From the coastal emporia, these routes were

connected to sea trade routes of the Baltic Sea.

[53]
 Vessels build for seafaring were also able to
navigate in the
lower Recknitz river, Peenestrom and
lower Peene river up to Demmin, and Oder river
up to Silesia.[54] Already in the 9th century,
wooden and waterproof containers were in use
that were easy to transport by carriage as well
as by ship.[54]
Trade, robbery, and piracy did not exclude each
other, but were then two sides of the same coin.
Whether one traded or stole depended on one's
own military strength or protection compared to
the abilities of the encountered party.[55] Slavic
piracy, especially from Rügen and Wollin,
climaxed in the 11th century.[56] Denmark, being
the major target, launched several expeditions
to stop this piracy, such as an expedition
directed at Wollin and the Oder estuary led by
king Magnus in 1043, and several expeditions
initiated by Eric Ejegod, father of Canute
Lavard, in the late 11th century.[56]
Major trade items were livestock, especially
horses; wheat, honey, wax, and salt; grind and
millstones; jewelry and luxury articles like pearls
and items made from glass, semi-precious
stones, gold, silver and amber; weapons,
and slaves.[57] Acquisition of loot and capture of
people for slave trade were primary war aims in
the many campaigns and expeditions of the
Slavic tribes and invaders from outside
Pomerania.[57] Also, merchants' caravans did not
only engage in slave trade, but also captured
people to sell them as slaves.[52]
If not exchanging goods with an equal value,
one used linen, iron and silver for payment.
[58]
 Iron was cast to non-functional daggers,
spades, and axes, while silver was either used
minted to coins, or as chopped silver items
(including jewelry and coins).[58] Before 950,
silver coins originated primarily in Arabia, after
950 these were used together with western
European coins, which since the late 10th
century largely replaced the Arabic ones.
[59]
 Also, coins minted in Haithabu were
abundantly used in the western regions
of Pomerania up to the lower Oder region.[59]
Billung and Northern
marches (936–983)
[edit]

Northern Central Europe, 919-1125. March of the

Billungs is indicated, Northern March is the area
south of it (purple). Independent Pomeranian areas
are indicated (rose)
Further information: March of the
Billungs and Northern March
In 936, the area west of the Oder River was
incorporated in the March of the Billungs (north
of the Peene River) and the Northern
March (south of the Peene River) of the Holy
Roman Empire. The respective bishoprics were
the Diocese of Hamburg-Bremen and Diocese
of Magdeburg. In the Battle of Recknitz ("Raxa")
in 955, German and Rani forces commanded
by Otto I of Germany suppressed
an Obodrite revolt in the Billung march,
instigated by Wichmann the Younger and his
brother Egbert the One-Eyed[60] In 983, the area
regained independence in an uprising initiated
by the Liutizian federation.[7][8] The margraves
and bishops upheld their claims, but were not
able to reinforce them despite various
expeditions.[61] A similar pagan reaction
in Denmark between 976[62] and 986,[8] initiated
by Sven Forkbeard, forced his father Harald
Bluetooth to exile to Wollin.[8]

Polish gains and

formation of the
Diocese of
Kołobrzeg[edit]
The first Polish duke Mieszko
I invaded Pomerania and acquired
the town of Kołobrzeg and the adjacent areas in
the 960s.[63] He also fought the Volinians, but
despite a won battle in 967, he did not succeed
in expanding his Pomeranian gains.[36][64] His son
and successor Boleslaw I continued to
campaign in Pomerania, but also failed to
subdue the Volinians and the lower Oder areas.
[63][64]

During the Congress of Gniezno in 1000 AD,

Boleslaw created the first, yet short-lived
bishopric in Pomerania Diocese of
Kolobrzeg (Kolberg), subordinate to
the Archdiocese of Gniezno, headed
by Saxon bishop Reinbern, which was
destroyed when Pomeranians revolted in 1005.
[9]
 Of all Liutizians, the Volinians were especially
devoted to participation in the wars between the
Holy Roman Empire and Poland from 1002 to
1018 to prevent Boleslaw I from reinstating his
rule in Pomerania.[37]