The bishop of Ratzeburg holds the cathedral island at Ratzeburg and the Land Boitin between the Dassow and Ratzeburg lakes, around Schönberg, granted by Henry the Lion.
The town of Ratzeburg itself is not his. The land was divided between the bishop and the chapter in 1194.
Who holds it
- Name
- Isfried
- Title
- Bishop of Ratzeburg
- Since
- 1178 (GCatholic gives 5 April 1178)
- Confidence
- high
A Premonstratensian, like the cathedral chapter and his predecessor Evermod (d. 17 February 1178). Bishop from 5 April 1178 to his death on 15 June 1204 (GCatholic); some lists date his start to 1180. Later venerated.
What it holds
- The Land Boitin between the Dassower See and the Ratzeburger See (250 of the 300 hides of the first endowment), around Schönberg
- The cathedral island at Ratzeburg; the town belongs to the lay lords
- Scattered estates (the remaining 50 hides)
How it was acquired
Henry the Lion's endowment of 300 hides to the first bishop, Evermod (d. 1178); the table land was divided between bishop and chapter in 1194.
How things stand that morning
Quiet.
Wealth
Estate revenues and tithes.
Threats
- The Danish advance (1201)
Advocates and rivals
The counts of Ratzeburg and the dukes of Saxony around the town; Denmark from 1201.
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: Endowment from the Höfe und Residenzen handbook; holder from GCatholic.
On the map: The Land Boitin is drawn from its modern villages; its exact 1200 boundary is approximate.
Primary sources for Saxony (Bernhard)
Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.
- Annals of Stade, by Albert of Stade, Albert of Stade (about 1240 to 1256). A world chronicle written at Stade in the 1240s from older Stade and Bremen annals. Read online
- Chronicle of Reinhardsbrunn; Chronicle of St Peter's, Erfurt (Erfurt chronicle in the 13th century; Reinhardsbrunn compilation about 1340 to 1349 from older annals). The two Thuringian chronicles. Read online
- Chronicle of the Slavs, by Arnold of Lübeck, Arnold of Lübeck (about 1209 to 1210). Arnold continues Helmold and writes from Lübeck, close to Danish, Welf and Baltic affairs. Read online
- Chronicle of the Slavs, by Helmold of Bosau, Helmold of Bosau (about 1167 to 1172). Background only. Read online
- Royal Chronicle of Cologne (in stages from about 1175 to about 1250; the section on 1198 to 1220 written soon after the events). The fullest German narrative of the throne war from the Welf and Cologne side. Read online
- Annals of Pegau; Annals of Magdeburg (12th and 13th centuries; Pegau continued to 1227). The annals of the Wettin lands and of Magdeburg. Read online
- Chronicle of the Lauterberg (Petersberg near Halle), Konrad of Lauterberg (about 1225). The house chronicle of the Wettin foundation on the Lauterberg, sharp-tongued and well informed on Saxony, Meissen and Magdeburg. Read online
- Deeds of the archbishops of Magdeburg (main text to 1142, continued in the 13th and 14th centuries). The Magdeburg house history, with a continuation covering Archbishop Ludolf of Kroppenstedt (1192 to 1205), a firm supporter of Philip who hosted the king's Christmas court at Magdeburg on 25 December 1199. Read online
4 more in the sources library for The Rhineland, the Low Countries and the Swiss Lands.
Sources and studies
- Ratzeburg, Bf.e von (Höfe und Residenzen im spätmittelalterlichen Reich)
- Former Diocese of Ratzeburg (GCatholic)
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.