Henry I, Duke of Brunswick

Henry the Middle (1468–1532) , also known as “Heinrich der Mittlere” in German, was a member of the House of Welf and ruled as the Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. His official title was Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, a principality within the Holy Roman Empire. Henry earned the nickname “the Middle” to distinguish him from other Henrys in the Welf dynasty.

Henry the Middle
Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Henry the Middle, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Born	15 September 1468
Died	(1532-02-09)9 February 1532 Wienhausen
Buried	Abbey of Wienhausen
Noble family	House of Guelph
Spouse(s)	Margarete of Saxony Anna von Campe
Issue	Elisabeth Otto I Ernest I the Confessor Apollonia Anna Francis
Father	Otto V of Lüneburg
Mother	Anne of Nassau-Siegen

Life

Henry of Brunswick-Lüneburg, the son of Otto V of Lüneburg and Anne of Nassau-Siegen, 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. 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. 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. 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 Lüneburg, 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 spent his last days in the princely house in Lüneburg, which had been given to him by his eldest son. After the death of his first wife, Margaret of Saxony, Henry married, unequally, Anna von Campe. He was buried in the abbey of Wienhausen where his gravestone can still be seen today.

Children

Henry and Margarete of Saxony (1469–1528) had the following children:

• Anne (1492–??)
• Elisabeth (1494–1572) m. Charles II, Duke of Guelders (1467–1538)
• Otto I (1495–1549)
• Ernest I the Confessor (1497–1546)
• Apollonia (1499–1571) Nun
• Anna (1502–1568) m. February 2, 1525 Duke Barnim IX of Pomerania (1501–1573)
• Francis (1508–1549)

Ancestors

Ancestors of Henry I, Duke of Brunswick

8. Bernard I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg 4. Frederick II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg 9. Margaret of Saxony 2. Otto V, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg 10. Frederick I, Elector of Brandenburg 5. Magdalene of Brandenburg 11. Elisabeth of Bavaria-Landshut 1. Henry I of Lüneburg 12. Engelbert I, Count of Nassau-Siegen 6. John IV, Count of Nassau-Siegen 13. Johanna of Polanen 3. Anne of Nassau-Siegen 14. John II, Count of Loon and Heinsberg 7. Mary of Looz-Heinsberg 15. Anna of Solms-Braunfels

Literature

• Ferdinand Spehr: Heinrich der Mittlere. In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Bd. 11, Leipzig 1880, S. 492–495.