Rügen

Rügen is a large Baltic island off the Pomeranian coast, its shores broken by lagoons, peninsulas and headlands. The West Slavic Rani made it the centre of a maritime realm. Their sanctuary of Svetovid at Cape Arkona was a celebrated religious centre until King Valdemar I of Denmark and Bishop Absalon destroyed it in 1168. The princes of Rügen became Danish vassals, and monasteries and churches were founded as the island was Christianized.

The last prince of the local dynasty died in 1325. Succession disputes followed, and by 1354 Rügen had passed to Pomerania-Wolgast. The Peace of Westphalia gave the island to Sweden in 1648. Brandenburg and Danish forces occupied it during later wars, but it returned to Sweden. After the Napoleonic Wars Rügen passed through a brief Danish claim to Prussia in 1815.