Ernest I, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen

Ernest I of Brunswick-Grubenhagen
Spouse(s) Adelheid of Everstein-Polle
Noble family House of Guelph
Father Henry I, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen
Mother Countess Agnes of Meissen
Born c.1297
Died 9 March 1361

Ernest I of Brunswick-Grubenhagen (German: Ernst I., Fürst von Braunschweig-Grubenhagen ; c. 1297 9 March 1361) was Prince of Brunswick-Grubenhagen.

Life

He was the son of Henry I, the Admirable and his wife Agnes, née Countess of Meissen. Henry the Admirable founded the Principality of Grubenhagen in 1291, after the Guelph princes had divided their inheritance. Ernest originally intended to follow a spiritual career, but after his father's death, he and his brothers Henry II and William jointly ruled the principality.

Grubenhagen was rather smaller than the other Guelph principalities. Because Henry the Admirable had many children (eight sons and eight daughters), it was difficult to supply all the descendants in style. His eldest son Henry II could therefore not take the undivided sovereignty over the principality. In 1324, Henry concluded an extensive pact with his brothers Ernest and William under which the territory should be governed jointly, but shortly afterwards the principality was divided. Ernest received the area around Einbeck, Grubenhagen Castle and Osterode. The towns of Duderstadt, Osterode and Einbeck were ruled jointly. In 1359 he made his son Albert I co-regent. His older brother Henry died 1351 and his sons lingered broad and died without issue, so after the death of his childless younger brother William in 1360, Ernest ruled the entire principality of Grubenhagen. After his death, on 9 March 1361, he was succeeded by his son Albert I.

Marriage and issue

Ernst married in June 1335 Adelheid of Everstein-Polle (died after 29 September 1373), daughter of Count Henry II of Eberstein. The marriage produced nine children.

married in 1372 Agnes of Brunswick (d. 1410), daughter of Duke Magnus II of Brunswick.
married (circa 1362) Duke Bogislaw V of Pomerania (born: circa 1326; died 1374)
married in 1362 Count Ulrich of Hohnstein
married in 1362 Count Henry VIII of Hohnstein
married Adelheid of Anhalt

Ancestry

Further reading

Ernest I, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen
House of Guelph
Born: 1297 Died: 9 March 1361
Preceded by
Henry I, the Admirable
Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Prince of Grubenhagen

1322-1361
Succeeded by
Albert I