From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Duchy of Lauenburg, also known as Saxe-Lauenburg was a medieval Reichsfrei Duchy 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. 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.
[edit] Dukes of Saxe-Lauenburg
- John I, 1260–85, ruling jointly with his brother Albert III of Saxe-Wittenberg until 1272
John was succeeded by his three sons, who at first ruled jointly:
In 1305 the brothers divided their inheritance between them, creating the Bergedorf-Mölln and the Ratzeburg-Lauenburg lines.
[edit] Bergedorf-Mölln line
In 1401 the elder branch became extinct, and Lauenburg was rejoined with the Ratzeburg-Lauenburg line.
[edit] Ratzeburg-Lauenburg line
In 1401 the younger branch inherited Lauenburg and other possessions of the extinct elder Bergedorf-Mölln line.
- Erich V, 1412–36, joint rule until 1414
- John IV, 1412–36, joint rule
- Bernhard III, 1436–63
- John V, 1463–1507
- Magnus I, 1507–43
- Franz I, 1543–81
- Magnus II, 1581-1603
- Franz II, 1603–19
- August, 1619–56
- Julius Heinrich, 1656–65
- Franz Erdmann, 1665–66
- Julius Franz, 1666–89
[edit] House of Brunswick–Celle (1689–1705)
For 50 years from 1814, Saxe-Lauenburg was in personal union with the 
Kingdom of Denmark, within the 
German Confederation:
- Friedrich I, 1814–39, also king of Denmark (1808–39, as Frederick VI) and duke of
Schleswig-Holstein; previously king of 
Norway (1808–14) and regent of 
Denmark-Norway from 1784
- Christian I, 1839–48, also king of Denmark (as Christian VIII) and duke of Schleswig-Holstein; previously king of Norway (1814, as Christian Frederick)
- Friedrich II, 1848–63, also king of Denmark (as Frederick VII) and duke of Schleswig-Holstein
- Christian II, 1863–64, also king of Denmark (1863–1906, as Christian IX) and duke of Schleswig-Holstein
Coat of arms of Lauenburg used during the
Prussian administration, with the black and white of Prussia
[edit] Dependent rule (1864–present)
[edit] External links
.gif/30px-Flag_of_Prussia_(1803).gif){kind=small}
.gif/22px-Flag_of_Hanover_(1692).gif)
Hanover.svg/22px-Union_flag_1606_(Kings_Colors).svg.png)
king of Great Britain.
First French Republic, 1803–05.gif/22px-Flag_of_Prussia_(1803).gif)
Kingdom of Prussia, 1805–06
Kingdom of Westphalia, 1806–10
North German Confederation (1867–71) and 
Schleswig-Holstein since 1876, as 
Kreis Herzogtum Lauenburg.svg/22px-Banner_of_the_Holy_Roman_Emperor_(after_1400).svg.png){kind=small}
.svg/15px-Coat_of_arms_of_the_Archbishopric_of_Mainz_(1250).svg.png){kind=small}
.svg/20px-Banner_of_the_Holy_Roman_Emperor_(after_1400).svg.png){kind=small}
