Background
His father left him a financially and ruined politically country. In order to restore political order, he allied himself, unlike his father, with to the cities in the region and against the powerful robber barons.
His father left him a financially and ruined politically country. In order to restore political order, he allied himself, unlike his father, with to the cities in the region and against the powerful robber barons.
Otto managed to restore political order, but was not able to resolve the financial problems. He succeeded in 1407, together with the City of Göttingen 1407, to storm the castle at Jühnde, and he also forced the Lords of Adelebsen, Hardenberg and Schwicheldt to respect the peace. As early as 1435, Otto withdrew from the business of government and gave the Estates a free rein.
The Dukes of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, William and Henry, who had shared Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel until 1432, decided to divide their principality, due to the increasing number of disputes between the two of them.
They also divided the castles Otto had given them as colleteral for his many loans. A dispute arose between Henry and William about the soveignty in Göttingen.
Otto returned from retirement and sided with Henry against William. In 1441, he occupied the castle at Münden.
In 1442, the dispute was settled.
Otto retained the city and castle of Uslar, het wife received Münden, Dransfeld and Sichelstein. Seesen and Gandersheim were separated from Brunswick-Göttingen and attached to Henry"s part of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. William receive the concession from Henry and the Dukes of Lüneburg that he could rule Brunswick-Göttingen until Otto"s death.