William, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg

Wilhelm (1535 – 1592), called William the Younger, was Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Prince of Lüneburg from 1559 until his death. Until 1569 he ruled together with his brother Henry of Dannenberg.

He was the son of Ernest I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. On 12 October 1561 he married Dorothea of Denmark (29 June 1546 Kolding–6 January 1617 Winsen), daughter of Christian III of Denmark and Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg.

In 1582, William began suffering from fits of insanity. These fits caused his wife to flee him in 1584 for her own safety.

After his death, his wife became regent for their son George.

Children that reached adulthood

• Sophia (30 October 1563 – 1639), married George Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach
• Ernst (31 December 1564 – 2 March 1611); Prince of Lüneburg 1592–1611
• Elisabeth (19 October 1565 – 17 July 1621), married Frederick, Count of Hohenlohe-Langenburg
• Christian (19 November 1566 – 8 November 1633); Prince of Lüneburg 1611–1633
• Augustus (18 November 1568 – 1 October 1636);
• Dorothea (1 January 1570 – 15 August 1649), married Charles I, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld
• Clara (16 January 1571 – 18 July 1658), married William, Count of Schwarzburg-Blankenburg
• Anne Ursula (22 March 1572 – 5 February 1601)
• Margaret (6 April 1573 – 7 August 1643), married John Casimir, Duke of Saxe-Coburg
• Frederick (28 August 1574 – 10 December 1648); Prince of Lüneburg 1636–1648
• Marie (21 October 1575 – 8 August 1610)
• Magnus (30 August 1577 – 10 February 1632)
• George (17 February 1582 – 12 April 1641); Prince of Calenberg 1635–1641
• John (23 June 1583 – 27 November 1628)
• Sybille (3 June 1584 – 5 August 1652), married Julius Ernest, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg

Ancestors