Frederick II, Duke of Brunswick
Frederick II (German: Friedrich II.), also known as Frederick the Pious (German: der Fromme) (1418–1478) was a prominent German nobleman from the House of Guelph who served and ruled as the Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Prince of Lüneburg from 1434 to 1457 and from 1471 to 1478. Born on 10 November 1418, he was the son of Duke Bernard I of Brunswick-Lüneburg and his wife, Margaret of Saxony.
Frederick II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg | |
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| Born | 1418 |
| Died | 19 March 1478 Celle |
| Noble family | House of Guelph |
| Spouse(s) | Magdalene of Brandenburg |
| Issue | Bernhard II Otto the Victorious Gottfried Margaret |
| Father | Bernard I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg |
| Mother | Margaret of Saxony |
Life
editAfter the death of his father, Bernard, Frederick assumed joint rule of the Principality of Lüneburg alongside his brother Otto. Their reign was marked by significant developments, including the extensive expansion of Celle Castle and the implementation of reforms aimed at improving the legal rights of farmers in relation to their landlords. Upon Otto's death in 1446, Frederick became the sole ruler of the principality. In 1452, he established a monastery dedicated to the Holy Cross (Heylig Kreuz) and invited Franciscan friars to settle in Celle.
In 1457, Frederick transferred governance of the principality to his son, Bernard, and entered monastic life himself. However, following the death of his second son, Otto V, in 1471, Frederick left the monastery to assume control once more, acting as regent for his three-year-old grandson, Henry. Frederick was ultimately interred in the church of the Franciscan monastery he had founded in Celle.
Descendants
editIn 1437 Frederick II married Magdalene (1412–1454), daughter of Frederick I, Elector of Brandenburg, and had three children by her:[clarification needed]
- Bernhard II (died 1464) married Mathilda of Holstein-Schauenburg (died 1468)
- Otto the Victorious (1439–1471) married Anne of Nassau-Siegen (1440/41–1514)
- Gottfried (1441-1465) never married
- Margaret (1442–1512) married Henry, Duke of Mecklenburg-Stargard (died 1466)
Ancestors
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References
edit- Geckler, Christa (1986). Die Celler Herzöge: Leben und Wirken 1371–1705. Celle: Georg Ströher. ISBN 3-921744-05-8. OCLC 255990175.