Niedamir Explained

Niedamir (Latin: Nedamirus) was a 12th-century merchant and magnate, from the tribe of Wolinians, who lived in the settlement of Wolin. He was described by Catholic monk Ebo, in his writings about the life of missionary Otto of Bamberg.[1]

Biography

Niedamir was mentioned by Catholic monk Ebo, in his writings about the life of missionary Otto of Bamberg. According to him, Niedamir was a wealthy merchant, from the tribe of Wolinians, who lived in the settlement of Wolin. He possessed considerable property and was highly respected among his tribe. In his youth, he lived at the Saxonian court, where he was baptized, and after returning to his homeland, he secretly continued to practice Christianity.[2] [1] He had donated three ships from his merchant feet to the Christian missionary Otto of Bamberg when he arrived in Wolin, for him to use them in his travel to Szczecin.[3] [1]

Legacy

In 2007, in the town of Kamień Pomorski, Poland, launched a project to build replicas of historical ships, used during the High Middle Ages, in the Szczecin Lagoon. It was titled Klucz Niedamir (translation from Polish: Niedamir Key), in his honor. One of the ships build during the project, was also named Niedamir.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Przemysław Urbańczyk (editor): Polish Lands at the Turn of the First and the Second Millennia Poznań: Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, 2004, p. 60.
  2. Lech Leciejewicz: Społeczne i polityczne warunki chrystianizacji Pomorza. In: Pomorania Antiqua, vol. 16. Gdańsk: Muzeum Archeologiczne w Gdańsku, 1996, p. 68. (in Polish)
  3. Kazimierz Ślaski: Słowianie zachodni na Bałtyku w VII-XIII wieku. Gdańsk: Wydawnictwo Morskie, 1996, p. 85. (in Polish)
  4. Maik Jens OR Springmann, Dirk Krotz, Werner Mierke: The Klucz Niedamir Project – wood and the rebuilding process. In: Maik-Jens Springmann, Horst Wernicke (editors): Historical Boat and Ship Replicas: Conference Proceedings on the scientific perspectives and the limits of Boat and Ship Replicas. Friedland: Steffen Verlag, 2007.