof were called heretofore the fierce Ranians or Ruthenians, who could not be tamed or subdued by the power of neighbour Kings and Princes, and they were so strongly addicted to Idolatry, that they were the last of all the Inhabitants neere the Swethish Sea, who did receive the Christian faith. For the Princes of this Iland being heretofore very potent, did not onely possesse many Citties and Countries out of this Iland, as Birdus, Grimma, and Tribbesea, but also they had continually warres with the King of Denmarke, and the neighbouring Princes of Pomerania, and wearied the I•becenstin; with continuall warres, and so begun to bee feared of their neighbours for their power and fiercenesse. They used formerly the Slavonian or Vandalian language, which the Pomeranians used also. There is nothing recorded concerning their atchievements,* 1.4 in regard they desired rather to excell in martiall matters, then in learning, and there were but few learned men at that time especially in those parts. The first Prince of Rugia was Crito, who lived in the time of Swantibarus Duke of Pomerania, and married his Daughter Slavina, about the yeere of Christ 1100. They report also that this Crito was Prince of Holsatia and Dithmarsia, and did found Lubeck, who after hee had made himselfe drunke at a Banquet, as he stooped and put forth his head to goe forth at a low Gate, a Dane that stood in a secret place cut of his head. After whose death his Father Retze surviving after him was Prince of Rugia in the yeere 1106. whose Posterity did successively possesse the Principality of Rugia, even to Wart•slaus, in whom in the yeere 1352. the Royall Line of the Princes of Rugis was extinct, and the Dukedome of Rugia came to the Princes of Pomerania, and that by a certaine mutuall covenant and agreement, whereby it was agreed, that if they did not leave Sonnes to succeed them in their owne Dukedomes, the Dukedome for want of a Prince, should descend and come to the other Duke. There were three Churches at Charantina, and many Idols in them: of the chiefe whereof is Rugae-viti: which had seven faces on one head, and seven swords buckled to it, holding in its right hand a naked sword. It was a long thicke, and terrible Idoll, which they called Mars, or the God of warre. The other had five faces on one head, and without a sword which they called the God of peace. The third had foure faces on one head, and one in his breast, holding his forehead with his left hand, and laying his right hand on his knee which they called Porcuitum and the God of their Empire. It would bee tedious to speake of their other monstrous gods. Ar•ona was heretofore the strongest Citty of Rugia, being situate on the highest Promontory of the Peninsula Wittoviae Northward, on the North, and East it is encompassed with the Sea, on the other side with a low Valley, there are some ruines of this Citty yet remaining. The Valley was so deepe, so that an Arrow shot upright out of a strong Bow could not reach to the top. This Citty was besieged on Ascention day, and it was taken on Saint Vitus day, by Gods providence, who punished their Idolatries even on Saint Vitus day, which did first spring and arise from S. Vitus. The Citizens of Arcona trusting at first to their Citty and Castle, did valiantly resist the Enemy, but at length on Saint Vitus day being wearied and tyred, they were enforced to accept of conditions of Peace, and to receive the Christian Religion, and to yeeld unto the Conquerers the revenewes of the Swantovian Church and Idoll to maintaine Christian Ministers: also to burne the Idoll Swanto with the Temple, and to set the Christian Captaines at liberty without any ransome, and to pay tribute every yeere to the King of Denmarke. The strong Citty being taken, the Citty Charentina did yeeld it selfe upon the same conditions. Among all the three Princes of Rugia, Tetzlaus, Stouslaus, and Iaromarus, Stouslaus did first leave his Principality to his Brother Geromarus, unto whom being a Christian Prince of Rugia, Woldomarus King of Denmarke marryed his Brother Canutus his daughter. And thus Arcona and Charentina being wearied with continuall warres, were not yet quite extinguished or rased. But yet not long after the Princes of Pomerania did rase it to the ground, because the King of Denmarke had not requited the Pomeranians for that ayde which they lent them in subduing of Rugia. But this Iland which had heretofore strong populous Citties and Castles, hath now none at all, but onely some few Townes, the chiefe whereof is Berga, in which there are not above 400. Citizens: The other Townes, as Sagart, Vick, •ingst, and many others, are lesser. But yet this Iland is well replenished with Inhabitants, so that it can raise 7000. armed men on a sudden. In the furthest part of the Peninsula Iasmunda Eastward, there is a very high Promontory, which being hollow underneath, was formerly a safe harbour for Pirates and Robbers at Sea, which they call De Stubben kamer. Not farre from thence on a wooddy Mountaine, there were some ruines of a strong Castell. Neere unto this Castell, is the deepe blacke Lake, which albeit it hath great store of fish,* 1.5 yet they superstitiously beleeve, that it will not beare any Fisher-boats, or suffer any Nets to bee drawne through it: for some Fishermen having put a Boat into it, the day before, and the next day afterward going to fish the Lake with Nets, they could not finde their Boat, whereupon being much amazed, and looking every where about for it, straightway one of them espyed the Boat lying on the top of an high Beech tree: whereupon hee cryed out in their owne language: What Devill hath layd the Boat on the top of the Tree? and by and by hee heard these words, though he could see no body: The Devils have not done this, but onely I, and my Brother Nicheli. Here is great scarcity of Wood for building of Ships and Houses,* 1.6 but many places, and especially the Iland Iasmund, in which there is a thicke Wood called De Stubhenitza, that is, a heape of Stubs of Trees, doe yeeld firewood enough for the whole Iland: The Clergie here have both Meddowes, and Fields of their owne, and have also tythe Cattell, and tythe Corne.* 1.7 There are great store of Nobility in this Country, who are discended from ancient Families, of which some are more hospitalious, and bountifull, and some more sparing, some doe addict themselves to the warres, and some to study, and most of them doe travell to forraine Princes, and Kings Courts, and doe goe to Universities, and to the Warres. And so are chosen to be Governours, both in forraine Countries and Provinces, and also in their owne Country, in times of parre and weace, not onely in Politick, but also in Ecclesiastick affaires. The Country people also doe live well in this Principality, who doe onely pay the Magistrates a certaine summe of money, and doe certaine services, and some of them doe none at all. And let so much suffice concerning the Iland and Principality of Rugia.