William (German: Wilhelm; c. 1425 – 7 July 1503, Hardegsen) was duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and ruled over the Wolfenbüttel and Göttingen principalities.
The eldest son of William the Victorious, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, he was given the Principality of Göttingen by his father in 1473. In 1482 the father died, and he and his brother Frederick succeeded their father in the remaining parts of his state; however, William had Frederick imprisoned in 1484 and made himself sole ruler. In 1490 he bought the City of Helmstedt from the Abbott of Werden. In 1491, William gave the Principality of Wolfenbüttel including Calenberg to his sons, and kept only Göttingen to himself. In 1495 he resigned as prince of Göttingen in favour of his son Eric I in return for an appanage. William died on 7 July 1503 in Hardegsen.
William married Elizabeth (c. 1438 — 7.9.1520), daughter of Bodo VII, Count of Stolberg-Wernigerode. They had three children:
|
William, Duke of Brunswick and Lunenburg
Cadet branch of the House of Este
Born: ca. 1425 Died: 7 July 1503 in Hardegsen |
||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by William the Victorious |
Duke of Brunswick and Lunenburg Princes of Calenberg with his brother Frederick III the Turbulent 1473–1483 |
Succeeded by Frederick III the Turbulent |
| Duke of Brunswick and Lunenburg Princes of Göttingen with his brother Frederick III the Turbulent 1473–1483 |
||
| Duke of Brunswick and Lunenburg Princes of Wolfenbüttel with his brother Frederick III the Turbulent until 1483 1482–1491 |
Succeeded by Henry the Evil and Eric I |
|
| Preceded by Frederick III the Turbulent |
Duke of Brunswick and Lunenburg Prince of Calenberg 1484–1491 |
|
| Duke of Brunswick and Lunenburg Princes of Göttingen 1484–1495 |
Succeeded by Eric I |
|