Coelln and Berlin grew rapidly during the Ascanian Dynasty. The House of Ascania reigned from 1157 to 1320. Albert the Bear, the first Margrave of Brandenburg (which includes Berlin) inherited the territory upon the death of the childless Slavic Prince Pribislav. In short order Albert the Bear solidified his rule and led a number of military campaigns against the Slavic population that co-inhabited the area along with Germanic peoples. He encouraged Germanic migration and subjugated the Slaves to Christianity. Upon his death, control over the territory went to his descendants in succession: Otto I (Albert’s son), Otto II (son of Otto I), Albert II (brother of Otto II), and finally John I and Otto III (sons of Albert II and co-rulers).

House Order of Albert the Bear
first Margrave of Brandenburg
1157-1170

During the years of John and Otto’s co-rule, the Margraviate saw massive geographic expansion. The brothers were instrumental in the rapid development of Coelln and Berlin by conferring special privileges upon the twin towns, such as staple rights. These were important rights sometimes given to selected ports. Staple rights required passing merchant ships to unload their cargo and display it for sale for a specified period before being allowed to reload any unsold goods and to continue their journey. Possessing staple rights gave Coelln and Berlin important economic advantages over other nearby ports, such as the much older fortification of Spandau.

In 1258 John and Otto divided the territory into Brandenburg Stendal and Brandenburg Salzwedel. From 1266 to 1319 the four sons of John I (John II, Conrad, Otto IV, and Henry) and the four descendants of Otto III (John III, Otto V, Otto VI, and Albert III) shared the title of “Margrave of Brandenburg” and ruled jointly. With the death of John V In 1317, the last grandson of Otto III, the Ottonian line died out. And when Henry II, eleven-year-old grandson of John I, died three years later that line became extinct as well.

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Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal.