Duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg

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The Duchy of Lauenburg, also known as Saxe-Lauenburg was a medieval Duchy (Reichsfreiheit) that existed from 1296 in the extreme southeast region of Schleswig-Holstein with its territorial center in the modern district of Lauenburg.

In addition to the core territories around the town of Lauenburg/Elbe, at times other territories belonged to Duchy: the Land Hadeln in the area of the delta of the River Elbe and the Amt Neuhaus in the district of Lüneburg (district). The Duchy was established by partitioning of the Duchy of Saxony. The residences of its dukes were located in the towns of Ratzeburg and Lauenburg.

Contents 1 Dukes of Saxe-Lauenburg 1.1 Ascanian House (1260 - 1689) 1.2 House of Welf (1689 - 1803) 1.2.1 Hause of Braunschweig – Celle (1689 – 1705) 1.2.2 House of Hannover (1705 – 1803) 1.3 Modern history 2 External links

[edit] Dukes of Saxe-Lauenburg

[edit] Ascanian House (1260 - 1689)

• John I, 1260 – 1285, until after 1272 joint rule with his brother Albert III of Saxe-Wittenberg

John was succeeded by his three sons, who at first ruled jointly:

• John II, 1296 – 1305, joint rule
• Albrecht III, 1296 – 1305, joint rule
• Erich I, 1296 – 1305, joint rule

In 1305 the brothers divided their inheritance between them, creating the Bergedorf-Mölln and the Ratzeburg-Lauenburg lines.

Bergedorf-Mölln line

• John II, 1285 – 1321
• Albrecht IV, 1321 – 1343
• John III, 1343 – 1356
• Albrecht V, 1356 – 1370
• Erich III, 1370 – 1401

In 1401 the elder branch became extinct, and Lauenburg was rejoined with the Ratzeburg-Lauenburg line.

Ratzeburg-Lauenburg line

• Albrecht III, 1285 – 1308, joint rule
• Erich I, 1305 – 1361, joint rule until 1308
• Erich II, 1361 – 1368
• Erich IV, 1368 – 1412

In 1401 the younger branch inherited Lauenburg and other possessions of the extinct elder Bergedorf-Mölln line.

• Erich V, 1412 – 1436, joint rule until 1414
• John IV, 1412 – 1436 joint rule
• Bernhard III, 1436 – 1463
• John V, 1463 – 1507
• Magnus, 1507 – 1543
• Franz I, 1543 – 1581
• Franz II, 1581 – 1619
• August, 1619 – 1656
• Julius Heinrich, 1656 – 1665
• Franz Erdmann, 1665 – 1666
• Julius Franz, 1666 – 1689

[edit] House of Welf (1689 - 1803)

[edit] Hause of Braunschweig – Celle (1689 – 1705)

• Georg Wilhelm, 1689 – 1705 (Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg)

[edit] House of Hannover (1705 – 1803)

• Georg I Ludwig, 1705 – 1727
• Georg II, 1727 – 1760
• Georg III, 1760 – 1803

[edit] Modern history

• to France in 1803 – 1805
• to Prussia in 1805 – 1806
• to the Kingdom of Westphalia, 1806 – 1810
• to France in 1810 – 1814
• personal union with Denmark 1814 – 1864
• to Prussia from 1864 - 1945
• since 1945 Schleswig-Holstein

[edit] External links

• Historical Map of Schleswig Holstein in 1730
• Historical map of Lower Saxony in 1789
• Historical Atlas of Sachsen-Lauenburg