Editing Obotrites (section)

==History==
[[Image:Limes.saxoniae.wmt.png|thumb|upright=0.8|left|The ''[[Limes Saxoniae]]'' forming the border between the Saxons to the west and the Obotrites to the east]]
As allies of the [[Carolingian]] kings and the empire of their [[Ottonian dynasty|Ottonian]] successors, the Obotrites fought from 808 to 1200 against the [[kings of Denmark]], who wished to rule the [[Baltic region]] independently of the empire. When opportunities arose, for instance upon the death of an emperor, they would seek to seize power; and in 983 [[Hamburg]] was destroyed by the Obotrites under their king, [[Mstivoj]]. At times they levied tribute from the [[Danes]] and [[Saxons]]. Under the leadership of [[Niklot]], they resisted a Christian assault during the [[Wendish Crusade]].

German missionaries such as [[Vicelinus]] converted the Obotrites to [[Christianity]]. In 1170 they acknowledged the suzerainty of the [[Holy Roman Empire]], leading to [[Germanisation]] and assimilation over the following centuries. However, up to the late 15th century most villagers in the Obotritic area were still speaking Slavic dialects ([[Polabian language]]), although subsequently their language was displaced by [[German language|German]]. The Polabian language survived until the beginning of the 19th century in Hanoverian Wendland, eastern Lower Saxony (bordering modern Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania).<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/eb/topic-466672/Polabian-language Polabian language]</ref>
The ruling clan of the Obotrites kept its power throughout the Germanisation and ruled their country (except during a short interruption in [[Thirty Years' War]]) as [[House of Mecklenburg]] until the end of monarchies in Germany in [[German Revolution of 1918–1919|November Revolution 1918]]. Previously, the Obodrites were dominated by the [[Naconids]]; Eastern (Far) Pomerania was ruled by the [[House of Griffin|Pomeranian House]] (Grifichi).