Frederick III, Duke of Brunswick-Göttingen-Calenberg
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Frederick III "the restless" of Brunswick-Göttingen-Calenberg (born: 1424; died: 5 March 1495 in Hann. Munden
), was a son of Duke William the Victorious of Brunswick-Lüneburg
and Cecilia of Brandenburg
. He became Duke of Brunswick-Luneburg together with his brother William IV
in 1482. However, he was deposed in 1484.
to attend to administrative matters. Two years later, in 1479, he had to return home; the reason was probably a mental deficiency or mental illness. A little later he had apparently recovered and was again able to conduct administrative business. After the death of his father, William the Elder
in 1482, Frederick and his brother William the Younger
ruled Brunswick-Lüneburg jointly. Frederick, however, demanded that the territory be divided. William agreed in a treaty dated 1 August 1483 to , that is, sovereignty would still be shared, but the revenues would be divided. Frederick's share included the Principality of Calenberg.
In 1482, the so-called Great Feud of Hildesheim began, between the City of Hildesheim
and its bishop, Berthold II of Landsberg. The bishop wanted to introduce a new episcopal tax, which the city refused to agree to. The brothers were on different sides in this feud: William concluded in February 1484 an alliance with the bishop, mediated by his councillor Heinrich von Hardenberg (d. 1492 or 1493), whereas Frederick became Protector of the City of Hildesheim on 7 September 1483. A year later, in September 1484, armed conflict broke out between the parties. William took his brother Frederick prisoner on 10 December 1484 and brought him via Gandersheim
and Hardegen to Hann. Münden
. Different sources give different reasons for the captivity: some sources — and William himself — mention a new outbreak of mental illness, others point to William's dislike of the division of the country.
The Great Feud of Hildesheim ended in 1486 with an agreement.
A folk song which was discovered in the early 1990s, entitled Duke Frederick, refers to the circumstances of Frederick's arrest. It consists of eight stanzas and is written in a Low German
written dialect, apparently at the time of Hildesheim feud. The song laments the alleged injustice that had befallen Frederick. Some of the conspirators were so opposed to Frederick's stance in the feud that the plotted to overthrow him. To what extent the song has blended historical facts, half-truths and fiction is, of course, impossible to ascertain. However, the literature suggests that considerable truth might be hidden in the text. Among the persons mentioned in the fifth verse are the duke's councillors Otto von der Malsburg (died: probably 1504) and Heinrich von Hardenberg, as well as the Duke's chancellor Johannes Sibolle (attested: 1474-1498), who played an important rôle on the Brunswick side in the feud. They may have advised the capture of Frederick in order to extend their influence over the three principalities of Brunswick, Göttingen and Calenberg.
Frederick remained in captivity until his death. He died on 5 March 1495 in Hann. Munden, where he lies buried.
Both marriages remained childless.
Hann. Münden
Hann. Münden is the German official name of a town in Lower Saxony, Germany. The city is located in the district of Göttingen at the confluence of the Fulda and Werra rivers, which join to form the river Weser. It has 28,000 inhabitants...
), was a son of Duke William the Victorious of Brunswick-Lüneburg
William the Victorious, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
William KG , called the Victorious, was duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. He is counted either as William III or William IV....
and Cecilia of Brandenburg
Cecilia of Brandenburg
Cecilia of Brandenburg was a princess of Brandenburg by birth and by marriage a Duchess of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel.- Life :Cecilia was the daughter of Elector Frederick I of Brandenburg from his marriage to Elizabeth , daughter of Duke Frederick of Bavaria-Landshut...
. He became Duke of Brunswick-Luneburg together with his brother William IV
William IV, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
William was duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and ruled over the Wolfenbüttel and Göttingen principalities....
in 1482. However, he was deposed in 1484.
