The Sidonia File is a weblog of the Cultural Department for Pomerania and East Brandenburg. Collage: Copy of the Stargordt portrait (Landesarchiv Greifswald Rep. 38d Borcke, Sign. 104 d6) , Background: Section of Lubin's map. Kulturreferat für Pommern und Ostbrandenburg / Pommersches Landesmuseum,
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She was executed as a witch – today she is an ambassador for the region's history. 400 years after the execution of Sidonia von Borcke, perhaps the most famous Pomeranian noblewoman, a German-Polish project dedicated to her story was launched.
In 1620, after a long trial in Szczecin, Sidonia was sentenced to death for witchcraft. Her tragic fate became an inspiration for painters and writers in the following decades. Today, a number of archives and museums house important documents and works of art that provide insight into the life of this famous noblewoman and the Duchy of Pomerania in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Who was Sidonia? Could she have escaped her tragic fate? What chances did a woman in the Duchy of Pomerania have – in this case a noblewoman – to stand her ground before the law of that time? How widespread were witch trials in Pomerania and how many women and men perished in this way? Was there an option of rehabilitation and, if so, how was it administered?
These and other questions have captured the imaginations of the creators of the project, which began on August 19, 2020. According to sources, Sidonia von Borcke lost her life on that very day 400 years ago. The project, entitled "Sidonia von Borcke - a Pomeranian legend", is supported by the European Union with funding from the European Regional Development Fund (which provides funding for small interregional projects particularly concerning Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania / Brandenburg /
Poland is located on the Baltic Sea and is the largest state (population in 2023: 37,636,508, area: 313,964 km²) in East Central Europe. The name of the state is derived from the West Slavic Polans, who brought more and more territories under their rule from the 9th century onwards, which were known as Duchy of Poland in the 10th century. Under Mieszko (ca. 960-992), the extent of the country reached approximately its current borders. He was at times subject to tribute to the German Emperor, at least for parts of his land. Poland probably adopted Christianity in 966 and from 1025 it was a kingdom. Between 1138 and 1295, the country was fragmented as a result of inheritance disputes. The extinction of the ruling Piast dynasty led to a Polish-Hungarian personal union in 1370, which was replaced by a Polish-Lithuanian dual monarchy as early as 1386 due to pressure from the Polish nobility. The growing role of the nobility resulted in an elective monarchy in 1572. However, the disunity of the nobility led to the three partitions of Poland (1772-1795) between Prussia, Russia and the Habsburg Monarchy. Poland only became independent after the end of the First World War in 1918 and lost its independence in 1939 after the German attack from the west at the beginning of the Second World War and the Russian invasion from the east. From 1945-1989 it was a satellite state of the Soviet Union. Poland has been a member of the European Union since 2004.
in the Euroregion of Pomerania). Thanks to this support, we have been able to start exploring the story of Sidonia, looking at the times and places where she lived and which shaped her. Our goal is to free her story from stereotypes, to reconstruct her life story based on sources and present it on the website within the context of the German-Polish blog. We also aim to make the testimonies of experts more widely known, and encourage visitors to deepen their knowledge about the fascinating history of the region. The story of Sidonia von Borcke stands for all of this.
"Die Akte Sidonia"/"Akta Sydonii" – using this keyword, people can follow the noblewoman's story in social networks, where information about the history, politics and society of that time is published in Polish and German. In addition to regular online publications, audio commentaries will also be created (also in German and Polish), which will present the tragic fate of Sidonia in the form of a crime story. In addition, flyers and brochures will be published as part of the project.
An interdisciplinary approach is reinforced through close cooperation with tourism organizations, city guides, libraries and archives on both sides of the Oder River. Thanks to the support of the Digital Library of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the University of Greifswald and the Greifswald State Archives, the campaign "Die Akte Sidonia"/"Akta Sydonii" is able to access important archival documents and digitized collections and can legitimize its portrait of Sidonia von Borcke.
400 years after the death of perhaps the most famous Pomeranian noblewoman, we are finally reopening her case.
The actress Katja Klemt smells a branch of tansy in the monastery garden at the Pomeranian State Museum. Dorota Makrutzki / Pommersches Landesmuseum,
Free access - no reuse
The actress Katja Klemt smells a branch of tansy in the monastery garden at the Pomeranian State Museum. Dorota Makrutzki / Pommersches Landesmuseum,
Free access - no reuse
Financial Support
This project is supported by the European Union with funding from the European Regional Development Fund (funding for small interregional projects mostly relating to Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Brandenburg, and Poland within the Euroregion of Pomerania).
