The Slav castle of Kessin (Kicin) on the Warnow above Rostock, the old centre of the land of Kessin (the Kessinians) round Rostock.
A castle, not a town, in 1200. Nicholas falls at Waschow on 25 May 1200 (or 1201) and the land goes back to Henry Borwin I.
Who holds it
- Name
- Nicholas I (see Rostock)
- Title
- lord of Rostock
- Since
- not pinned
- Born
- not pinned
- Family
- son of Wertislav; cousin of Henry Borwin I
- Confidence
- low
Rhineland map Rostock
Lord in 1200
Nicholas I of Rostock, a Danish vassal.
How things stand that morning
Held by Nicholas I under the Danish king.
Council
None: no town commune in 1200.
Communities
Slav.
Militia
Part of the castle levy.
Walls and castle
Slav castle rampart.
What the year holds
What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.
- 25 May 1200 (some sources 1201)Nicholas falls at Waschow; Borwin I takes back the Rostock land as a Danish fief.Depends on: the battle
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: From the Rhineland map's records; the castle's coordinates are approximate.
Primary sources for Mecklenburg
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.
- 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
- The Danish annals of Lund, Ryd and other houses (12th and 13th centuries; Lund continued to 1307, Ryd to 1288). Short dated entries from Lund, the archbishop's seat, and from Ryd in Schleswig. Read online
- Deeds of the Danes, Saxo Grammaticus (about 1185 to 1208). Saxo was writing at Lund in 1200 under Absalon, who died in March 1201, and his last books are an insider's history of Valdemar I and Knud VI to 1185: the Wendish wars, the taking of Rügen, the submission of Pomerania in 1185, the Danish fleet, Absalon's power and the Danish quarrel with the Empire. Read online
- The saga of the descendants of Knut (the kings of Denmark) (about 1250 to 1260). An Icelandic kings' saga of Denmark that draws on Saxo and Danish tradition and ends in 1187 with Knud VI and Absalon's Wendish wars. Read online
- Pomeranian charter book, volume 1, 786 to 1253 (documents of 786 to 1253, edited 1868). All known charters for Pomerania and Rügen to 1253. Read online
- Charter books of Lübeck and of Hamburg (documents to 1226 (Lübeck vol. 1) and to 1300 (Hamburg vol. 1)). The charters of the two north German towns and of the archbishops of Bremen and Hamburg. Read online
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.