Albert the Tall (1236–1279), of the House of Welf, was Duke

Duke

A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...

 of Brunswick-Lüneburg

Brunswick-Lüneburg

The Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg , or more properly Duchy of Brunswick and Lüneburg, was an historical ducal state from the late Middle Ages until the late Early Modern era within the North-Western domains of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation, in what is now northern Germany...

 from 1252 to 1269 and the first ruler of the newly created Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel

Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel

The Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel was a subdivision of the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg, whose history was characterised by numerous divisions and reunifications. Various dynastic lines of the House of Welf ruled Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel until the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806...

 from 1269 until his death.

Life

Albert I of Brunswick was the second son of Otto the Child

Otto I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg

Otto I of Brunswick-Lüneburg was the first duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg from 1235 until his death. He is called Otto the Child to distinguish him from his uncle, Otto IV, Holy Roman Emperor.-Early years:...

, the first Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. When his father died in 1252, he was the oldest surviving son, and took over the rule of the duchy; later his younger brother John joined him. In 1267, the brothers agreed to divide the duchy, which happened in 1269. Albert partitioned the territory while John obtained the right to choose his part. He took the northern half including the region of Lüneburg

Lüneburg

Lüneburg is a town in the German state of Lower Saxony. It is located about southeast of fellow Hanseatic city Hamburg. It is part of the Hamburg Metropolitan Region, and one of Hamburg's inner suburbs...

 and the city of Hanover

Hanover

Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...

, while Albert received the southern part, including Calenberg, Helmstedt

Helmstedt

Helmstedt is a city located at the eastern edge of the German state of Lower Saxony. It is the capital of the District of Helmstedt. Helmstedt has 26,000 inhabitants . In former times the city was also called Helmstädt....

, the Harz

Harz

The Harz is the highest mountain range in northern Germany and its rugged terrain extends across parts of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. The name Harz derives from the Middle High German word Hardt or Hart , latinized as Hercynia. The legendary Brocken is the highest summit in the Harz...

 mountains and Göttingen

Göttingen

Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...

. The City of Brunswick was to remain common property of the brothers.

Albert died on August 15, 1279 and is buried at Brunswick Cathedral. He was succeeded by his elder three sons, the younger three joined the Church.

Marriage and children

In 1254, Albert married Elizabeth of Brabant (1243 – October 9, 1261), the daughter of Henry II, Duke of Brabant

Henry II, Duke of Brabant

Henry II of Brabant was Duke of Brabant and Lothier after the death of his father Henry I in 1235...

 and Sophie of Thuringia

Sophie of Thuringia, Duchess of Brabant

Sophie of Thuringia was the second wife and only Duchess consort of Henry II, Duke of Brabant and Lothier. She was the heiress of Hesse which she passed on to her son, Henry upon her retention of the territory following her partial victory in the War of the Thuringian Succession in which she was...

. They had four children:

• Otto (died ca. 1346)
• Matilda
  Matilda of Brunswick-Lüneburg
  Matilda of Brunswick-Lüneburg was a German princess, member of the House of Welf and by marriage Duchess of Glogów, Ścinawa, etc....
  
  , married Henry III, Duke of Silesia-Glogau
  Henry III, Duke of Silesia-Glogau
  Henry III of Głogów was a Duke of Głogów from 1274 to his death and also Duke of parts of Greater Poland during 1306–1309....
  
   (died 11 December 1310)
• Lothar
  Luther von Braunschweig
  Luther von Braunschweig was the 18th Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, serving from 1331-35....
  
   (died 1335), Grand Master of the Teutonic Order from 1331
• Conrad (died ca. 1303)

After Elizabeth's death in 1261, Henry married Adelheid (Alessia) (1242 – February 6, 1284/85), daughter of Boniface II of Montferrat around 1263. They had the following children:

• Henry
  Henry I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
  Henry , Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, called the Admirable , was the first ruler of the Principality of Grubenhagen....
  
   (1267–1322)
• Albert (1268–1318)
• William
  William I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
  William , Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, briefly ruled part of the duchy.William was the third son of Albert I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. On Albert's death on 1279, the three eldest brothers succeeded him, but were put under guardianship of Conrad, Prince-Bishop of Verden...
  
   (1270–1292)

Ancestry