Life
Frederick was often involved in feuds, raids and highway robberies in its first decades of his life; his was later nicknamed the RestlessorTurbulentus because of this. In 1477 he was sent to GeldernGeldern
Geldern ) is a city in the northwest of the federal state North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is part of the district of Cleves, which is part of the Düsseldorfadministrative region.-Location:...
to attend to administrative matters. Two years later, in 1479, he had to return home; the reason was probably a mental deficiency or mental illness. A little later he had apparently recovered and was again able to conduct administrative business. After the death of his father, William the Elder
William the Victorious, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
William KG , called the Victorious, was duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. He is counted either as William III or William IV....
in 1482, Frederick and his brother William the Younger
William IV, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
William was duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and ruled over the Wolfenbüttel and Göttingen principalities....
ruled Brunswick-Lüneburg jointly. Frederick, however, demanded that the territory be divided. William agreed in a treaty dated 1 August 1483 to , that is, sovereignty would still be shared, but the revenues would be divided. Frederick's share included the Principality of Calenberg.
In 1482, the so-called Great Feud of Hildesheim began, between the City of Hildesheim
Hildesheim
Hildesheim is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located in the district of Hildesheim, about 30 km southeast of Hanover on the banks of the Innerste river, which is a small tributary of the Leine river...
and its bishop, Berthold II of Landsberg. The bishop wanted to introduce a new episcopal tax, which the city refused to agree to. The brothers were on different sides in this feud: William concluded in February 1484 an alliance with the bishop, mediated by his councillor Heinrich von Hardenberg (d. 1492 or 1493), whereas Frederick became Protector of the City of Hildesheim on 7 September 1483. A year later, in September 1484, armed conflict broke out between the parties. William took his brother Frederick prisoner on 10 December 1484 and brought him via Gandersheim
Gandersheim
Gandersheim can refer to either:* Gandersheim Abbey, convent in Lower Saxony * Bad Gandersheim, town in Lower Saxony, called Gandersheim until 1931...
and Hardegen to Hann. Münden
Hann. Münden
Hann. Münden is the German official name of a town in Lower Saxony, Germany. The city is located in the district of Göttingen at the confluence of the Fulda and Werra rivers, which join to form the river Weser. It has 28,000 inhabitants...
. Different sources give different reasons for the captivity: some sources — and William himself — mention a new outbreak of mental illness, others point to William's dislike of the division of the country.
The Great Feud of Hildesheim ended in 1486 with an agreement.
A folk song which was discovered in the early 1990s, entitled Duke Frederick, refers to the circumstances of Frederick's arrest. It consists of eight stanzas and is written in a Low German
Low German
Low German or Low Saxon is an Ingvaeonic West Germanic language spoken mainly in northern Germany and the eastern part of the Netherlands...
written dialect, apparently at the time of Hildesheim feud. The song laments the alleged injustice that had befallen Frederick. Some of the conspirators were so opposed to Frederick's stance in the feud that the plotted to overthrow him. To what extent the song has blended historical facts, half-truths and fiction is, of course, impossible to ascertain. However, the literature suggests that considerable truth might be hidden in the text. Among the persons mentioned in the fifth verse are the duke's councillors Otto von der Malsburg (died: probably 1504) and Heinrich von Hardenberg, as well as the Duke's chancellor Johannes Sibolle (attested: 1474-1498), who played an important rôle on the Brunswick side in the feud. They may have advised the capture of Frederick in order to extend their influence over the three principalities of Brunswick, Göttingen and Calenberg.
Frederick remained in captivity until his death. He died on 5 March 1495 in Hann. Munden, where he lies buried.
Marriages
Frederick was married twice:- with Anna of Brunswick-Grubenhagen (1415-1474), daughter of the Duke Eric I of Brunswick-GrubenhagenEric I, Duke of Brunswick-GrubenhagenEric I, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen nicknamed the winner , ruled the Principality of Grubenhagen, a part of the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg.- Life :...
and widow of Albert III of BavariaAlbert III, Duke of BavariaAlbert III the Pious of Bavaria-Munich , , since 1438 Duke of Bavaria-Munich. He was born to Ernest, Duke of Bavaria and Elisabetta Visconti, daughter of Bernabò Visconti.-Life:Albert was born in Munich.... - on 10 May 1483 with Margaret, daughter of Conrad V of Rietberg
Both marriages remained childless.