Rügen

Rügen (Polish Rugia) is the largest German island. It is situated off the coast of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in the Baltic Sea. Its area is 935 km² and its population was 73,000 in 2001. Together with the neighboring smaller islands Hiddensee and Ummanz it is administrated as the district Rügen.

History

Rügen was first populated about 4000 BC. The migrants were probably members of the Funnelbeaker culture, which exploited the island's flint deposits.

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It was later settled by migrants from Scandinavia, a Germanic tribe called Rugians who gave their name to the island. In the 7th century Slavic peoples came and settled there. They were called the Rojane. Many traces of their life can be found today. Rügen became a Slavic principality with the political and religious centre in the fortified temple of ?wi?towit at Cape Arkona, the northernmost point of Rügen. In 1168 the area was decimated by Danish invaders. The then weakened principality underwent Christianisation. A monarchy was established in Rügen under Danish influence.

Related Topics:
Scandinavia - Germanic tribe - Rugians - 7th century - Slavic peoples - ?wi?towit - Cape Arkona - 1168 - Danish - Christianisation

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• 1162-1170 Tezlaw
• 1170-1217 Jaromar I
• 1218-1249 Wislaw I
• 1249-1260 Jaromar II
• 1260-1302 Wislaw II
• 1303-1325 Wislaw III

1325 In 1325, Rügen was conquered by the Dukes of Pomerania, who established their own principality.

Related Topics:
1325 - Dukes of Pomerania

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• 1325-1326 Warcislaw IV
• 1326-1368 Boguslaw V, Warcislaw V, Barnim IV
• 1368-1372 Warcislaw VI, Boguslaw VI
• 1372-1394 Warcislaw VI
• 1394-1415 Warcislaw VIII
• 1415-1432 Swietobor II
• 1432-1451 Barnim VIII
• 1451-1457 Warcislaw IX
• 1457-1478 Warcislaw X

Rügen was a part of Swedish Pomerania from 1648 to 1815; afterwards it became a part of Prussia. In 1816 the first bathing resort was founded (Putbus). Later more resorts were established, and Rügen remained the most famous holiday resort of Germany until World War II.

Related Topics:
Swedish - Pomerania - 1648 - 1815 - Prussia - 1816 - World War II

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In 1936 the bridge connecting Rügen with the mainland was constructed. The Nazis added a resort: Prora, planned by the Kraft durch Freude ("Strength through joy") organisation, which aimed to occupy people's free time. However, Prora was never completed.

Related Topics:
1936 - Nazis - Prora - Kraft durch Freude

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Rügen regained its status as a holiday island after the German reunification; now it has surpassed Sylt as the most popular German island again.

Related Topics:
German reunification - Sylt

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