William (German: Wilhelm) KG (c. 1392 – 1482), called the Victorious, was duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. He is counted either as William III or William IV.
William was the eldest son of Henry the Mild, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. He inherited Lüneburg-Celle in 1416 and swapped it with his uncle Bernard I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, for Wolfenbüttel in 1428. While on a campaign in 1432, William was deposed by his brother Henry. William retained only the western part of Wolfenbüttel (to the west of the River Leine and separated from the rest by the Bishopric of Hildesheim), which was to become known as the Principality of Calenberg. After Henry died without son in 1473, William had control of both parts of Wolfenbüttel again.
William married Cecilia (died 1449), daughter of Frederick I, Elector of Brandenburg, in 1423. They had the following children:
He then married Matilda, daughter of Otto II, Count of Holstein-Schauenburg-Pinneburg, in 1466. They had no children who reached adulthood.
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William the Victorious, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Cadet branch of the House of Este
Born: about 1392 Died: 25 July 1482 |
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| German nobility | ||
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| Preceded by Henry the Mild |
Duke of Brunswick and Lunenburg Prince of Lunenburg as William II joint reign with his younger half-brother Henry the Peaceful 1416–1428 |
Succeeded by Bernard I |
| Preceded by Bernard I |
Duke of Brunswick and Lunenburg Prince of Wolfenbüttel as William II joint reign with his younger half-brother Henry the Peaceful 1428–1432 |
Succeeded by Henry the Peaceful |
| Calenberg disentangled from Wolfenbüttel | Duke of Brunswick and Lunenburg Prince of Calenberg 1432–1473 |
Succeeded by Frederick III the Turbulent with his brother William the Younger |
| Preceded by Otto II |
Duke of Brunswick and Lunenburg Prince of Göttingen as William 1450–1473 |
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| Preceded by Henry the Peaceful |
Duke of Brunswick and Lunenburg Prince of Wolfenbüttel as William II 1473–1482 |
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