Bogislaw VIII (* ca 1364; † 11.2.1418)[1] was Duke of Pomerania in Pomerania-Stolp from 1395 until 1418. He was married to Sophie of Holstein, with whom he had Bogislaw IX and Adelheid of Pomerania (1410–after 1444/45), married with Duke Bernard II of Saxe-Lauenburg on 2 February 1429.
The reign of Bogislaw was influenced by the contemporary Polish-Teutonic Wars between his eastern neighbors, Poland and the Teutonic Prussia. The Pomeranian dukes, whose territory was the only land route to the knights' state not controlled by Poland, exploited this conflict and changed sides frequently. Late in 1388, the dukes of Pomerania-Stolp left an alliance and sided with Poland, who had promised to partially respect their claims as Casimir III's heirs.[2] Thence, the nobles of Pomerania-Stolp robbed the Teutonic knights and their supply routes, provoking a counter-attack that destroyed many noble strongholds and the fortifications of Köslin (now Koszalin).[2] Bogislaw VIII, Barnim V and Wartislaw VII reacted by siding with Polish king Jogaila and concluding mutual trade alleviations.[2]
When Bogislaw's brother Wartislaw VII died in 1395, Bogislaw and his other brother Barnim V concluded a treaty with the Teutonic Prussia in neighboring Pomerelia, who was in conflict with Poland, to safeguard their supply routes in turn for a financial credit.[2] Swantibor I and Bogislaw VII of Pomerania-Stettin changed sides in 1395 and allied with the knights in turn for financial aid.[2] Barnim however in 1397 concluded an alliance with Poland, married Vytautas' niece Hedwig and was in Jogaila's service in 1401 until he died in 1402 or 1404.[2] Bogislaw also entered into Jogaila's service, but changed sides in 1407/08, when he allied with the Teutonic Knights and settled their common border.[2] When the knights lost the Battle of Tannenberg in 1410, Bogislaw changed sides again and allied with Poland[2] in return for the Bütow, Schlochau, Preußisch-Friedland, Baldenburg, Hammerstein and Schivelbein areas, which Poland had gained from the Teutonic Prussia before.[3] This was however cancelled by the First Peace of Thorn in 1411.[3]
While Bogislaw nevertheless upheld his alliance with Jogaila, Konrad Bonow of the Cammin diocese in 1414 concluded an alliance with the Teutonic knights against both Bogislaw and Jogaila, which was turned into a truce soon after.[3] In 1417, Bogislaw and the Teutonic knights settled their common border in the Hammerstein area, ending their conflicts.[3] Bogislaw's son Bogislaw IX together with all other Pomeranian dukes in 1423 allied with the Teutonic knights.[3]