Frederick, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
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Frederick Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
, was ruler of the Principality of Brunswick from 1373, and, according to some sources, briefly German king-elect in opposition to Wenceslaus
in 1400.
Frederick was the eldest son of Magnus II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
and Catherine of Anhalt-Bernburg.
Frederick was underage until 1381, until which time Otto of Brunswick-Göttingen
was his guardian. Like his father, he was thrust into the Lüneburg Succession War, which he and his brothers attempted to end in 1373 by a treaty with the Ascanian
dukes of Saxony-Wittenberg. According to this treaty, the rule over the Principality of Lüneburg
would alternate between the two families. But the dispute continued; together with his brothers, Frederick eventually won the war by conquering Lüneburg
itself in 1388.
In May of 1400, Frederick took part in an assembly of the princes of the Holy Roman Empire
in Frankfurt
; the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the deposition of Wenceslaus, King of the Romans
. According to legend, Frederick was elected as an anti-king by a subset of the princes; because no agreement over his election could be reached, he left the assembly. Modern historians are at odds with each other whether Frederick was ever considered a candidate or even elected, since there is no documentary evidence for this. It is undisputed that he was murdered during his journey home by Henry VII, Count of Waldeck
. The murder may have served to get rid of a royal candidate; or the story of the royal election may have sprung up to find a motive for the murder.
The murder caused much concern at the time; a stone cross was erected at its location in Kleinenglis
near Fritzlar
. Frederick was entombed in Brunswick Cathedral.
(died 1388), a daughter of Wenceslas I, Duke of Saxe-Wittenberg
, in 1386. With her he had two daughters:
Brunswick-Lüneburg
The Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg , or more properly Duchy of Brunswick and Lüneburg, was an historical ducal state from the late Middle Ages until the late Early Modern era within the North-Western domains of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation, in what is now northern Germany...
, was ruler of the Principality of Brunswick from 1373, and, according to some sources, briefly German king-elect in opposition to Wenceslaus
Wenceslaus, King of the Romans
Wenceslaus ) was, by election, German King from 1376 and, by inheritance, King of Bohemia from 1378. He was the third Bohemian and second German monarch of the Luxembourg dynasty...
in 1400.
Frederick was the eldest son of Magnus II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Magnus II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Magnus , called Magnus with the Necklace or Magnus II, was Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, ruling the Brunswick-Lüneburg principalities of Wolfenbüttel and, temporarily, Lüneburg....
and Catherine of Anhalt-Bernburg.
Frederick was underage until 1381, until which time Otto of Brunswick-Göttingen
Otto, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Otto, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg may refer to:*Otto I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg *Otto the Mild, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
was his guardian. Like his father, he was thrust into the Lüneburg Succession War, which he and his brothers attempted to end in 1373 by a treaty with the Ascanian
Ascanian
The House of Ascania was a dynasty of German rulers. It was also known as the House of Anhalt, after Anhalt, its longest-held possession.The Ascanians are named after Ascania Castle, which is located near and named after Aschersleben...
dukes of Saxony-Wittenberg. According to this treaty, the rule over the Principality of Lüneburg
Principality of Lüneburg
The Principality of Lüneburg was a territorial division of the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg within the Holy Roman Empire, immediately subordinate to the emperor. It existed from 1269 until 1705 and its territory lay within the modern-day state of Lower Saxony in Germany...
would alternate between the two families. But the dispute continued; together with his brothers, Frederick eventually won the war by conquering Lüneburg
Lüneburg
Lüneburg is a town in the German state of Lower Saxony. It is located about southeast of fellow Hanseatic city Hamburg. It is part of the Hamburg Metropolitan Region, and one of Hamburg's inner suburbs...
itself in 1388.
In May of 1400, Frederick took part in an assembly of the princes of the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
in Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
; the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the deposition of Wenceslaus, King of the Romans
Wenceslaus, King of the Romans
Wenceslaus ) was, by election, German King from 1376 and, by inheritance, King of Bohemia from 1378. He was the third Bohemian and second German monarch of the Luxembourg dynasty...
. According to legend, Frederick was elected as an anti-king by a subset of the princes; because no agreement over his election could be reached, he left the assembly. Modern historians are at odds with each other whether Frederick was ever considered a candidate or even elected, since there is no documentary evidence for this. It is undisputed that he was murdered during his journey home by Henry VII, Count of Waldeck
Henry VII, Count of Waldeck
Henry VII of Waldeck was Count of Waldeck from 1397 until his death, and acted several times as bailiff for the Electorate of Mainz in Upper and Lower Hesse.- Life :...
. The murder may have served to get rid of a royal candidate; or the story of the royal election may have sprung up to find a motive for the murder.
The murder caused much concern at the time; a stone cross was erected at its location in Kleinenglis
Kleinenglis
Kleinenglis is a constituent community of Borken . Kleinenglis has about 1300 inhabitants, and over the years it has become Borken's biggest community.- Sightseeing :...
near Fritzlar
Fritzlar
Fritzlar is a small German town in the Schwalm-Eder district in northern Hesse, north of Frankfurt, with a storied history. It can reasonably be argued that the town is the site where the Christianization of northern Germany began and the birthplace of the German empire as a political entity.The...
. Frederick was entombed in Brunswick Cathedral.
Family
Frederick married AnnaAnna of Saxe-Wittenberg
Anna of Saxe-Wittenberg was a member of the House of Ascania and the wife of Duke Frederick I of Brunswick-Lüneburg, a German antiking....
(died 1388), a daughter of Wenceslas I, Duke of Saxe-Wittenberg
Wenceslas I, Duke of Saxe-Wittenberg
Wenceslas I, Duke of Saxe-Wittenberg from the House of Ascania ruled from 1370 to 1388 and was a prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire as well as Prince of Lüneburg. He was the son of Rudolf I and his 3rd wife, Agnes of Lindow.- Life :In 1370 Wenceslas succeeded his brother Rudolf II...
, in 1386. With her he had two daughters:
- Catherine (died ca. 1439), married Henry XXIV, Count of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen
- Anna (died 1432), married Frederick IV, Duke of Austria, "of the Empty Pockets"Frederick IV, Duke of AustriaFrederick IV, Duke of Further Austria , also known as Frederick of the Empty Pockets, was the Habsburg duke of Further Austria from 1402, and Count of Tyrol from 1406, until his death...
of Austira, a Tyrollean Count