Eric IV, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
Encyclopedia
Eric IV of Saxe-Lauenburg (1354 – 21 June 1411) was a son of Duke Eric II of Saxe-Lauenburg and Agnes of Schauenburg and Holstein-Plön
, daughter of Count John III of Schauenburg and Holstein-Plön.
Neighbouring territories (Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen, Hamburg
, and Schauenburg and Holstein-Kiel) had been at feud
with the Saxon dukes Eric II and his cousin Albert V since 1363. In 1378 Prince-Archbishop Albert II
reconciled with Eric IV, who had married Albert's niece Sophia. Eric IV and Albert II signed a peace, concluding to settle future disputes - especially on the Saxon exclave Land of Hadeln, neighbouring the prince-archbishopric - without using violence.
Between 1392 and 1398 Eric IV carried out the constructions of the Stecknitz Canal, connecting via Elbe
and Trave
the North Sea
with the Baltic Sea
. This was the first European canal crossing a drainage divide, and was especially important for trade with the entire Baltic Rim.
In 1400 Eric IV confirmed Hamburg's purchase of Ritzebüttel from his local vassals Lappe. In 1394 Hamburg had conquered the fortress of Ritzebüttel in order to make it its stronghold to protect the estuary of the river Elbe
.
In 1401 Eric IV inherited Saxe-Bergedorf-Mölln from his cousin of second degree Eric III. Eric IV reunited the two branch duchies into Saxe-Lauenburg and subsequently shared his reign in the reunited duchy with his sons Eric V and John. However, most of Saxe-Bergedorf-Mölln had been alienated, such as the Herrschaft
of Mölln
(sold to Lübeck in 1359 under a repurchase agreement) and the Herrschaft of Bergedorf
, the Vierlande, half the Saxon Wood
and Geesthacht
, all of which Eric III had pawned to the city of Lübeck in 1370.
Eric III had further entitled Lübeck to take possession of these areas, once he had deceased, until his heirs would repay the credit and thus redeem them and simultaneously exercise their right to repurchase Mölln, requiring altogether a total sum of 26,000 Lübeck marks
. Still in 1401 Eric IV, supported by his sons Eric V and John, forcefully captured the pawned areas without any repayment, before Lübeck could take possession of them. Lübeck acquiesced. In 1407 Eric IV pawned the northern part of Hadeln to Hamburg, four years later the southern part to Bremen
.
, making her his Saxon consort and they had the following children:
Agnes of Holstein
Agnes of Holstein was a Countess of Holstein-Kiel by birth and by marriage a Duchess of Saxe-Lauenburg. She was the daughter of Count John III of Holstein-Plön and Catherine Agnes of Holstein (died: 1386) was a Countess of Holstein-Kiel by birth and by marriage a Duchess of Saxe-Lauenburg. She...
, daughter of Count John III of Schauenburg and Holstein-Plön.
Life
Eric II already involved his son Eric IV young in government affairs. Eric IV succeeded his father in 1368 as Duke of Saxe-Ratzeburg-Lauenburg.Neighbouring territories (Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen, Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, and Schauenburg and Holstein-Kiel) had been at feud
Feud
A feud , referred to in more extreme cases as a blood feud, vendetta, faida, or private war, is a long-running argument or fight between parties—often groups of people, especially families or clans. Feuds begin because one party perceives itself to have been attacked, insulted or wronged by another...
with the Saxon dukes Eric II and his cousin Albert V since 1363. In 1378 Prince-Archbishop Albert II
Albert of Brunswick and Lunenburg-Wolfenbüttel
Duke Albert of Brunswick and Lunenburg, Wolfenbüttel line was as Albert II Prince-Archbishop of Bremen in the years 1361–1395.-Before ascending to the See of Bremen:...
reconciled with Eric IV, who had married Albert's niece Sophia. Eric IV and Albert II signed a peace, concluding to settle future disputes - especially on the Saxon exclave Land of Hadeln, neighbouring the prince-archbishopric - without using violence.
Between 1392 and 1398 Eric IV carried out the constructions of the Stecknitz Canal, connecting via Elbe
Elbe
The Elbe is one of the major rivers of Central Europe. It rises in the Krkonoše Mountains of the northwestern Czech Republic before traversing much of Bohemia , then Germany and flowing into the North Sea at Cuxhaven, 110 km northwest of Hamburg...
and Trave
Trave
The Trave is a river in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is approximately 124 kilometres long, running from its source near the village of Gießelrade in Ostholstein to Travemünde where it flows into the Baltic Sea. It passes through Bad Segeberg, Bad Oldesloe, and Lübeck, where it is linked to the...
the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
with the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
. This was the first European canal crossing a drainage divide, and was especially important for trade with the entire Baltic Rim.
In 1400 Eric IV confirmed Hamburg's purchase of Ritzebüttel from his local vassals Lappe. In 1394 Hamburg had conquered the fortress of Ritzebüttel in order to make it its stronghold to protect the estuary of the river Elbe
Elbe
The Elbe is one of the major rivers of Central Europe. It rises in the Krkonoše Mountains of the northwestern Czech Republic before traversing much of Bohemia , then Germany and flowing into the North Sea at Cuxhaven, 110 km northwest of Hamburg...
.
