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Henry The Middle Edit Profile

Henry the Middle, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg was Prince of Lüneburg from 1486 to 1520.

Background

Henry of Brunswick-Lüneburg, the son of Otto V of Lüneburg and Anna of Nassau, was born in 1468. In 1486, Henry took control of Lüneburg from his mother, who had been regent since the death of Henry’s grandfather, Frederick II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg.

Career

Henry’s reign was marked by the complications relating to the Hildesheim Prince-Bishopric Feud. Henry was on the side of the bishop, and was against the nobility of Hildesheim and the Welfs of Brunswick. Henry was on the side of the French during the election, and so earned the enmity of Charles V. Henry’s two eldest sons became regents of the country, and Henry went into exile at the French king’s court.

Henry returned in 1527 during the beginning of the Reformation in Lüneberg, and tried to regain control of the land with help from those opposed to the Reformation.

His attempt failed, and Henry returned to France, only to return in 1530. He was buried in the abbey of Wienhausen where his gravestone can still be seen today.

Achievements

  • In 1519, Henry was victorious in the Battle of Soltau, though the intervention of the newly elected Emperor Charles V transformed the victory achieved on the battlefield into a defeat.