Henry IV, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg

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Henry (Latin Henricus; 14 June 1463 – 23 June 1514, Leerort), Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, called Henry the Elder or Henry the Evil, was prince of Wolfenbüttel from 1491 until his death.

[edit] Life

Henry's father, William IV, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, retired in 1491, leaving government of Wolfenbüttel to his two sons, Henry, the eldest, and Eric. In 1494, the brothers divided the territory among each other, and Henry received the eastern part of the state, with the cities of Brunswick and Wolfenbüttel.

Starting in 1492, Henry laid siege to the City of Brunswick for a year and a half to enforce tax payments; the siege ended with a compromise. In 1501, Henry attacked Frisia, because the Frisians threatened the Archbishopric of Bremen, where Henry's son Christopher was coadjutor, but he had to abort the campaign.

In 1511, Henry, together with the other members of the House of Brunswick-Lüneburg, conquered the County of Hoya, which had refused to recognize Brunswick-Lüneburg as its liege lord. A second attack on Frisia in 1514 led to Henry's death; his head was shot off during the siege of Leerort Castle.

[edit] Family

Henry married Catherine, daughter of Eric II, Duke of Pomerania-Wolgast, in 1486. They had the following children:

  • Christopher, Archbishop of Bremen (c. 1487 - 1558)
  • Catherine (c. 1488 - 1563), married Magnus I, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
  • Henry (1489-1568)
  • Francis, Bishop of Minden (c. 1492 - 1529)
  • George, Archbishop of Bremen (1494-1566)
  • Eric (c. 1500 - 1553), joined the Teutonic Order
  • William (died c. 1557), joined the Teutonic Order
  • Elizabeth, Abbess of Steterburg
  • John (died as child)

[edit] References

Preceded by
William IV		 Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
(jointly with Eric I)
1491–1494		 Succeeded by
Henry IV
Preceded by
Henry IV and Eric I jointly		 Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
1494–1514		 Succeeded by
Henry V