Bernard II, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg
Encyclopedia
Bernard II of Saxe-Lauenburg was a son of Duke Eric IV of Saxe-Lauenburg and Sophia of Brunswick and Lunenburg (Wolfenbüttel) (1358 – ca. 28 May 1416), daughter of Duke Magnus II of Brunswick and Lunenburg (Wolfenbüttel)
.
His full title was Duke of Saxony, Angria
and Westphalia
, however only ruling the branch duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg between 1426 and 1463.
Bernard II reinforced Saxe-Lauenburg's claim to inherit Electoral Saxe-Wittenberg
with the latter and Saxe-Lauenburg having been partitioned from the younger Duchy of Saxony in the 13th century. Following his great-great-great-great grandfather Bernard I
, the first Ascanian duke of younger Saxony, Bernard II is counted as second.
In order to strengthen his claim Bernard adopted the Saxe-Wittenbergian coat-of-arms for Saxe-Lauenburg. The coat of arms
shows in the upper left quarter the Ascanian barry of ten, in Or
and sable
, covered by a crancelin of rhombs bendwise in vert. The crancelin symbolises the Saxon ducal crown. The second quarter shows in azure an eagle crowned in Or, representing the imperial Pfalzgraviate of Saxony. The third quarter displays in argent three water-lily leaves in gules, standing for the County of Brehna. The lower right fourth quarter shows in sable and argent the electoral swords in gules, indicating the Saxon office as Imperial Arch-Marshal , pertaining to the Saxon privilege as Prince-elector
, besides the right to elect a new emperor after the decease of the former.
The different quarters of the coat of arms, from then on representing the Duchy of Saxony, Angria and Westphalia (Lauenburg), were later often misinterpreted as symbolising Angria
(Brehna's water-lily leaves) and Westphalia
(the comital palatine Saxon eagle).
. Since end of 1436 she officiated as Saxon duchess consort and duke, and they had the following children:
Magnus II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Magnus , called Magnus with the Necklace or Magnus II, was Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, ruling the Brunswick-Lüneburg principalities of Wolfenbüttel and, temporarily, Lüneburg....
.
His full title was Duke of Saxony, Angria
Angria
Angria or Angaria is a historical region in the present-day German states of Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia. The chronicler Widukind of Corvey in his Res gestae saxonicae sive annalium libri tres denoted it as the central region of the mediæval Duchy of Saxony lying along the middle...
and Westphalia
Westphalia
Westphalia is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Minden and Münster.Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers Rhine and Weser, located north and south of the Ruhr River. No exact definition of borders can be given, because the name "Westphalia"...
, however only ruling the branch duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg between 1426 and 1463.
Life
Since long Bernard urged his ruling brother Eric V to share his reign. Failed in his fight for the Saxon electorate Eric finally agreed and made Bernard the co-duke of Saxe-Lauenburg in 1426. When Eric V died in 1435 Bernard continued the reign alone.Bernard II reinforced Saxe-Lauenburg's claim to inherit Electoral Saxe-Wittenberg
Saxe-Wittenberg
The Duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg was a medieval duchy of the Holy Roman Empire centered at Wittenberg, which emerged after the dissolution of the stem duchy of Saxony. As the precursor of the Saxon Electorate, the Ascanian Wittenberg dukes prevailed in obtaining the Saxon electoral dignity.-Ascanian...
with the latter and Saxe-Lauenburg having been partitioned from the younger Duchy of Saxony in the 13th century. Following his great-great-great-great grandfather Bernard I
Bernhard, Count of Anhalt
Bernhard, Count of Anhalt was a German prince of the House of Ascania, Count of Anhalt and Ballenstedt, and Lord of Bernburg through his paternal inheritance...
, the first Ascanian duke of younger Saxony, Bernard II is counted as second.
In order to strengthen his claim Bernard adopted the Saxe-Wittenbergian coat-of-arms for Saxe-Lauenburg. The coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
shows in the upper left quarter the Ascanian barry of ten, in Or
Or (heraldry)
In heraldry, Or is the tincture of gold and, together with argent , belongs to the class of light tinctures called "metals". In engravings and line drawings, it may be represented using a field of evenly spaced dots...
and sable
Sable (heraldry)
In heraldry, sable is the tincture black, and belongs to the class of dark tinctures, called "colours". In engravings and line drawings, it is sometimes depicted as a region of crossed horizontal and vertical lines or else marked with sa. as an abbreviation.The name derives from the black fur of...
, covered by a crancelin of rhombs bendwise in vert. The crancelin symbolises the Saxon ducal crown. The second quarter shows in azure an eagle crowned in Or, representing the imperial Pfalzgraviate of Saxony. The third quarter displays in argent three water-lily leaves in gules, standing for the County of Brehna. The lower right fourth quarter shows in sable and argent the electoral swords in gules, indicating the Saxon office as Imperial Arch-Marshal , pertaining to the Saxon privilege as Prince-elector
Prince-elector
The Prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire were the members of the electoral college of the Holy Roman Empire, having the function of electing the Roman king or, from the middle of the 16th century onwards, directly the Holy Roman Emperor.The heir-apparent to a prince-elector was known as an...
, besides the right to elect a new emperor after the decease of the former.
The different quarters of the coat of arms, from then on representing the Duchy of Saxony, Angria and Westphalia (Lauenburg), were later often misinterpreted as symbolising Angria
Angria
Angria or Angaria is a historical region in the present-day German states of Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia. The chronicler Widukind of Corvey in his Res gestae saxonicae sive annalium libri tres denoted it as the central region of the mediæval Duchy of Saxony lying along the middle...
(Brehna's water-lily leaves) and Westphalia
Duchy of Westphalia
The Duchy of Westphalia was a historic territory in the greater region of Westphalia, located in the east of modern North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Originally, Westphalia formed with Angria and Eastphalia one of the three main regions of Saxony...
(the comital palatine Saxon eagle).
Marriage and issue
In 1428 Bernard married Adelheid of Pomerania-Stolp (1410 – after 1445), daughter of Duke Bogislaus VIII of Pomerania-StolpBogislaw VIII, Duke of Pomerania
Bogislaw VIII was Duke of Pomerania in Pomerania-Stolp from 1395 until 1418. He was married to Sophie of Holstein, with whom he had Bogislaw IX and Adelheid of Pomerania , married with Duke Bernard II of Saxe-Lauenburg on 2 February 1429.The reign of Bogislaw was influenced by the contemporary...
. Since end of 1436 she officiated as Saxon duchess consort and duke, and they had the following children:
- Sophia of Saxony, Angria and WestphaliaSophie of Saxe-LauenburgSophie of Saxe-Lauenburg was a Duchess of Saxe-Lauenburg by birth and by marriage Duchess of Jülich-Berg...
(1428 – 9 September 1473), married Gerhard VII, Duke of Jülich-BergGerhard VII, Duke of Jülich-BergGerhard VII, Duke of Jülich-Berg was the son of William VIII of Jülich, Count of Ravensberg and Adelheid of Tecklenburg. Gerhard was the second duke of the combined Duchy of Jülich-Berg but the 7th Gerhard in the House of Jülich....
(1416/1417–1475) - John V of Saxony, Angria and Westphalia (Lauenburg) (1439–1507).