In 1401 Eric IV inherited Saxe-Bergedorf-Mölln from his cousin of second degree Eric III. Eric IV reunited the two branch duchies into Saxe-Lauenburg and subsequently shared his reign in the reunited duchy with his sons Eric V and John. However, most of Saxe-Bergedorf-Mölln had been alienated, such as the Herrschaft
Herrschaft (territory)
In the German feudal system, a Herrschaft or Herrlichkeit was the fiefdom of a lord, who in this area exercised his full feudal rights...
of Mölln
Molln
Molln is a municipality in the district of Kirchdorf an der Krems in Upper Austria, Austria.-References:...
(sold to Lübeck in 1359 under a repurchase agreement) and the Herrschaft of Bergedorf
Bergedorf (quarter)
Bergedorf is a quarter in the homonymous borough of the Free and Hanseatic city of Hamburg in northern Germany. In 2006, the population was 41,019.-History:The quarter was first mentioned in 1162...
, the Vierlande, half the Saxon Wood
Sachsenwald
The Sachsenwald is a forest near Hamburg, Germany. It is an unincorporated area in the Amt Hohe Elbgeest. It derives its name, which is in , from being located in the former Duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg, earlier also called Lower Saxony, now mostly covered by the District Herzogtum Lauenburg . The...
and Geesthacht
Geesthacht
Geesthacht is the largest city in the District of the Duchy of Lauenburg in Schleswig-Holstein in Northern Germany, 34 km southeast of Hamburg on the right bank of the river Elbe.-History:*Around 800: A church is documented....
, all of which Eric III had pawned to the city of Lübeck in 1370.
Eric III had further entitled Lübeck to take possession of these areas, once he had deceased, until his heirs would repay the credit and thus redeem them and simultaneously exercise their right to repurchase Mölln, requiring altogether a total sum of 26,000 Lübeck marks
Mark (money)
Mark was a measure of weight mainly for gold and silver, commonly used throughout western Europe and often equivalent to 8 ounces. Considerable variations, however, occurred throughout the Middle Ages Mark (from a merging of three Teutonic/Germanic languages words, Latinized in 9th century...
. Still in 1401 Eric IV, supported by his sons Eric V and John, forcefully captured the pawned areas without any repayment, before Lübeck could take possession of them. Lübeck acquiesced. In 1407 Eric IV pawned the northern part of Hadeln to Hamburg, four years later the southern part to Bremen
Bremen
The City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is...
.
Marriage and issue
On 8 April 1373 Eric IV married Sophia of Brunswick-Lüneburg (Wolfenbüttel) (*1358–ca. 28 May 1416*), daughter of Duke Magnus II of Brunswick-Lüneburg (Wolfenbüttel)Magnus II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Magnus , called Magnus with the Necklace or Magnus II, was Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, ruling the Brunswick-Lüneburg principalities of Wolfenbüttel and, temporarily, Lüneburg....
, making her his Saxon consort and they had the following children:
- Eric V of Saxony, Angria and Westphalia (Lauenburg) (*?–1436*), duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
- John IV of Saxony, Angria and Westphalia (Lauenburg) (*?–1414*), duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
- Albert (Albrecht) of Saxony, Angria and Westphalia (*?–1421*), canonCanon (priest)A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
in HildesheimHildesheimHildesheim is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located in the district of Hildesheim, about 30 km southeast of Hanover on the banks of the Innerste river, which is a small tributary of the Leine river... - Magnus of Saxony, Angria and Westphalia (*?–1452*), Prince-Bishop of Cammin 1410–1424, thereafter Prince-Bishop of Hildesheim
- Bernard II of Saxony, Angria and Westphalia (Lauenburg)Bernard II, Duke of Saxe-LauenburgBernard II of Saxe-Lauenburg was a son of Duke Eric IV of Saxe-Lauenburg and Sophia of Brunswick and Lunenburg , daughter of Duke Magnus II of Brunswick and Lunenburg ....
(*?–1463*), duke of Saxe-Lauenburg - Otto of Saxony, Angria and Westphalia (*?– before 1431*)
- Agnes of Saxony, Angria and Westphalia (*?– before 1415*), on 23 March 1399 married with Albert II of Schauenburg and Holstein-Rendsburg (*?–1403*)
- Agnes of Saxony, Angria and Westphalia (*?– ca. 1435*), married Wartislaw VIII, Duke of PomeraniaWartislaw VIII, Duke of PomeraniaWartislaw VIII was a duke of Pomerania from the House of Griffins house. He ruled in Pomerania-Wolgast from 1394 together with his brother Barnim VI...
of Pomerania-Barth (*1373-1415*) - Catherine of Saxony, Angria and Westphalia (*?– before 1448*), married (1) Lord John VIIJohn VII of WerleJohn VII of Werle-Güstrow was from 1395 to 1414 Lord of Werle-Güstrow. He was the second eldest son of Lorenz and Mechthild...
of Werle-GüstrowWerleWerle was a fiefdom, or Herrschaft in German, in the Holy Roman Empire that was founded in 1235. It was created in the partition of territories in Mecklenburg that followed the death of Henry Borwin II of Mecklenburg ....
(*?– 1414*), (2) Duke John IV of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (*before 1370–1422*). - Sophia of Saxony, Angria and Westphalia (*?–1462*), married Wartislaw IX of Pomerania-Wolgast, -Barth and -Rügen (*ca. 1400–1457*) and mother of Eric II, Duke of PomeraniaEric II, Duke of PomeraniaEric II or Erich II, of the House of Pomerania , , was Duke of Pomerania-Wolgast from 1457 to 1474. He was the son of Wartislaw IX of Pomerania-Wolgast and Sophia of Saxe-Lauenburg Eric II or Erich II, of the House of Pomerania (Griffins), (between 1418 and 1425 – 1474), was Duke of...
.