Magnus I, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Magnus I |
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| Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg | |
Magnus I (around 1520)
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| Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg | |
| Reign | 1507–1543 |
| Predecessor | John V, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg |
| Successor | Francis I, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg |
| Born | 1 January 1470 Ratzeburg |
| Died | 1 August 1543 (aged 73) Ratzeburg |
| Burial | Ratzeburg |
| Spouse | Catherine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel |
| Issue Detail |
Francis I Dorothea, Queen of Denmark Catherine, Queen of Sweden Clara, Duchess of Brunswick-Giffhorn Sophia, Countess of Oldenburg-Delmenhorst Ursula, Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin |
| House | Ascania |
| Father | John V, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg |
| Mother | Dorothea of Brandenburg |
| Religion | Roman Catholic until 1531, thereafter Lutheran |
Magnus I of Saxe-Lauenburg (born January 1, 1470 – died August 1, 1543) was a Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg. He belonged to the House of Ascania, a very old German noble family.
Magnus was born in Ratzeburg. His father was John V, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg, and his mother was Dorothea of Brandenburg.
Contents
Early Life and Rule in Hadeln
In 1481, Magnus's father, John V, got back a piece of land called Land of Hadeln. This land was an "exclave," meaning it was part of Saxe-Lauenburg but was separated from the main area. It had been given to the city of Hamburg as a guarantee for a loan.
John V made Magnus the manager of Hadeln. By 1498, Magnus became the full ruler of this area. He wanted to make Hadeln richer and decided to try and take over a nearby region called Land Wursten. This area was home to free farmers who mostly ruled themselves.
Battles for Land and Power
Magnus tried to take Wursten in 1484, but he failed. He claimed that Wursten used to belong to his family's lands a long time ago. However, the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen, which also claimed Wursten, was not happy about Magnus's actions.
In 1498, Magnus planned another attack on Wursten. He teamed up with his father and Henry IV, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. Henry IV promised to send 3,000 soldiers. These soldiers were supposed to get paid by taking things from the people of Wursten if they won.
The Prince-Archbishop of Bremen, Johann Rode, got ready for this. He formed an alliance with the cities of Hamburg, Bremen, and Stade. Hamburg was especially worried because it had its own important outpost nearby.
The Black Guard and Changing Alliances
The people of Wursten were now threatened from two sides: by Magnus from the east and by another ruler, John XIV of Oldenburg, from the west.
Archbishop Rode tried to make peace with Magnus, but it didn't work. So, in September 1499, Rode and his allies declared war on Magnus and his father. Their forces easily took over Hadeln and forced Magnus out.
In November 1499, Magnus hired a group of very tough soldiers called the "Black Guard." These soldiers were known for being fierce and violent. They invaded the archbishopric, causing a lot of damage and stealing from monasteries.
The Black Guard tried to attack Wursten, but the local farmers fought them off. So, the Guard turned towards Hadeln and helped Magnus get his land back in early 1500. However, the people of Hadeln suffered greatly from these soldiers.
Archbishop Rode then asked Duke Henry IV for help, even though Henry was allied with Magnus. Rode offered to make Henry's young son, Christopher, his assistant, which meant Christopher would likely become the next archbishop. Henry IV agreed, changing sides and helping Rode.
Henry IV's troops chased the Black Guard. Magnus couldn't pay the soldiers, and they became even more difficult to control. Finally, in January 1500, King John of Denmark hired the Black Guard. He wanted them to help him conquer another region called Ditmarsh. However, the people of Ditmarsh completely defeated the Black Guard in the Battle of Hemmingstedt in February 1500.
Peace and Return to Hadeln
Magnus's conflict with Bremen ended peacefully. With the help of Eric I and Henry IV, Magnus and Archbishop Rode made peace on January 20, 1500. Hadeln was given back to Magnus. The people of Wursten promised loyalty to Rode, who in turn confirmed their right to rule themselves. In the end, not much changed from before the war.
Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
Magnus took over as the Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg in 1507, as his father was getting older. His early years as Duke were also filled with disagreements with the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen.
In 1509, Magnus married Catherine. This marriage helped him strengthen his ties with her father, Duke Henry IV, who had been his ally in the past.
The Electoral Privilege
Magnus was the first Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg to take a careful approach to a long-standing argument. This argument was about who had the right to be an "elector" in the Holy Roman Empire. Electors were powerful princes who had the important job of choosing the new emperor.
Magnus chose not to show the "electoral swords" on his family's coat of arms. These swords were a symbol of the elector's office. This showed he was trying to avoid conflict over the electoral privilege.
In 1530, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, officially gave Magnus the title of "Duke of Saxony, Angria and Westphalia" (which was the official name for Saxe-Lauenburg). Magnus asked to also be given the electoral privilege, but the Emperor said no. This was because the House of Wettin family had already been given that right in 1425.
Religious Change
In 1531, Magnus brought the Reformation to his duchy. This meant he changed his religion from Roman Catholic to Lutheran, and most of his people followed him.
Magnus died in 1543 and was buried in Ratzeburg.
Family and Children
Magnus married Catherine in November 1509. They had six children:
- Francis I (1510 – 1581)
- Dorothea (1511 – 1571), who became Queen of Denmark by marrying King Christian III of Denmark.
- Catherine (1513 – 1535), who became Queen of Sweden by marrying King Gustav I of Sweden.
- Clara (1518 – 1576), who married Francis, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg.
- Sophia (1521 – 1571), who married Anthony I, Count of Oldenburg.
- Ursula (around 1523 – 1577), who married Henry V, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
