Eastern Pomerania in the early Middle Ages was a region with a complex and dynamically evolving political, settlement-territorial, and social structure. The strongholds that emerged there served various functions, ranging from tribal centres to local ducal power hubs, which, like the rest of Pomerania, periodically came under the control of the early Piast state. This paper will address topics such as the origins of strongholds, their structure and functions during the tribal period, changes in the settlement-territorial framework, and the role of strongholds during periods of political transformation. The analysis of their functions will go beyond traditional defensive and military interpretations, also considering economic, administrative, and communication aspects. Special emphasis will be placed on reconstructing the organizational structure of strongholds, their place within the system of power, and the role they played in shaping the settlement network of the region.