Albert II, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen

For other people with the same name, see Albert of Brunswick-Lüneburg.

Albert II of Brunswick-Grubenhagen
Born	(1419-11-01)1 November 1419
Died	15 August 1485(1485-08-15) (aged 65)
Buried	Osterode am Harz
Noble family	House of Guelph
Spouse(s)	Elisabeth of Waldeck
Issue	Philip I Eric
Father	Eric I, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen
Mother	Elizabeth of Brunswick-Göttingen

Albert II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (German: Albrecht II., Herzog zu Braunschweig-Lüneburg; 1 November 1419 – 15 August 1485), was a Prince of Grubenhagen; he reigned from 1440 until his death in 1485.

Albert II was the third son of Duke Eric I and Elizabeth of Brunswick-Göttingen, a daughter of Otto the Bad, Duke of Brunswick-Göttingen. He was a grandson of the Duke Albert I, was still a minor when his father died on 27 May 1427. His first cousin once removed, Duke Otto the Younger of Grubenhagen-Osterode served until 1440 as regent for Albert II and his brothers Henry III and Ernest II. After 1440, the three brothers, following the Grubenhagen tradition, ruled jointly until Henry died in 1464. After the death of Henry II, Ernest II joined the clergy and Albert II became sole ruler and regent for Henry III's son, Henry IV.

Albert II was repeatedly involved in feuds. For example, in 1477, Duke William IV the Younger of Göttingen got into a dispute with the city of Einbeck (in the Duchy of Grubenhagen) and in 1479, he encamped his army before the town. The citizens of Einbeck came out to fight him in an open field. Duke William lured them into an ambush and defeated them completely. According to the chroniclers, more than 300 citizens were killed and over 800 were captured and brought to William's Hardegsen Castle. Albert and William settled their dispute on 5 December 1479 in Göttingen, without a battle. The city of Einbeck, however, had to pay a ransom of 30000guilders to free the captive citizens, and had to accept William's protection.

Henry IV came of age in 1479 and agreed with his uncle on a division of their territory. Albert kept Herzberg Castle and Osterode Castle, while Henry received Heldenburg Castle. The towns of Einbeck and Osterode were ruled jointly.

Albrecht was married with Elizabeth, daughter of Count Wolrad I of Waldeck. She gave birth to his three sons and a daughter Sophie, who died at age 6. His son Ernest died shortly after Albert himself died. Albert was succeeded in government by his son Philip I, while his son Eric became Bishop of Osnabrück and Paderborn. In 1532, Eric was elected Bishop of Münster, but he died on May 14 of that year, before he had been confirmed.

Albert died in 1485 and was buried in Osterode am Harz.

Ancestors

Family of Albert II, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen

16. Henry I, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen 8. Ernest I, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen 17. Agnes of Meissen 4. Albert I, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen 18. Henry II of Everstein-Polle 9. Adelaide of Everstein-Polle 19. Adelaide of Lippe 2. Eric I, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen 20. Magnus the Pious, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg 10. Magnus II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg 21. Sophie of Brandenburg-Stendal 5. Agnes of Brunswick-Lüneburg 22. Bernhard III, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg 11. Catherine of Anhalt-Bernburg 23. Agnes of Saxe-Wittenberg 1. Albert II, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen 24. Albert II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg 12. Ernest I, Duke of Brunswick-Göttingen 25. Rixa of Werle 6. Otto I, Duke of Brunswick-Göttingen 26. Henry II, Landgrave of Hesse 13. Elisabeth of Hesse 27. Elisabeth of Thuringia 3. Elisabeth of Brunswick-Göttingen 28. Gerhard VI of Jülich, Count of Berg and Ravensberg 14. William VII of Jülich, 1st Duke of Berg 29. Margaret of Ravensberg 7. Margaret of Jülich-Berg 30. Rupert II, Elector Palatine 15. Anna of the Palatinate 31. Beatrice of Sicily

References and sources

• Ferdinand Spehr (1875), "Albrecht III. (Herzog von Braunschweig-Grubenhagen)", Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (in German), vol. 1, Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot, p. 264