Education
Barnim and his brother Ernest Louis studied from 1563 at the University of Wittenberg, where they lived until 1565 at the home of a Martin Luther, the son of the reformer Martin Luther.
Barnim and his brother Ernest Louis studied from 1563 at the University of Wittenberg, where they lived until 1565 at the home of a Martin Luther, the son of the reformer Martin Luther.
He administered from 1569, the Rügenwalde district. From 1600 until his death, he ruled in Pomerania-Stettin. A guardianship government was set up for all the brothers.
lieutenant consisted of the Lord Chamberlain Ulrich von Schwerin as a regent and a regency council of eleven people.
In Wittenberg he served as Rector in the summer semester of 1564. In 1569 government in Pomerania was reorganized.
On 25 July 1569, the division of Pomerania was settled in the Treaty of Jasenitz. Also in 1569, a marriage with a Polish princess was planned, but this did not come about.
In Rügenwalde Barnim reigned since 1569 in quiet seclusion with reasonable economy.
The marriage produced no children. After John Frederick"s death of in 1600 Barnim succeeded him as ruler of Pomerania-Stettin. In 1602 he moved from Rügenwalde to the capital city of Stettin.
Barnim didn"t enjoy governing Pomerania-Stettin.
John Frederick had lived beyond his means, leaving substantial debts and districts pledged to his creditors. Barnim cut expenses, which made him unpopular.
He died on 1 September 1603 in Stettin, and was buried in the Castle Church in Stettin. He left no children. His widow Anna Maria died in 1618 in her Wittum in Wolin.
Normally, Barnim"s younger brother Casimir would have succeeded him as ruler of Pomerania-Stettin.
Counting the rulers of the House of Griffins has always been complicated. From ancient times there were differences, which caused some confusion. If one counts even with those who deceased as a child, he would be Barnim XII. This numeral was common in older literature.
The modern interpretation of Barnim as "the tenth" results if one counts only the members of the House of Griffins, who reached adulthood.