Stettin Treaty (1630)

In 1627, on the basis of the Franzburg surrender, Pomerania was occupied by imperial troops. Only the city of Stralsund refused to submit to the conditions of surrender, which turned to Sweden for help. Sweden and Stralsund entered into an alliance for a period of 20 years, but Sweden could not immediately come to the rescue, as it was busy with the war with the Commonwealth . Meanwhile, the imperial army defeated the troops of the Danish king who attempted to intervene in the war, who was forced to sign the Lübeck Peace in 1629. Inspired by these successes, the emperor began the recatolization of Protestant territories by issuing a Restitutional Edict .

In September 1629, Sweden and the Commonwealth signed the Altmark Armistice , which liberated the Swedish troops. After careful preparation in the summer of 1630, the Swedes landed on the island of Usedom , and began to settle at the mouth of the Oder.

The first version of the treaty, proposed by the Pomeranian Ducal Council on July 20 in a new style, was rejected by the Swedish king. The second option was returned to the council with a list of conditions on which Sweden insisted. On August 22, the actual Swedish-Pomeranian negotiations began, to which Gustav II Adolf personally joined on September 1. The Union “For Eternal Times” was signed on September 4.

In addition to the contract itself, the “Constitution on the Protection of Pomerania” (August 30, 1630) and the “Order of Housing” (1631) were signed. The Swedish king and his generals received full control over the military affairs of the duchy, while political and spiritual power remained with the duke, nobles and cities. Sweden took responsibility for the external relations of the duchy. Pomerania was supposed to pay an annual indemnity of 100,000 thalers, and also pledged to maintain four Swedish garrisons.

Immediately after the conclusion of the treaty, the Duke of Pomerania Bohuslav XIV wrote a letter to the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II , in which he indicated that the alliance with Sweden was not directed against the emperor or the empire, but was necessary to maintain constitutional order. In response to the appearance of the Swedish forces, the imperial forces stationed in Pomerania in accordance with the Franzburg capitulation launched raids and robberies, which led to increased support for the Swedes by the population of Pomerania. By the summer of 1631, the imperial army was driven out by the Swedes from Pomerania.

• S.V. Wedgwood, The Thirty Years War - Moscow: AST, 2012. ISBN 978-5-17-075923-1