Background
He was the son of Rudolf I and his 3rd wife, Agnes of Lindow-Ruppin.
He was the son of Rudolf I and his 3rd wife, Agnes of Lindow-Ruppin.
In 1376 he took part, as a prince-elector, in the election of Wenceslas as King of Germany and in 1377 stood by Emperor Charles IV in the Altmark. He was frequently active in the affairs of the empire on the side of the emperor. In 1388 Wenceslas finally lost his claim at the battle of Winsen an der Aller.
He was in conflict with the Duke of Brabant over the right to carry the Imperial Sword ahead of the emperor.
He made state peace treaties with Anhalt, Magdeburg and Meißen. During the siege of Celle Wenceslas died suddenly of a serious illness.
Even his contemporaries suspected that he had been administered poison and that that was the cause of death. According to other traditional accounts, he died on 18 August 1402 which has however caused confusion over his grave.